Lent begins this Wednesday.
The whole practice of “Lent” may be foreign to you if you are not a part of a high liturgical church. Like many Christian traditions, it can be rich, or it can be meaningless. I believe that together we can make it rich. It fits perfectly with where God has been leading us in overcoming the idols of our hearts. Idols cannot be removed, they can only be replaced by Jesus, the True Lover of our Souls. That is what we will concentrate on during this holy time, and it is a perfect time for new people to join in. I encourage you to invite your friends — you may find friends from high liturgical churches (Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and others) particularly interested, and they could join this Ash Wednesday or before. Pray and see if God brings someone to mind or across your path.
The following is a free sermon that I would love everyone to listen to from Tim Keller. It’s called Removing Idols of the Heart and here is the link to paste in your browser.
http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=17456&ParentCat=6
I also have a U-Tube video I’d love for you to watch: Be Thou My Vision video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XZ3ja-quhA
PART I. REVIEW
If you have just joined us, you would be helped by reading some of the past posts, for we began this subject with the start of 2011 with A Heart of Flesh. However, I don’t want to overwhelm you either, so this summary may suffice.
Why are some Christians continually defeated by the same sins and others set free?
Change occurs when a believer recognizes he or she is an idolater. Though we struggle with many “near sins,” behind every “near” sin is a deep stone idol producing that near sin. There are three deep idols:
- SECURITY/COMFORT
- AFFIRMATION/APPROVAL
- POWER/CONTROL
For example, someone with the deep idol of SECURITY/COMFORT could struggle with near sins like gluttony, laziness, or stinginess. She might attack gluttony with a diet, laziness with a better alarm clock, or stinginess with a tithing budget. But because she has not addressed the root problem of idolatry, that deep idol will cry out when he is restricted, persisting until he defeats her diet, her alarm clock, or her budget. He will lie to her, promising to meet her needs for security and comfort, and will do so initially, but then bring her into bondage again. Eventually she may despair, crying, “It is hopeless!”
But it is not hopeless. Those who recognize their root problem have experienced the transforming power of the Stone Cutter, of the One True Lover of their souls. Idols cannot be removed, only replaced. When we learn from His Word how He can be what our idols can never truly be, and trust Him to be that, we experience transformation into a heart of flesh. We are not only set free from those cruel stones that actually cut us to pieces, but we experience intimacy with the living and breathing God who is the fulfillment of all desire.
1. What impresses you from the above, and why?
2. If you have just joined us, introduce yourself. Though you may not know or be ready to share, be asking yourself what stone, what deep idol might be producing your near sins. If you have any insight, share it here.
3. If you have been with us, can you encourage newcomers by sharing, briefly, what God has shown you and how you are beginning to see progress?
PART II. LENT
Lent is a Christian tradition that though not commanded in Scripture can have some great benefits. It is meant to be a holy time of contemplation and a time of growth. Unfortunately, like so many Christian traditions, it has often degenerated into ritual without understanding. Individuals give up candy, or meat, or Facebook — without realizing the purpose. It actually was meant to be a step toward removing idols of the heart and replacing them with Jesus — but too often, that has been lost. It was meant to be a time of remembering how frail we are (on Ash Wednesday, which is this week, many receive the sign of the cross on their forehead as a reminder that they are dust, and to dust they will return.) This is thoroughly scriptural, to remember that we are like the grass of the field, and to therefore set our affections on things above. But as we have been learning, idols cannot be removed, they can only be replaced. Unless we replace them with putting on Christ, we may actually be in worse shape than when we began.
Bible Study
1. On Ash Wednesday, Christians are reminded that their lives are fragile and fleeting. Truly, we should know this, but are often in denial. What do the following passages say, and what are your reflections on each?
A. Ecclesiastes 7:2
B. Psalm 90:9-12
2. Read Colossians 3:1-4
A. What, according to verse 1, are we to seek, and why?
B. A key secret to success is in verse 2. What is it?
C. Meditate on verses 3-4 in your translation, and also, as paraphrased in The Message:
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
D. What truth are we told, and what, therefore, should be our response?
PART III. WEEKLY GOAL AND GOD HUNT
Here we get to the really exciting part. I want you to set a two part goal each week. The first part is to remove the idol, the second is to replace it with Christ. I would rather do a new goal each week than for the whole of Lent, seeing each Sunday as a fresh start, culminating in Easter Sunday. Choose one stone a week, and it may be the same stone for all of Lent. Let me give you an example for each of the three deep idols, and then you be still before God and set your own two part goal and share it with the others. Then, give us any reports of how you see God on the move.
A. POWER/CONTROL Perhaps you have seen your near sin of nagging, manipulation, or sarcasm and realize your deep idol is POWER/CONTROL. It is good to stop saying those kind of things to a spouse, child, mother…but now, replace the idol by putting on Christ, by being loving, by praying, by saying what will build up.
B. AFFIRMATION/APPROVAL Perhaps you have seen how deeply you want men to approve of you and it leads to the near sins of anxiety, exaggeration, or addiction to Facebook. It is good to recognize this, for that is half the battle — but now you must bask in the approval of Christ. Perhaps you could do that by memorizing one of the great hymns about his love, like Be Thou My Vision, And Can It Be, or Deep Deep Love. Or begin memorizing Psalm 103. Use these words to speak to your soul.
C. SECURITY/COMFORT. Perhaps you realize your near sin is over-eating or over-spending. It is good to plan a healthy eating program or a budget, but you must address that deep idol by allowing Jesus to be your security/comfort. If it is spending, then substitute the time you would spend shopping with reading good books or strong Christian fellowship. If it is eating, you may want to not only substitute fruit for sweets, but to also sit down with tea, an orange, and a rich book like The Sacred Romance, Bonhoeffer, or Redeeming Love. If you feel led to go on a partial fast from food, then use that time to feast on the bread of life. Run to the psalms or put on your ipod and praise music and walk. Let Him meet your need. He takes longer than does spending or eating, but they turn on you, and He will not — instead, He will satisfy you as you wait on Him.
4. Set a goal, just for this week, on what you would like removed and how you will replace it. (I think it is better to set goals on a weekly basis than for the whole seven weeks of Lent.) What is your goal?
5. Report on how God is on the move! This can be so rich as you share your growth, the combustion cycle, as Keller says, of repentance and faith. Repenting of the idol, trusting the true God.
147 comments
Oh Dee, this all looks so good!
I just listened to the sermon and wanted to encourage y’all to listen–it is so good, I want to go back now and hear the previous one he mentions!
Thanks Dee!
As I read over this post and the synopsis of deep idols, I realize that I started with the easy one. That seemed to be the Lord’s leading at the time and I think I see the wisdom in it. Wow, got a lot of work to do.
Thank you for this sermon, Dee. It is very encouraging for this next phase of our journey. I am so ready to leave these idols in the dust where they belong.
Anne and Elizabeth — thanks for listening to the sermon right off the bat and encouraging others to do so. It is so good. I have listened to at least ten times in the past few years.
Part I:
1. What impresses me about the above paragraphs is that God is all powerful and can melt my heart of stone and turn it into a heart of flesh. He wants me to do it but will HELP me do it! He is wonderful.
2. Not new here, but have been sporadic of late. My schedule really needs discipline!
3. God has shown Himself to be so faithful, only wanting my good. As we will concentrate on this time of year, sacrificing Jesus for our sins shows how much He truly loves. My strength is God’s love!
Part II:
A. Ecclesiastes 7:2
We are all destined to die.
B. Psalm 90:9-12
Our lives are brief.
2. Read Colossians 3:1-4
A. What, according to verse 1, are we to seek, and why?
We need to seek “things above” because Christ is above. We are done with earth when He saved us, so why dwell on it? We need to fill our minds with heavenly things.
B. A key secret to success is in verse 2. What is it?
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. v2
C. Meditate on verses 3-4 in your translation, and also, as paraphrased in The Message:
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
D. What truth are we told, and what, therefore, should be our response?
Our lives are with Christ, and since we will be totally fulfilled when He appears, we can dwell in obscurity with Him for now. This is just the beginning of life with Him, it will get better and better!
He Himself is my contentment. Therefore I want ALL I do, say, think to be for Him, even as I type these words, may it be to Christ’s glory!!!
