Some of you may remember when I wanted to call my book on idols “The Stonecutter.” It was here, with you dear sisters, that I tested what would become Idol Lies. Though I do think that is a clever title from the publisher, sometimes I think about writing a sequel called The Stonecutter, for I keep learning about idols, and I do see them as returning stones to our heart that block the presence of God. One of my favorite Rebecca quotes is: “The presence of God is like a stream, and I hate it when the rocks get in the way.”
Ezekiel explains that we are delivered first from the penalty of sin by being given a new heart — a heart transplant!
Paige Benton Brown took this picture and explained that the body naturally wants to reject anything foreign, and heart transplant patients must be on guard daily with habits that will help their body not reject their new heart. We must continually allow the power of the cross to renew our hearts. We must like David, confess our sin sincerely, ask for Him to create in us again a clean new heart, and reveal that has happened by bearing fruit worthy of repentance. What motivates us to live daily like this? Gazing at the cross.
That is where Paul Tripp will take us this week, ending with this facinating passage which we will comb through together.
Sunday:
The 40 days of Lent takes Sundays off, but if you want to share a way God has worked in your life in this last week, this is the day to do it! Here are some ways you might have seen His fingerprints this week:
- A passage in Scripture becomes “radioactive,” giving you the wisdom, comfort, conviction, or just a push you need that day.
- A clear answer to prayer
- Unusual timing or circumstances that make you see His fingerprints
- Help to do His work in the world
- Something in His creation that puts you in awe
- Kindness from His children
- A sense of His presence
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Do you have a way you saw God at work?
Monday – Day 11.
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
5. Read Romans 2:1-16 and ask the Lord to convict you of any sin you might have been ignoring.
Tuesday – Day 12.
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
8. Do the prayer exercise on Colossians 3:1-10.
Wednesday – Day 13.
Christ is the better and final Adam, the better and final Priest, the better and final slain Lamb.
9. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
10. Take one of the final three questions to answer.
11. Do the prayer exercise.
Thursday: Day 14.
Today is about how sin blinds us — heart idols are hidden — all you can see is the bad fruit that emanates from them. David Powlison said, “When anything bad comes out of our heart or mouth, a heart idol is at work.”
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why?
13. Do question 2 or 3 from the end.
14. Do the prayer exercise.
Friday: Day 15.
15. What insight does Paul Tripp give into this Ezekiel 14 passage? What insight do you have?
16. Do one questions from the end.
17. Do the prayer exercise.
Saturday: Day 16.
18. What stands out to you from this chapter and why?
19. Choose one of the questions to answer thoughtfully.
20. Do the prayer exercise.
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Scripture becoming radioactive: In our church we listen to the sermon ahead of time instead of in church — and I play a part in choosing them. This morning it is the Good Samaritan and Keller had 2 sermons on it. I only listened to one and e-mailed that out. Then this morning I decided to listen to the other one — preached twenty years later. Keller said he hadn’t really gotten the heart of the parable before — oh my — how I regret not listening to both. But in true Keller fashion he showed how all religions motivate us to love the needy through guilt — which is an ineffective long-term motivator. He brought out how only the gospel can truly motivate us. We despised Christ, yet He brought us to Himself and bathed our wounds, and stayed by our side. The injured man on the road may have despised Samaritans, yet the Samaritan bathed his wounds, and stayed by our side. That is gospel kindness. There was much in the sermon that was so good — but it was the kick I needed because it had the power of the cross.
This past week Day 8 was the radioactive lesson for me. The scripture to reflect on was Ephesians 2:1-22 and we were encouraged to praise God for what is yours in Christ. The radioactive verses were “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—”Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
I had felt like such a failure and was awake in the night and did that lesson. God “being rich in mercy and grace” deeply encouraged my heart and I experienced my being made alive because of his great love. Life is hard in this old world but we serve a very gracious God!
