“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Matthew 6:34

Worry.

“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” Isaiah 2:11

Pride

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not comit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” Matther 5:27, 28

Lust

“But seek Ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things(food, shelter and clothing) shall be added unto you.” 

Self

“Be Ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; Neither give place to the devil.”  Ephesians 4:26, 27

Hatred and bitterness

 

IDOLS OF THE HEART.  They are what we love, trust, serve, depend on, delight in or fear more than God.  Even good desires can be come idols when they take precedence over God in our heart. These idols can be the foundation of our worth, identity and even our “righteousness”.  They steal from Jesus our worth, Jesus our identity and Jesus our only righteousness.

The Bible teaches us that our thoughts motives, attitudes, words, and actions flow from the sinful selfishness of our hearts.  The heart is the source of our actions, reactions and approaches to life.  When we allow our sinful heart to spill over into our words, thoughts and actions, we are no longer submitted to the authority of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Instead we are stealing from God and taking things into our own hands, which always results in certain death.  Death to the life we are told we can live.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”. John 10:10

WORRY is the idol of my heart that I wrestle with.  The bible tells me to not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will take care of itself.  And sufficient for the day is its own trouble.  Worry is a concern over the future, concern about something we can do nothing about because it has not yet arrived.

Whenever I try to take hold of tomorrow with worry, I steal what belongs to God.

“It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

Idols of our heart steal the place that rightly belongs to God in our heart, minds and spirit.  The only way to reconcile this is to practice repentance,(turning from the idol) and replacing it with God’s truth.  Taking down idols is not a small task.  It usually does not happen overnight.  Or even over a week.  Sometimes not even over the year.  It is a process that when one presses into the lord and the word of God, the Holy Spirit is welcomed to do the work on our hearts that we so desperately need for freedom.  We must remain dedicated and diligent to the process.  Trusting that God will complete the good work he began in us.

I’m giving back what I have stolen, are you?