Tracy — I prayed you would come back, and God brought you back!
1. What impresses you from the above, and why?
* I can’t wait to hear Keller’s sermon. I am planning on listening today.
* Dee, you nailed Security/Comfort with that paragraph. What great examples..It was like you wrote my story! That said, I can see by reading it that i am being freed.
3. If you have been with us, can you encourage newcomers by sharing, briefly, what God has shown you and how you are beginning to see progress?
* Dee’s paragraph helped me to see the progress. My progress has shown itself in many places, but I still have to keep my eyes on Him or I could slowly go back to that dark place that my comfort idol likes to take me.
I’ll just share one: My eating has totally changed. For me I don’t really have a plan other than a calorie count, and I know I am an alcoholic when it comes to sweets. I have decided to totally stay away from them from now on, but the way God is moving is that I don’t feel like I need sweets anymore or huge portions of food to be happy or content.
I am learning that my circumstances really mean nothing in light of eternity. I don’t need anyone or anything to bring contentment, happiness or a calm spirit other than Jesus..I am rich! If everything I had that my idol gives me to make me feel secure and comfortable was taken away it wouldn’t matter..I would have Jesus and the body of Christ, and I have Him for eternity.
The ways I have combated the urges to obey my god of comfort is to pray, focus on fellowship times with other believers, get into His word and just sit in awe of Him, serve my family, serve others, reading this book ‘parenting is your highest calling and 8 other myths’..great book. I am finding things of the Lord are much more fulfilling and long lasting than the temporary pleasure of feasting on food. The after effects of feasting on the things of the Lord bring joy, peace, fulfillment-and I have lost eleven pounds. This is much better than the after effects of what my idol has brought me..larger waist size, feeling down, going in and out of depression because I was stepping back from intimacy with Jesus and grieving the Holy Spirit. Choosing to replace this idol with Jesus has been so richly fulfilling!
Rebecca, that is awesome! A great testimony of the kind of progress we all desire. The weight loss is great but even better is finding satisfaction in the Lord.
I’ll have to add that I think affirmation/approval runs a close second so while I am excited about how He has replaced the comfort Idol, at the same time God is pressing into me showing me His love and approval for me and YES, I am starting to see victory in this as well but I have a longer way to go. I am starting to replace my thoughts of anxiety with the truth and I have been freer to share in bible study..not taking over but when i have a question or an observation I don’t hesitate for worry of what others think and I don’t ask my husband later if what i asked or shared sounded stupid.:-) So, now I may hesitate because I am quickened by the Holy Spirit not to interrupt, or that the timing isn’t right.
Rebecca — it’s so exciting to see your growth! Encourages us all.
Dee, Thanks and to God be the glory amen!
What has struck me most in this journey has been learning part 2 of the battle. In the past, I have been able to recognize my sins, even at times the root idol, I have seen impure motives in honestly nearly every “good” thing I do. Taking a meal to someone and not being able to hold back from casually mentioning it to a friend on the phone—just subtly building up my reputation…things like that. So I have been able to unmask the sin, but I have stopped there, in a state of discouragement. Repenting, but then the same thing happens the next hour.
Until now. This study has opened my eyes to part 2 of the battle—taking it to the Cross. Replacing my idol with Him.
All this time I have tried to “STOP doing _____”; but have not started doing anything to replace it, so I fail and the idol lures me back in. It is not just a call to stop sin, to “take off”, but I must also “put on” Christ.
I remember years ago needing to go off dairy for a time for health reasons—and I LOVE dairy! I immediately went to the health food store and bought every form of rice cheese, almond milk, and even frozen tofu ice cream to fill my craving for dairy—of course it did make the transition easier. But how much MORE can He fill every single part of my being, He who made me, who knows every hair on my head, every thought, hurt, hope, dream, He who is able. “He can be what our idols can never truly be” –Dee
Great analogy, Elizabeth!
I want to add my goal this week–instead of nagging at my husband and kids for not doing things the way I would (root=control), and this is a multiple times a day issue for me!!, I will replace my nag with a word of appreciation for them, and pray for them in my mind (not pray that they would obey me! but a sincere prayer for them).
Good. Let’s pray for Elizabeth with her specific goal.
Dee, you got it, Elizabeth you are covered today and as many times as the Lord brings it up..
I like how you mention replacing it with a good thing instead of just stopping the negative. Thinking about NOT doing the negative only puts my mind on it more sometimes, but focusing on Jesus and the good we want to do for Him will reinforce that in our minds instead.
I think my kids would love for this to be my goal too:) Im really trying to train them to clean up after themselves and take care of thier rooms so I am “reminding” all the time:) at 13, 15 and 18 I really think its high time that I stop following them around and picking up after them:-):0)
but I will do it with a smile and a prayer this week:) thanks for your wonderful heart, and encouragement to not “nag”!!!
1. What impresses you from the above and why?
The description of the Christian who continues to be defeated by the same sins over and over. I see me in that.
For example, my relationship with my husband. I’ve taken 2-3 specific Bible studies on being a wife/marriage; been given specific “love in action assignments” to do, tried “the list”, but am pretty much in the same spot now as I was, say, 10 years ago in my marriage. It’s really not gotten any better. I haven’t gotten any better at being a wife, and my marriage is still difficult and unfulfilling. I’ve read the books, too.
The “why can’t I seem to change and make progress” question has, for me, often resulted in having doubts about my salvation. If there’s a record for how many times to pray to be saved, I’m sure I’m in the top 10. Yet when I look at my stubborn sin habits, I think, where is the “new creation” I’m supposed to be?
So this is a new approach for me, to look at the root cause, to look for the idol. And to learn to replace the idol with Jesus. I don’t have to fight the impossible battle to remove the idol, only allow Jesus to move into that spot.
Up until now, it’s like I’ve just been putting on a bandaid to try to stop, say, an artery from a cut from bleeding. It wont stop, and the bandaid will keep getting soaked and I’ll have to keep putting on a new one. But the underlying cause of the bleeding isn’t being addressed. In the same way, my sin is making me, and others around me, bleed. It’s hurting me and others.
Thank you Dee for helping us discover how to get underneath, not just patch up the surface.
Wow. Susan. Wow.
Susan, I swear girl, you blow me away! God is really working in your heart. Thanks so much for being so transparent..I liked this: “I don’t have to fight the impossible battle to remove the idol, only allow Jesus to move into that spot.”
I identified the idol of approval with manifestations of fear and anxiety in my life. What God has shown me has been over the course of more than a year in this study and a BSF study of Isaiah that I have been in about 6 months. Up until a few months ago I was losing weight because my stomach was in knots all the time. He has shown me His power coupled with His love and I am learning faith. My knots are gone. When fear and anxiety come, I recognize them and I pray. I have seen wonderful answers as I turn my anxiety to prayers. It is a struggle often but I have come far enough to have concrete answers to look back on and promises to cling to.
1. Ecclesiastes 7:2. To enter a house of mourning is better than going to a feast. The verse says that this is because we need to be reminded that the day of death will come for all of us. I picture in my mind how feasting lifts us up off the ground and a death causes our feet to touch the ground. The first death of someone close to me that I experienced as an adult was my father-in-law. I will never forget the morning after his funeral. As I got out of bed it was like my life passed before me. As my feet touched the floor the peripheral things faded out and that which is really important crystallized for me.
My goal for this week is to confront my comfort idol by not wasting time. I have no real schedule since I am at home and even work from home due to health, which leads me to put comfort up on the throne on my heart and squander time. This results in frustration because what I should get done is ignored. So what I want to do is focus on doing something productive (time with God, work on editing a story for a friend which I’ve been doing since November, work on my last two exams for the online Spanish refresher course I’ve been taking, to name a few things I need to be more faithful in regards to) or something else which I know I am supposed to do but neglect due to simply wasting time. Partipating in this blog study is also a high priority for me.