Bev — Keller tied that verse to how Jesus is foreshadowed in the Samaritan in the Good Samaritan — and we are the ones half dead on the road.
I love that, Dee. I believe all of Scripture points us to Jesus. It is upsetting when some good Christians believe the Good Samaritan was only told in order to teach us how to love our neighbor and is not about Jesus. Of course, the parable teaches us how to love our neighbor and who is our neighbor, but it most excels when it shows us our beautiful Jesus who came where we were, beaten up by sin, bleeding, and half-dead on the road, and He came to us and said, Live!
Bev, I love those verses, and I have seen the evidence of God being rich in mercy and grace to me this past week. He truly is mercy and grace personified.
Bev-I love those verses too! We sing a song at church of those words, such an amazing beautiful truth.
And I love how you shared how He had you do that lesson when He knew you would need to be reminded of that truth–it is like even further evidence of the truth of the verse in that because of His rich mercy and grace He wanted you to experience it anew in your dark hour.
Bev, I’ve been meditating on those verses too and then without coincidence our pastor preached on them this morning…love when the Holy Spirit is at work.
https://youtu.be/Lgx7cCK29yM
Couldn’t help but think of this song by City Alight that goes so well with those wonderful verses.
Bev, I had a very similar experience with Lesson 8 from last week and reading through Ephesians 2. I love how God met you in the middle of the night when you were “feeling like such a failure”.
Do you have a way you saw God at work?
Help to do His work in the world and an answer to prayer
a. First, I would like to confess an inordinate order of my “loves” this week. I got bit by the “tyranny of the urgent” bug and did not do my lesson for children’s church until yesterday. I went to bed late last night still trying to decide what to do although I had the theme in mind. I woke up late today and confessed my sin of procrastination and asked God to forgive me and to help me redeem the lost time. When I went to do the lesson with the kids, a high school girl was there to help. God used her to tie all the loose ends that I failed to do and the lesson about God being our fortress came together beautifully. God sent her to help me. I came home with a grateful heart, humbled by the grace of God when I felt like a failure at the beginning of the day. His help was available when I asked for help, and it did not depend on any of my talents or my lack of preparation.
A passage in Scripture becomes “radioactive”:
In the verses in Ezekiel 14, I was struck by the phrase “embrace things that led them into sin”. Embrace means an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically. Lord, root out the loves in my heart that I have embraced and replace them with Yourself.
I bet that meant a lot to that young girl too, Bing!
Love your heart Bing!
Sunday
1. Do you have a way you saw God at work?
Answered prayer!! 1. I had been praying that God would lay it on the hearts of my son and his wife the importance of having their children in church. It’s very hard for them to consistently come to church as my son works every other weekend being a policeman and my daughter-in-law works 7 days during tax season. I really wanted the decision to come from them as we offered to take them but no response and didn’t want to come across as nagging. This last week my daughter-in-law texted me saying she’d felt a need for the boys to be in church so we took them this morning. God is working as my son commented to me that they need to get back into church too. Now, I just keep praying, trusting in the Lord and love them.
2. God has answered your prayers in regards to my health. The new medication is working well and am doing so much better. Thank you! I give Him praise for His faithfulness.
Sharon, praise the Lord! what an answer to prayers. And am glad that your body is adjusting to the new medications.
Dear Sharon, This is such a wonderful answer to prayer! God is so good. I will continue to prayer for all of them! So thankful for your new medication working well too! Praise You Lord for your faithfulness!
I’m so glad for both of these answers to prayer, Sharon!
Great answer, Sharon.