Please pray that in Christ’s strength I can overcome obstacles to this better use of time. I know I am weak in the flesh but He is more on my behalf! I recently memorized Psalm 73:25-26 to help me in this battle. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Tracy,
Wow..This is great, and so appropriate: “I recently memorized Psalm 73:25-26 to help me in this battle. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Listening to Tim Keller now.. 🙂
I have tried to do this study 4 times today. My youngest has had diarrhea (she went through 14 outfits yesterday, I did 8 loads of laundry) for 3 days and woke up this morning with a raised, red rash all over her body… and tomorrow is Lukes court date. Ellie failed math and got 2 Ds on her report card…it’s just been one of those weeks:)
I have been so encouraged by ya-alls comments and want to thank you for taking this journey with me.
I am not stressed, tired, but not stressed out by all this!! that is only God. laughter and peace have been my companions this week. Holy Spirit is so “here” and I am so thankful.
I am having a hard time focusing…..would love your prayers tomorrow at 9:30 while we are in court!!
will enjoy doing the study when Emma is better!!!
cyndi–praying for you right now and will continue! you amaze me!!! to have laughter and peace amidst all you are going through–I am convicted by that! WoW! Please keep us posted about tomorrow–will keep praying for peace, mercy with the trial, and health for your family–praying she gets well, and no one else gets sick!
thanks!!! I am so grateful for prayers and know that they are what are holding me up. I figure there comes a point where you either cry or laugh…I hit that on load #5:)
before you get to impressed, I was HORRIBLE to my husband and son the other day!! slamming doors, yelling, blaming, all because my son didn’t tell me he needed picked up after dance rehearsal….it was a wonderful temper tantrum…you should have been there :-0
and I was not all that nice to Ellie when she came home with her F either! don’t ever forget that you only see the ME I let you see! please never compare yourself to ANYONE let alone me!
I will pray that both of us can be full of grace and love to our families this month:)
love your heart!
Cyndi, Praying for you this morning!!
Cyndi, I prayed with Anne in my inbox as I got her prayer for you this morning..Can’t find it here yet, so I am responding to her prayer.
Lord, I stand with all here who are praying for the heart of the judge and the whole situation. Lord we ask that your will be done in this either way, yet we especially ask for your mercy for Cyndi’s son. Lord you move in the hearts of Kings and of leaders..You made the Judge and you know his heart. Lord we ask that you move in his heart to offer mercy to Cyndi’s son, and that regardless of how you work this out, that you would use this to move in Cyndi’s heart and her son’s heart in growth and deeper intimacy with you. Thank you for how you are freeing Cyndi from the chains of her idol and I pray you would give her even more of your grace today.
Will be praying for you this morning about the court hearing.
I’m still working on my questions, but came across this in my study and thought it was so good! Hopefully this isn’t too long and some of you will enjoy it too–it is from Martin Luther’s A treatise on Good Works, 1520:
Now this is the work of the First Commandment, which commands: “Thou shalt have no other gods,” which means: “Since I alone am God, thou shalt place all thy
confidence, trust and faith on Me alone, and on no one else.” For that is not to have a god, if you call him God only with your lips, or worship him with the knees or bodily gestures; but if you trust Him with the heart, and look to Him for all good, grace and favor, whether in works or sufferings, in life or death, in joy or sorrow; as the Lord Christ says to the heathen woman, John iv: “I
say unto thee, they that worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” And this faith, faithfulness,confidence deep in the heart, is the true fulfilling of the First Commandment…Now you see for yourself that all those who do not at at all times trust God and do not in all their works or sufferings, life and death, trust in His favor, grace and good-will, but seek His favor in other things or in themselves, do not keep this Commandment, and practice real idolatry, even if they were to do the works of all the other Commandments, and in addition had all the prayers, fasting, obedience, patience, chastity, and innocence of all the saints combined. For the chief work is not present, without which all the others are nothing but mere sham, show and pretence, with nothing back of them; against which Christ warns us,
Thanks for this description of idolatry from Luther, Elizabeth. Much to meditate on.
Wow..I took so many notes, practically the whole Tim Keller sermon! I was both convicted and encouraged!
I am still feasting on the beautiful, freeing truth of the cycle of repentance and faith and in how to see my sins..First I have to unmask them which is what we are doing here..Once that is done 1/2 the battle is over. So the flesh isn’t in control of us at that point! #2. take the sin to calvary not to Mt. Sinai meaning how I see the sin is crucial. When I identify my idol and my ‘near sin’ greed, pride, etc..do I look at the damage it’s caused and feel stupid and have a pity party before God or do I take it to calvary and my heart is that I am deeply grieved because I see the effect it has on God, or as he said “an evangelical confession of sin arises from the goodness of God. Am I grieving becasue my sin is like throwing his blood back in his face, or am I grieving over my sin because of how stupid I feel for sinning or because of those around me it has hurt?
Another couple of points from the sermon and I will stop.. 🙂
#1. When Jesus explained the difference to simon about the girl who was kissing his feet and Simon. WOW! “Because of her repentance going deeper and deeper her joy and love is getting greater and greater.” -HOW FREEING IS THAT!!! Simon just repented during the bad times and the rest of the time he was obedient, o.k. etc.. He was in slavery to his sin basically.
As believers we have the old man inside of us still pushing us every day, minute to seek our own glory, if we can just have or do this we will be somebody, and even in regard to ministry…O.K. I will stop.
I loved those points too, Rebecca. So glad you are listening.
I felt the same way Rebecca–I took a full 2 pages pf notes but now I want to listen again, as I’m sure I could continue to get more each time.
I also loved the difference between repentance and self pity. That Self-pity is looking at the mess my sin has made of me, hating the consequences, hating self, but continuing in the sin. Repentance is asking “what has my sin cost God?”. As you mentioned, taking our sin to the Cross, Mt. Calvary, instead of Sanai. SOGOOD!
When I sit with what my sin has cost God, I see it so differently. My desire to be the one in control of our time, schedule, when my husband comes home…I know there is fear in me of what would happen if I didn’t control my universe around me–I can only describe this fear of chaos I have if those around me don’t just do things my way. I try to be nicer or gentler about it, but deep down I want everything from the laundry to the thermostat done “my way”. When I look at what I am really saying to God–that I don’t trust Him to be GOD, it does melt me. Now that I can look past the near sins, to the root of them, and see the ways I have tried to play God, I do want to let go!!
Adding to my goal–when I am tempted to correct, nag,criticize…I will meditate on “______ is fearfully and wonderfully made”, filling in the name of whoever it is I am trying to control.
Thank you for this lesson Dee–it feels so perfect as a preparation for Easter! I LOVE Easter!! Our hope, our promise, such joy!
Hi Everybody!
My name is Robin, and this is my very first time doing an on-line study, so I hope I will know what to do! I just heard about this study that Dee was doing on idols, and I immediately knew that I needed to be a part of this study. I am 55 yrs old, and I believe for most of my adult life I have struggled with weight issues, not because I am seriously overweight, but because I am a glutton, a binge over-eater. I want to be thinner, so others will notice and I will have the approval of others, even though I am very happily married. I am very much consumed with thoughts of food, and being thin, and if only I weighed……..For many, many years, I have tried various weight loss programs, lost weight never kept if off, never had lasting success. I tell you all this back-ground information because all of that, all of those struggles, has led me to where I am now. While I know food is my idol, I also know that seeking approval, and feeling validated by weight loss are also idols to me. I feel best about myself, when I feel thin. That in and of itself is an idol, I believe. I come here because I know the Lord is speaking to me and directing me to “come clean” with Him, and be set free from this bondage. I will be brutally honest, but part of me is going kicking and screaming because of what I know I will have to give up…..my love for the idols. I am ashamed as I even type that. I wonder how I can replace the idols I have built up…..it seems sooooo very impossible to me! Thank you…..thank you for listening to my story. I know that you are each very busy, so taking the time to read what I have shared is very much appreciated.
Robin, Hi! So glad you are here with us!!! I totally understand where you are coming from. You need not be ashamed because 1/2 the battle is seeing your idols and the ‘near sins’!! I am sure God will bring healing to your heart here..I would highly recommend listening to Tim Keller’s sermon linked above. It will really help..It helped and encouraged me tremendously! Can’t wait to hear your input here in our study.
Welcome welcome, Robin! You will find love and prayer support here!
I love your honesty and vulnerability already! Welcome Robin–so thankful He has led you here. I was new to the group as well and quickly felt like part of the “family”, they are truly a gift!
Welcome to you Robin. I also appreciate your honesty. It does appear frightening to face down these idols but just remember, do not stand alone. His part is the greater and He is so faithful. And, we stand for you in prayer.
Robin, you have such a beautiful heart. Your honesty and vulnerability pleases the Lord and it makes His heart smile. Be encouraged that you ARE taking steps in the right direction and the Lord is on your side, He is for YOU! Be encouraged that we all have something that when the Lord asks us to give it up and surrender it to His lordship, we have an attitude of kicking and screaming…you’re not alone. The more you focus on Him and the more you rest in His intimate love, you loose focus of the things you have to give up and you will find an uncontainable joy in giving those things to the Lord. When you have time listen to the song: You Are For Me by Kari Jobe. Here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tCXObtC_fk&NR=1
Welcome Robin, I also have the same problem
Welcome, Robin! I understand the battle with eating all too well. God has given me victory over this in the past six months, so be encouraged in the fact that if I can be changed in this, God can do the same for you.
Part II Lent
Bible Study
I think these verses all remind us that our life is fleeting, all of us will at God’s appointed time experience death on this earth (unless the Lord tarries!!) The amount of years we have is known only to God, and because we don’t know when our “time is up”, I should make every effort to live my life in such a way, the wisdom will be what rules my thoughts and actions. The only thing guaranteed in this life is death at some point.
2A According to Col 3:1-4, I have a new life!!!!!! I DO NOT have to have an idol in my life! I must set my mind on things above rather than on things that will not last, Actually my old life is not longer available to me! If my life is new….then that should mean that my old ways of thinking and acting CAN be changed….like new. The key to success is to set my gaze on Jesus!!! not the latest diet or fad to get me noticed!
2C Christ gave me a new life…..I can at least say no to the things that become idols in my life. Christ is seated at the right hand of God, the Creator of the Universe! Why do I think that He can’t handle what concerns me????
My goal for the week is to not eat after supper but to spend a half hour seeking His face, realizing that the possibility of joy, even if He does not come to me, but the anticipation that He might, is greater than any pleasure I could have in food. Night is my weak time for I am so weary — but this is my goal, and would love your prayers.
Praying for you Dee. I pray that the Lord will meet you this evening in such a glorious way you will be strengthened for all of the evenings to come. May your joy be full.
Dee, How did last night go? I can’t wait to hear!
Dee, this spoke to me: “realizing that the possibility of joy, even if He does not come to me, but the anticipation that He might, is greater than any pleasure I could have in food. ”
I will pray. I struggle with this too at night..
Lord, as Dee seeks your face this week I ask that you would come to her and that you would touch her heart in places she has never known this week. Lord bless her anticipation of you, the lover of her soul..Show her once again your pleasure and renew in her a steadfast spirit in you. We praise your holy name Lord Jesus.
Good morning Girls!
Thank you….thank you…for your warm welcome! I am excited to see how the Lord will work in me. I appreciate your acceptance, encouragment, and prayers.
My goal for this week, because I am struggling with food being my idol, is to not have any sweets. Instead, each time I want to eat a sweet treat, I will meditate or say out loud, a scripture verse. That way I am putting off the sweets, and taking in the truth of the Word of God.
Lord, I pray that you will bring to Robin a very special portion of Your word. One that she can claim as her own and memorize. As she memorizes may she find new treasure in You that will replace her idol of food. Amen
Lord, I praise You because Your mercies are new every morning and great is Your faithfulness! This morning we remember Cyndi and her son as he stands before the judge this morning. Lord, You channel the heart of the king for Your purposes and this morning we ask that the heart of this judge will fulfill Your purposes. May he be filled with mercy for this young man. I pray that you would fill Cyndi’s son’s heart with peace and confidence in You right now. May he trust You and find You faithful. We ask this in the name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Amen! 😉
Elizabeth, I can’t find your initial prayer request to ‘reply’ under it, but was praying for you. How is it going so far?!?
Amen!
Isaiah 44:1-2 And now listen, Jacob My servant, Israel whom I have chosen. This is the word of the Lord your Maker who shaped you from birth; He will help you: Do not fear; Jacob is My servant; I have chosen Jeshurun.
Love this verse. What a great thing to think about, that God wants to help us. We are not alone.
I think a light bulb is going on for me. I wrote in my other post about how I took a marriage Bible study and didn’t change much; not even the “love in action” assignments seemed to help. REading over this weeks lesson again, I see that replacing our idols with Christ means to “put on Christ”. See, I somehow missed that before. Those assignments were just a list of things to do (to me), I didn’t see them as putting on the actions of Christ. And I am seeing that putting on Christ isn’t something magical that just happens to me, it does require discipline and effort and, yes, work, on my part.
It just so happened that I had lunch today with the woman who taught that Bible study and I was telling her about this study, and she asked me to explain to her what it meant to replace an idol with Christ. She said so you take on the actions Christ would do. Now I see what she was getting at in her class with those assignments.
Aarrghhh….. I am such a slow learner! What was I thinking?! That Jesus would just float in an fill up the hole that my idols are occupying? That I could just pray and read Scripture (that’s part of it), but it will require action on my part!
Susan — I do think that putting on Christ has to do with both intimacy and action. As we become more intimate with Him, He does comfort us, affirm us, and show us He is control.
But it is also true, and I think this passage we’re studying and others, especially the letters of John show that the more we walk in the light, the more His light increases in us. The more we walk in His love, the more His love increases in us.
Love to you
SUSAN HAS ADDRESSED AN IMPORTANT CONCEPT — WHAT PART IS THE LORD’S — AND WHAT PART IS OURS?
KELLER TALKS ABOUT THE COMBUSTION CYCLE OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH.
WHAT PART DOES FAITH PLAY IN “PUTTING ON?” TERESA OF AVILA SAID: “Self-reliance is what destroyed me.”
LET’S ASK GOD TO SHOW US AND SHARE OUR CONTEMPLATIONS.
Self-reliance destroys because we do not need faith to rely on ourselves. Only if we’re looking to God is faith on the front burner!
My mom and I were talking just yesterday about how much importance the world puts on “self esteem” (perhaps a different name for self reliance, or very close to the same thing) and how life with God is so much different than that. I find that when I follow God and do my best (with His help, of course) to obey, He fills my spirit with peace. In turn I am at ease with myself because I feel His love for me and know I’m a creation of His Love. Then I am at peace with Him, myself and others. Worldly “self esteem” is like the cheap imitation of what faith in Jesus creates in our lives.
I suspect that self-reliance is much the same, as no real peace or satisfaction is derived from it. If all we look at is ourselves, we will find spiritual destruction inside. But Christ frees us from all of this, transforming and making ALL THINGS NEW!!!
Well put Tracy. Especially the part about the cheap imitation of faith in the Lord.
Our part is meshed with the working of the Holy Spirit at the same time really: I am thinking obedience comes into play..Listening to His word, then listening to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in our life, then Repentance, but even His goodness leads us to true repentance, then walking in obedience-choosing the Word of God via the nudging of the Holy spirit’s convictions over our old man who is always pushing us in the opposite direction, and then obeying, and trusting by faith the outcome.
I think action is when we make time to open our bibles and read, go to church on Sunday, get involved with the people at church, meet with other believers during the week..Even then the Lord is involved and there is faith in Him forging those deep relationships and bringing those divine appointments in our paths.
Good, Rebecca.
I’m thinking for me, that “my part” involves HUMILITY. It’s dropping the mask, putting down my defensive nature. I often think I should have been a lawyer because I can make a case/defense/excuse for anything I do! So I see my part as dropping all of that, laying down my pride. I picture myself as the woman pouring perfume on Jesus’ feet–she had to be on her knees, lower than Him, to do so.
With that brokenness, requires the faith to know that if I lay down my mask, He will rescue me, He will forgive and restore, I won’t be trampled upon.
Love how you brought a picture to this strong truth.
Elizabeth, you nailed it. The woman pouring perfume on Jesus feet -she had to bend her knees lower than him to do so..Great observation..You made me remember also that back then for a woman to take her hair down and wipe someone’s feet was really never done, it was like the lowest thing to do.
I think its a cart before the horse problem. we tend to want the cart to move without the horses to pull it.
what I mean is that we try to “be good” so that God will be “put on” but we can only push that cart a little way on our own….it is not until the horses are hooked up that it goes where it is meant to go….. Holy Spirit is the horses, and where it takes us is our faith in action.
make sence?????
Hello everyone :)! My name is Laura. I came across this blog after reading one of Dee’s books which was referred to me by a friend. Within 24 hours of having the book in my hands, I had finished it and my heart was deeply touched (Thank you Dee!), which led me to to this blog. As I was reading through all of the entires on the topic: More of a Heart of Flesh today I really felt the Lord leading me to participate in what the Lord is doing here in and through all of you. I am 20 years old and I am a sophomore in college. At the beginning of the semester, I had to move home from college because of financial and health reasons, so now I am an online student. It has not been easy for me making the transition from being at college to living back at home, but the Lord is faithful!
As I was spending time with the Lord today and really asking Him to show me the areas of sin and the idols in my life that need to go, I felt a little bit overwhelmed. I think I have all three of the idols in my life and each idol contains a lot of stones.
-Security/Comfort – I really struggle with laziness and procrastination especially when it comes to spending time with the Lord, school work, and being motivated to doing things that I enjoy. Gluttony and over-eating have always seemed to loom around me and be an idol in my life. For years, I was addicted to food which led to years of being enslaved to an eating disorder and while the Lord has given me victory over that, there are still parts of it that I have not completely crushed yet.
-Affirmation/Approval-Being a woman, I want to be married and I look forward to that day with great anticipation and while that desire can be healthy, I have made it an unhealthy desire in my life.
-Control/Power-I struggle in this area more than I had realized. I have a sin habit of pride and having to defend myself or justify my actions rather than being humble and apologizing. I have a sin habit of complaining, manipulation, and being overly critical of people, especially my family. I struggle with anger and often times I take that anger out on other people. I also with struggle with controlling myself through perfectionism, feeding myself lies, and not allowing myself to be free or enjoy life or love myself.
As I was listening to the sermon by Tim Keller (which was very challenging and thought provoking – I really enjoyed it!) I realized how upset I get with myself when I do not just stop sinning. My hearts desire is intimacy with the Lord and purity before Him, but sometimes I get so annoyed with myself because I just cannot seem to get it right or I cannot seem to stop sinning in a particular area, but I felt really encouraged by what Tim Keller said: “If you feel the fight is is a sign of life and a sign of growth and a sign that God is working in you.” After listening to his sermon, I felt a sigh of relief. There is so much beauty in Keller’s words.
Keller also said: “When you look at your sins and get a deeper knowledge of your sin and you are lead to despair, I have to begin to ask you on what basis do you believe God loves you? Your efforts? Your moral excellence or meeting standards?” I know that God loves me, but subconsciously I have it engraved that it is about my efforts or being perfect – and I think that comes from the perfectionist standards I have for myself.
As I was writing the above at one point I asked myself if I was yet again being to hard on myself or being to perfectionist, but I really felt the Lord saying that this isn’t. It could feel like it because well owning our sin does not normally feel good all of the time. But this is me unmasking my sin – this is me being ruthless with myself and not allowing myself to make excuses or hide behind the sin in my life.
None of these idols is worth what the Lord is. And I am tired of grieving the Holy Spirit and breaking the Lord’s heart. None of my sin is worth it. I want to do whatever it takes. My heart’s desire is for more intimacy with the Lord. And that is where I am headed and I am going to smash every single idol that wants to get in the way of that. Psalm 73:25-26 says,
“25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”
I want to desire nothing but the Lord…I want more of Him and less of me. I want more of Him and less of everything else. I am excited to see where the Lord is going to take what He is stirring up inside my heart. God is just so stinking good :)! The sweetness of His love is so beautiful.
The stone in that I am going to work on this week is: my tongue. I feel the Lord is leading me to work on apologizing and being humble rather than defending myself or trying to justify my actions. As well as, really allowing Him to remove the negative and critical things that I say to people, especially my family and then allowing Him to replace it with words of love and words the will build up, rather than tear down.
Other comments from the Bible Study:
Psalm 90:12 – I loved how the psalmist used the phrase “that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When we come to the reality that our life is short and we start living that way, truly living that way, we gain a heart of wisdom because we understand what this life is about: an intimate love relationship with the Lord and out of that everything else flows.
Colossians 3:2 – I was reading out of the Amplified version which says, “And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things)…” I love the wording “keep them set.” I know for me I set my mind on the Lord and things above, but I do not always keep my mind there. It has to be a continual thing that is always being renewed.
Be encouraged sisters in Christ! The Lord is for you! I am praying for each of you and believing with great expectation that the Lord is going to amaze you with what He is going to do in and through each of you! 🙂
Laura — forgive me for not seeing this sooner. I will paste it in the most recent.
1B. Psalm 90:9-12 I am baffled by this portion of scripture. I am taking a stab at it and saying that we do not tend to understand our purpose in life, getting caught up in the things of the world and thinking that our lives are only temporal. People work hard to gain the things this world has to offer with very little thought for God and eternity to come.
I think so, hence the admonition of verse 12.
2. Read Colossians 3:1-4
A. What, according to verse 1, are we to seek, and why?
Seek things above—eternal things, because we have been raised from our old mortal life, to a life with Christ
B. A key secret to success is in verse 2. What is it?
Eternal perspective. Think about God, his ways, things that matter for eternity—our relationship with Christ, growing in our knowledge and love of Him, our relationship in the body and the great commission. Do not dwell on temporal, worldy things—our physical appearance, reputation, wealth, material possessions.
D. What truth are we told, and what, therefore, should be our response?
The truth is that Christ is our LIFE—and when He appears, we will be like Him in all His glory!
It was interesting to look at the verse prior to these again—verses 2:20-23: Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? … 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom….but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
It reminded me so much of what we’ve all been saying—we’ve tried to “stop this or stop that”…and it has an appearance of purity—but these “rules” alone lack any power to truly change us.
The only way for me to truly change is to fall more in love with Him. And I’ve been thinking on this—I want Jesus to be the One thing I can’t get enough of—the One I crave—the One who is always on my mind. I get so easily distracted, or just trying to get through the day….looking forward to 8:30 so my husband and I can play scrabble or watch a home show once the kids are down! And then it starts all over again, getting through the daily fires, making it to the end…I do feel reminded of the importance of making the most of our time. And I want more time thinking about Him and remembering my True Love.
Great point about the previous verses Elizabeth especially v. 23.
Yes, yes.
2a. We are to seek that which is above because that is where our Messiah is, in heaven with God the Father.
b. The key to success is to be thinking about what is above, not what is on earth. This makes me think of the verse that says not to make plans to satisfy the flesh which is what we do when we live for this life alone.
d. While my life on this earth seems real enough to me now, it is not my REAL life. My real life is no more visible in this world than Christ is. My response should be to lay up treasure in heaven and not here in this life. Knowing this helps me to see that any suffering here is brief compared to eternity in glory with Christ. It helps me to see my life from His perspective.
OK, just had to share this song we have sung the past 2 weeks at church because it really goes along with our journey, to me. I couldn’t find this song on utube yet, but had to share this link (you can hear the song here: http://redmountainmusic.bandcamp.com/album/all-things-new)
Here are the words (it is a hymn written by Horatius Bonar in 1846)
Come Lord, and tarry not;
Bring the long-looked-for day;
O why these years of waiting here,
These ages of delay?
Come, for Thy saints still wait;
Daily ascends their sigh:
The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”:
Dost Thou not hear the cry?
O Come and make all things new;
Come and make all things new
O Come and make all things new
Build up this ruined earth;
O Come and make all things new, all things new
Come, for creation groans,
Impatient of Thy stay,
Worn out with these long years of ill,
These ages of delay.
Come for love waxes cold
Its steps are faint and slow
Faith now is lost in unbelief
Hope’s lamp burns dim and low
(chorus)
Beautiful. I love the words to these old hymns and churches that sing them always stir my heart.
Lukes court went very well, it was plead down to a trafic violation and he will have NO criminal record!!!! thank you all for praying!!! now I am off to the ER with Emma. her eyes are starting to swell shut with the hives that have been all over her body for 2 days and she is complaining that she is having a hard time breathing….all prayers are coveted!
Praise for the court outcome – prayers for Emma – she is having an allergic reaction to something?
Praying for Emma to be okay…so thankful Luke’s court went well.
Cyndi, AMEN!!!!!!
Cyndi, so sorry to hear about Emma..How is she this morning? I just got the prayer request this morning. Will pray for healing..It does sound like an allergy of some kind. Hope she came out o.k.
oh So relieved about Luke, but yes–will definitely pray for Emma-keep us posted!
Hurrah — how we rejoice for this for Luke.
Poor little Emma — we pray for her. I remember something similar happening with Annie after we adopted her. We didn’t know she was wildly allergic to cats and babysat two cats one weekend. Scary when they can’t breathe.
So glad about Luke. So thankful for prayer support here.
Wonderful news about Luke. Thank You Lord!
We had an allergy incident with fabric softners. Is anything new in the laundry?
thanks all!!! when we got there they said her lungs were clear and that she was not swollen shut but she was COVERED with hives. they gave her prednazone and I stoped giving her benadryl…I think she was allergic to it!!!! the one thing that i was giving her to HELP was making it way worse….she is better today, but Lily has a bad headache….*sigh* I think this may be a season with no studying but lots of talking to my Lord:) love you all, hope to be back soon….
One thing about the “our part and God’s part” – caught some of Charles Stanley’s sermon today about the struggle to live the Christian life and how relying on the Spirit is not some one-time thing we do in prayer, but an hour by hour and often moment by moment reliance on the Holy Spirit. That made sense to me in that I’ve had wonderful times of prayer in the morning, confessing sin and asking God to help me change, then the family gets up and an hour later I’m mad at my daughter, for example, and saying unkind things to her. Then I think, well what about my wonderful prayer time? What happened? His sermon makes sense because even if I’ve confessed a sin or sinful attitude, it’s not over and done with now – my flesh is still here and it’s still a battle; I may literally need to ask the Spirit for His help every five minutes!
So it is God who helps me but I need to recognize my dependence on Him and ask for help.
Yes, yes, very good.
I clicked on the link to listen to the sermon but it took me to the Redeemer store page – I can’t listen online – how did some of you listen? It looks like it must be purchased?
1. On Ash Wednesday, Christians are reminded that their lives are fragile and fleeting. Truly, we should know this, but are often in denial. What do the following passages say, and what are your reflections on each?
A. Ecclesiastes 7:2
* Going into the house of mourning when I see my frailty usually leads me to contemplation and deep reflective thoughts..I usually come out thinking about preparing now for the time I see Jesus face to face, for my time here isn’t for long..putting on Christ. Whenever I am lost in the world or in a season where I am taking it easy I don’t reflect and it is a huge waste of time- nothing comes out of it. The things I focus on are a waste of time..they are empty and vain.
* I am now 46 years old and I see that age is coming on..I see a big change in my body and my neck, my back etc..I see death on the outside, but I see life on the inside-an ageless thriving life that He has given me and when I am in mourning-reflecting and having some deep encouraging thoughts, His beauty inside me will keep getting more vibrant. What matters is having Him increase inside and me decrease. There isn’t anything more beautiful than a woman at any age who is overflowing with the light of Christ inside. That is my goal to continue to grow..to go upward and onward and if God gives me a long life here on Earth I want to radiate His reflection so strongly that the people I meet will know I have been with Jesus and will desire that too.
Today Lent officially begins with Ash Wednesday — but what a great start we have on this holy season. May God give us His grace throughout this time. How thankful I am for each of you.
Hey ladies!! So much has happened while I have been away. Prayers and praises lifted for all I have read. Happy Ash Wednesday.
Wow! Sermon was SO great!! Thanks for sharing.
I still keep pondering how idols cannot be removed but need to be replaced.
Those idols of control and approval keep moving back and forth by trying to take over.
Seeing great progress by drawing nearer to HIM. Glad the stone of approval decreased so I could see the stone of control hiding closely behind. God is replacing these with Him. Exposing them so I can confess them.
Ecc. 7:2-Realization that life is short. Live it well.
Psalm 90:9-12-Live our lives well because they are short.
Colossians 3:1-4-Our focus continually needs to be on Christ not on the temporary.
Like this line from the message “be content with obscurity, like Christ.” Soon he will come for us and we will be with Him forever.
Goals-Cutting all sugar/sweets and sticking to only vegetables, fruits and protein this week. Will try to use only uplifting words to combat this critical need for control. I have been really struggling with working with the special needs of my child and agreement with my husband on parenting. I see her 24 hours and he does not. I need to approach this stuff positively and not critically. Also my oldest gets her feelings hurt way too easily esp feeling she does not get as much attn. Instead of being cross I need to be uplifting. Will find Scripture to memorize to help with this. Already have a note card with some of those about the tongue.
Love to you all!! Glad to be walking this with you all.
How are you doing, Angela? How can we pray?
Part III. #4.
I’ve set my goal for this week, beginning today, Ash Wednesday. I don’t know if it’s a ‘two part’ goal, but I do want the idols removed in my life, or I should say, replaced with more of Jesus.
I thought of several ‘action plans’ and specific struggles, but I have chosen to begin first by making a plan to spend 10-15 minutes with Jesus in the morning, and again before I go to bed. To help me I am using Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening” devotions. During these minutes, I just want to focus on Jesus.
Today’s morning reading was about how Jesus is “alltogether lovely”, a verse from Song of Solomon 5:16.
“His mouth is sweetness itself,
He is alltogether lovely.”
I find that I can do Bible study, pray, but not really spend time with Jesus, just for the sake of Him alone. If He is going to be more to me than my idols, I need to grow closer to Him and grow in my love for Him. I hope to persevere with these two times a day all during Lent, not just this week. But for me, this is the first building block for other weekly goals I may set.
Listened to Keller’s sermon last night. I could listen many times! So much there.
What I especially gleaned is how “the cycle by which you grow – the thing you must be doing DAILY – is moving from repentance to faith.” I know daily repentance is not something I do; I repent when I become aware of sin or when I blow it big time.
Also very helpful was his saying “If you don’t rest your life on the gospel, then a discovery of your sin will lead you to despair.”
I need to really reflect on that, because my sin and failures often do lead me in a downward spiral, indicating that I am not resting in Christ and His finished work for me on the Cross.
I do not believe that even my “good” behavior can earn my salvation, yet I have a pervasive, underlying emotion of “when I’m good He loves me more, and when I’m bad, then…..”
Keller posed the question, “On what basis do you believe God loves you?”
Then back to our discussion on God’s part and our part – a couple of verses that do indicate our responsibility is 1 Timothy 4:7, “train yourself to be godly.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul speaks about not running like a man running aimlessly (we need to have a target); “I beat my body and make it my slave”. I like what Rebecca said about “meshing” – surely we rely on the Spirit but we must be diligent and like Paul’s analogy of an athlete in training.
I love Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening. I get in a daily email. I also got the ebook for my Kindle.
My friend Linnea send me this link, particularly apt for today, the beginning of Lent. I think you’ll love it. I did.
http://www.aholyexperience.com/
Her blog is one of my favorites–never fails to move me to tears!
I also thought you would like this Dee, you may have it already–but it is from Piper’s site, it gives readings for Lent:
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/lenten-lights
I grew up in a very non-evangelical Catholic family (we are PCA now), and now to be able to celebrate Lent and Easter and appreciate the richness of the high church traditions–not rote or dead, but alive and moving–it is so beautiful! I think that’s why I love the Confessions so much. Sorry to spiel!
Thanks so much, Elizabeth!
Thanks for Ann’s Link Dee, how raw in regard to the reality of our sin and the bondage it puts us in, yet the beauty of repentance and release.
I have spent the last 23 years walking with Jesus yet never reflecting on Lent the right way because I have never been shown the deeper meaning of it before. I grew up in the Lord mostly being around an atmosphere of never being vulnerable about the reality of our flesh and how ugly and how much of a stronghold it can have on us.
I am encouraged seeing Ann’s honesty about her depravity because I too sit in my dark tent. I don’t think that in our circles the reality of the daily repentance/faith cycle is mentioned much..Even amongst the closest to us. I hear more of ‘trusting in Him’ or the faith part rather than repentance, and I put myself in that camp as well.
I feel a huge weight off my shoulders and now when I have joy in the Lord yet an hour later the old man takes over I know it is sin and it is this battle and God knows it and desires for me to come to Him and repent and embrace His grace and the beauty of His resurrection in my life.
It is daily and I think what helps sometimes is having a sister I can share with like Ann shared with her brother. Sometimes God does that..He brings others along and it helps us see or solidify his gentle convicting of the strongholds in our hearts.
Rebecca — your heart and your ability to articulate it is such a balm to me, and I am sure, to others. Lent is somewhat new to me since many of the churches from my past did not observe it. Last night my daughter-in-law Julie and I went to Redeemer Fellowship (Kansas City) Ash Wednesday service — first time to have ashes put on our forehead — it was so moving.
Oh Dee, I now see the significance and can understand how it moved you and Julie..So thankful you both got to experience this together. How beautiful!
We’re half way in the week — we’ve had Ash Wednesday. Any God hunt stories?
I’ve had two nights of not eating at night and drawing closer to the Lord. Yesterday I was thinking, “I sense You with me Lord.” No thunderclaps, but a sweet sense of His presence. I’ve had both the joy of worship in community at a wonderful Ash Wednesday service last night, and the joy of being with Him alone. My first night I read from a devotional in Lael Arrington’s Faith and Culture on how the Bible compares sexual intimacy with communion with God. In order for sexual intimacy to be beautiful, it must be kept pure — and be private. The analogy is that we must repent of other lovers to be close to God, and unless we are communing with Him in private, it may only be for show. Interesting to contemplate.
Want to hear how He is moving in your hearts. I loved Rebecca’s thoughts above.
I also have changed my evening routine to attack my idol of comfort. I have experienced nothing profound but rather the deep need of my soul to cling to Him. For me fasting has always been so difficult, not just the physical hunger but it seems to leave my soul raw and trembling. Maybe it is because my idols can no longer comfort me. Not only the comfort idol but also approval. I have always had the sense that it is a good thing even though it is so painful. I pray for clarity of God’s purpose for us right now that we may break free of these idols.
I can identify with the pain, Anne. Idols are quicker to take away that pain temporarily. I think we’ll get stronger each night, and though we cannot make God come to us, I believe He will. And He is pleased as we wait upon Him. Praying for you, sister!
I so covet your prayers! Praying also for you and all of us. We are on a wonderful journey together. Lifting you up to be our fearless leader. I absolutely could not do this without the support and leadership of this group.
This is what God is showing me right now so I had to hop on and share: Yes, I hate with a passion this old man inside..I want to tear at it and have it be gone forever because it makes me weary knowing I have grieved God over and over, yet strangely I am at the same time thankful for it because God uses it to take me away from self reliance and push me toward the repentance/faith cycle-and then of course, growth, putting on Christ. Praise Him for his redeeming grace!
Yes, I see what you mean Rebecca. We want it gone but it is our flesh and to tear at it is painful and damaging. What we need is surgery by the Great Physician. Unless we lay down (repent and trust) He will not begin.
Wow. As I think more about this analogy, I am blown away. I see it every day and have experienced it myself. The fear, resignation and often trust of those who must have surgery. The waking up on the other side in complete dependence. Gradually, the healing begins…
Anne, I am so thankful for you sister..When we talk of these deeper things..I see Christ in you and my heart does jump with joy. 🙂
Yes, the healing is gradual, and right now even though it is a microcosm of the whole that needs to be healed in me, and it is ugly, yet there is beauty..His redeeming power and grace in my life.
I wonder without these battles if I would ever look upward?
1. both remind us that this world is only temporary, we need to keep our HEARTS in heaven even if our bodies are here on earth.
2. If we belong to Jesus we are only have life if we die to let him live. We need to be willing to die to our selves for Jesus to be alive IN us.
practically, if I am kicking and screaming and insisting on my own way, Jesus can not shine through me. I think of an acorn clinging to a tree (my old self) not wanting to let go and fall.. If It does not let go it will die anyway but will not have any LIFE come out of that death. Only If it CHOOSES to let go and DIE will it have the ability to grow into an amazing tree…
4. I have to laugh out loud when I think of what my goals for lent were. I had decided that I was going to go to bed and 10 and get up and 6:30 so I could spend time with Jesus every morning before the madness of this house began… I also wanted to eat only at meals and not snack…..reality was that I have been up past midnight with sick little girls or teenagers needing an ear. I have not had time to make a real meal all week and have done NOTHING but snack all week:) hmmmmmm I wonder if my goals were feeding my idol of control and God decided to laugh at me:)
Soooooooo for this week my goal is to LISTEN when my kids are talking, AND KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT! (a monumental task for this control freak mama) focus on the needs at the moment so as to not get overwhelmed with the tasks of the day, and ask for help when I need it instead of “guilting” my family into feeling sorry for me so that they will help with me not having to ask.
what a wonderful gift….my girls have slept all morning!! I have had over an hour to lean on HIM.
I can imagine a chuckle from God too. You have all of the qualities of a great mom (and flexible too). Your kids are so blessed.
oh dear Cyndi–I read this part: “to LISTEN when my kids are talking, AND KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT! (a monumental task for this control freak mama)” and thought we MUST be long-lost twins! and then as I read on what ALL you are going through and your amazing response and steadfast faith–and I thought, no, I unfortunately would be a whiney mess at that point!
We are headed out of town–but I will definitely continue to pray for you during this trial–really sounds like an attack, but He who is in you is greater!
Praying for healing, protection, and for Him to cover you with His wings.
Cyndi, when I read over what I said I realize that I made very light of your hardship. I am sorry. It is just so hard to make plans sometimes because of the way things happen and that part I can relate to and laugh about. I will pray all the more for your girls.
no you didn’t Anne! we will all be fine, Im not nursing a dieing child or dealing with life long illnesses (my husband is type 1 diabetic) this will pass soon:) is just a little thing in the big picture. thanks so much for your wonderful prayers and your kind words. your comment “your kids are so blessed” made my day!!!!!!!!
Elizabeth, don’t worry, i whine too:) trying not to.. but ya know…… have a wonderful trip and thanks so much for your prayers!!!
Ellie is down now, so 3 sick kids home tomorrow…
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me:)
Thanks Cyndi. Praying for Ellie too. And you too.
I have had a roller coaster of a day. Quiet morning followed by breakfast with my husband before he went to work. Then my oldest called and asked if he could bring his girlfriend over in an hour (I feel fortunate he called)! My husband told me to relax on his way out the door. I said nooo…this is way too important…not just one of the guys. So I got it together and laid out tea for them. I had to take Joey to the doctor but we did have time for a nice lunch with him too. Then the coaster went down at the foot doctor. We had planned to get orthotics for Joey but that won’t work. He has to have surgery and he is very upset by that. He wants to control. I am praying that he will trust, God and the doctor and anesthesia people. I know God will use this for good in his life, making him stronger.
Was this the first time you met the girlfriend?
Joey is facing hard things young and I agree with your prayer that he will trust.
We spent some time with her over Christmas and I liked her very much. I forgot to share the main reason I even brought it up. They both gave up something for lent! I was so surprised impressed with Al. I think he did it more for her because I am pretty sure she has some spiritual depth to her. At times I have prayed for a girlfriend that would draw him back to the Lord. I don’t know where she is spiritually but he told me that one of the reasons he likes her is because their faith is similar. I don’t know for sure but this could be answered prayer. At Christmas we went to midnight mass with them. She sings like an angel and that melted my heart. I guess that is kind of superficial.
For Joey I agree that this is an opportunity to trust. He must have surgery but the timing is the thing because while the surgery itself is rather simple he must do one at a time and be casted for a month for each leg:-( He wants to do it all over the summer because he feels unsafe going to school on crutches. He says he won’t be able to defend himself. More later on that because I am upset about it.
Emma has strep and mono. did not show up on the rappid….Lily is sick, she has started the diarrhea… and we are treating both girls w/antibiotics now…..
Oh my, Cyndi! Praying for that sense of humor not to give out.
I’ll pray for those little girls. Hard.
your so kind! I am feeling all the prayers!!!! I can not believe how blessed I am to have such wonderful sisters lifting my up!!!! I am praying for all of you too! praying your nights with out food lead you to Jesus arms Anne and Dee!!!
I’m lifting you all up in prayer, even tho I’m not writing much, your all still my sister’s in the Lord and I care deeply about all of you.
We miss you Joyce.
2. Read Colossians 3:1-4
A. What, according to verse 1, are we to seek, and why?
* We are to put our minds on things above because we have been raised with Christ
B. A key secret to success is in verse 2. What is it?
C. Meditate on verses 3-4 in your translation, and also, as paraphrased in The Message:
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
D. What truth are we told, and what, therefore, should be our response?
2. Read Colossians 3:1-4
A. What, according to verse 1, are we to seek, and why?
* We are to set our hearts on things above because we have been raised with Christ. Christ is our life..This is reality..we have been raised with Him to new life. We are hidden with Christ in God, not hidden in our gods or the things of this earth anymore-so we are not bound we are free..But because of the old man inside us we tend to bind ourselves back up by seeking earthy comfort, approval, control rather than resting in the FACT that we already have God’s comfort, approval and control yet we bind ourselves back up hiding ourselves in our gods, yet even then God’s love, approval, control and comfort is still there we just need to get out of bed with our idol, repent and turn back to Him.
B. A key secret to success is in verse 2. What is it?
* To set our minds on Jesus rather than on the things of this Earth. I think whenever I have anything on this Earth that tempts me by telling me it will bring me comfort or take me away from pain, anxiety or stress, or bring me approval or give me control then that is a huge clue that I am about ready to get into bed with the idol and start the affair..Once I get that clue I need to turn and run from him to Jesus.
good graphic word picture — flee flee at first flag
C. Meditate on verses 3-4 in your translation, and also, as paraphrased in The Message:
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life-even though invisible to spectators-is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up too-the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
D. What truth are we told, and what, therefore, should be our response?
* We aren’t like we were..Therefore we should never look back..we are new creatures in Christ..MY REAL LIFE IS IN CHRIST NOT IN THIS WORLD..Although we are here, as scripture says, we are aliens. Christ is my ‘real life’..WOW..Sorry, I am having a duh moment..Yes, I know this and lived it in my baby years as a Christian but the old gods got in the way that I didn’t even know I had. See what being in bed with by my lying, cheating, self serving god does? He took me away from intimacy with Jesus and from the reality that Jesus is my real life and convinced me this Earth is my ‘real life’ so my mind was set on my circumstances more so than Jesus, but oh my THE TRUTH..THE REALITY OF WHO I AM IN HIM and TO WALK WITH JESUS IN REALITY RIGHT HERE AND NOW!!!! I AM BOUND IN HIM, YET FREE! ♥
Sorry for the double post above. I was doing my study and went back to what I had posted and it was gone so I reposted.
PART III. WEEKLY GOAL AND GOD HUNT
* Jesus has taken the throne of comfort and then I started seeing Approval/control back there as well. SO..I am going to work on memorizing Psalm 103 and ask Jesus to make me aware of the red flags so I can turn-repent and yet at the same time listen to his soothing balm of Psalm 103 as he sings his sweet love song into my ears that he has crowned me with love and compassion and satisfies my desires..He is Holy, He gave His life for me and brought me under His wings and gave me His word and His Holy Spirit..I am His..He is my life..I must now walk in faith and trust what He says in Psalm 103. I remember memorizing Psalm 103:19 based on when Dawson Trotman died..the story of how his wife responded by quoting that verse. It moved me and I wanted to have the same response of confidence in the Lord and faith in my heart, but I didn’t know the depth of that verse until now, so it takes on a deeper meaning for me.
4. Set a goal, just for this week, on what you would like removed and how you will replace it. (I think it is better to set goals on a weekly basis than for the whole seven weeks of Lent.) What is your goal?
* I am a little late for this week, but that is o.k. God knew..So, This week I am setting the goal of memorizing Psalm 103 and really setting my mind on Him..I would like the Approval god removed..I see it in my relationship with wanting approval from my husband, the people I sing with and the body at my church who hears me. I have had victory in bible study comment approval..I have replaced God’s approval with it, at least for now..There is still work He needs to do in removing it completely, so I am open and willing to go through this valley with Him..to get out of the cleft of the rock that my idol put me in..
Just heard about the tremendous earthquake in Japan.
Lord, we lift up the people in Japan, the rescue teams, the families. I don’t even know how to pray — so much suffering — help, O Lord. And with those preparing for Tsuanami in Hawaii and here because of it.
Be with us, O Lord. We are dust, and to dust we will return.
In Jesus Name
Ladies,
I need for you to pray if you remember..I left my purse at Wal mart and thankfully it was returned with everything in it, but the prayer request is that when I realized i left it, I told their boy to let his parents know that I had to run up to Walmart and that I would be right back. It would only take 20 minutes. The boys should be playing outside fine and to just keep an eye on them. Then I followed up with a call to the parents on the way there. Well, come to find out the husband had a few work appointments scheduled at that time and was in the car ready to go when his son came and told him. I guess he was really mad. So when I called him he said he was glad I called and that it was a surprise..I could tell he was upset so I apologized. It was really dumb for me to rush out that fast. I am not sure they know the Lord so I could have ruined my witness as well. That is what is more important to me.
I have apologized to him and wrote and e-mail to his wife apologizing as well. She is at school today..I forgot about that too. I thought she was at home.
Pray they would take our apology well. I think there might already be strain in our friendship due to my eldest Elijah talking with their son about the inerrancy of Scripture and how Evolution isn’t true.
I just had a thought.. I think this is my approval god tugging at me and the red flag is that I am apologizing over and over to them..Why? Perhaps so they won’t be mad at me or talk about me behind my back to the neighbors. I better get before God right now..
oh sweet Rebecca–praying for you right now!
Thanks Elizabeth!! Thanks so much! you know though I just turned on my t.v. and hearing about everything in Japan..Oh my I can’t believe I am asking for prayer for me!! Have you had a chance to see it? hundreds are dead and even some thousands they are guessing..I guess the nuclear reactor has pressure building up and if it goes off oh my!! We need to really be praying..
Lord I stand with Dee and pray for the people in Japan..I too don’t know how to pray..Oh Lord would you bring them to you through this..Lord come to their rescue..Help us to stand with them through this..
Praying for you also Rebecca. I am so thankful that your purse was safe. It is wonderful that Elijah spoke up and defended the truth he knows. God may yet bring fruit out of it.
Rebecca — my heart goes out to you. Any of us who has left their purse somewhere can identify with the panic. I pray your neighbor will receive your apology and that God will work in his heart. There are lots of factors going on here, and I will pray you will know you did your best and let it go.
Thanks for praying ladies! My neighbor sent me an e-mail..I would share it because it is awesome, but am always uncomfortable sharing e-mails unless I have permission.
God worked it all out and all is good between my neighbor and us! They accepted my apology with grace and even said they appreciated having good neighbors and it is good to continue to be there to help each other out like we have with our kids and stuff. I am truly blessed they even let their kids still play with ours after all the deeper spiritual discussions Elijah has had with their son.
Oh and Dee nailed it..She is so wise..She saw the deeper waters of my heart when she said she would pray I did my best and let it go-that was exactly where I was at.. She also confirmed what my husband told me right after it happened. He said the same thing..To let it go..Keep praying that way PLEASE, that is my weakness..I FIRMLY believe God is going to change that in me. This situation is proof that He is at work.
I must mention also at the same time the drama unfolded with my neighbor there was something that happened that made me smile. When I left my purse at Wal mart I also left my cart with groceries in it..The funny part is that the employees at Walmart thought I had been kidnapped! I guess it was the event of the morning for them. 🙂 The manager came in and threw her arms in the air saying-I am so glad you are o.k.! We were worried you had been kidnapped in the parking lot! 🙂
No one usually leaves their purse AND groceries in the cart in the parking lot and I am known to have blonde roots sometimes.. 🙂 I AM getting older AND forgetful but I was distracted by the new bike we got Jake and I put it in the van and forgot to get the rest of the stuff in my cart. 🙂