I’m way behind you ladies, but I am hobbling along. I bought the Paul Tripp book for my daughter too, and she is so thrilled to have her own book. When we can, we read the daily selection and discuss it. My daughter is so near the Kingdom, I can taste it. But I believe God has revealed a big holdup in her full surrender to His love. As we work through the daily selections, she will often make comments throughout, “Well, I don’t do that! I only think good about people. I would never have a heart idol. I would always love God the most.” And on and on it goes. When she asks me about the selection of the day, I always say, “Oh, this is pricking my heart. I am so guilty of this!” She looks at me as if I’m crazy. I am seeing that she needs a real conviction of sin before she really sees her need of a Savior, and Tripp talks about this from the beginning of his book. She does not want to go to Hell, of this she is sure. But she does not see herself as desperately in need of a Savior as she has failed to measure up to His righteousness required. I do not push her, but quietly pray that God will show her her sin, and then show her her Savior. Thank you for recommending this book to us, and if you think of it sometime, will you pray that God will soften her heart as He continues to work on my own sinful and idol-ridden heart? Love to you all.
Missy, what a kiss from the King to have your daughter be” so near the Kingdom, I can taste it”. Praying for her to have a softened heart towards God and for Him to continue to work in you, in me. Love to you as well.
Missy, I am praying that her heart will become pliable and see her sin and need for Jesus. May we all be sensitive to our constant need for Him ❤️ Thank you for sharing!
I agree with Bing and Sharon in prayer!
Amen!
Missy, what a precious time for both of you. It is a learning time for your daughter and it is so exciting. I will pray that the Lord will open the eyes of her heart. I think your example of the things that are “pricking your heart” is such a great way to help her to see what you see. She is young and it may take her time, but your love and humility will speak to her heart. Your story made my day.
Do you have a way you saw God at work?
At church yesterday the call to worship was focused on awe, and the message focused on God desire for his name to be famous among the nations. Many of the scriptures he used were the same ones that had stood out to me from last week’s study. My ability to concentrate and retain feels diminished, it made me smile to have these passages repeated, like He was being kind to me ❤️
Chris, so glad for you to have had the experience of hearing the message at church and to experience the kindness of God. He does care for the little details of our lives as our functions diminished. I, too, have trouble retaining much.
Monday – Day 11
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
From his illustration of forgiveness of someone who has sinned against you Tripp commented that you can forgive them but you are not able to change them. He goes on to make the case that the power of the cross can change us and the conscience is a very real aspect of that change and even protection against sin by serving as an alarm. The word purify is what God will do and is doing and that is a divine intervention. We are not only forgiven but being purified by the work of the Cross. Titus 2:14 says of Jesus “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Purifying is cleansing and that is what Jesus did and continues to do so he will have a spotless Bride when the time comes.
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
It is all about the blood of Jesus that is the purifier of our sin (idols). Reading on down in the passage from Hebrews the writer says “with out the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” And because of His blood sacrifice Jesus now in the presence of his Father appears on my behalf and works about the change that I need.
Verse 14 stood out to me and of what the blood of Christ has done and will do.
“how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Memorizing Scripture has had a purifying affect on my life from idols Memorizing is hard for me. I gave up on it for years but a few years ago I gave myself permission to learn and memorize the way I do it best. Very slowly! It takes me weeks to get it settled into my mind. But those verses I have learned have been a lifeline to helping me change some very negative thought patterns (idols) and have given me very real comfort in darker harder times of emotional pain because of idols and physical sickness when health has been an idol. God is so very good to me.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
3. What are some things you can do to help yourself be more sensitive to your conscience?
Keeping mindful to make confession a greater part of my prayer life. I often rush to the requests part of praying. I try always to start with praise and adoration but I fail miserably in giving time to consider my sin and seek to ask forgiveness for it. I see here that being more sensitive to my conscience is important in the aspect of confession.
You are a testimony to those who say they simply can’t memorize! Though I have friends who have opted instead to write out the verses they are studying — and that is another way they get in their heart.
Oops! My today’s response/editing triggered the spam filter. Anyhow, I did get a lot out of reading/doing the study for today. I’m encouraged to be back here — was gone for a couple of days, forgot my phone, and had no computer access. Note to self: repeat that experience periodically.
Renee you are so right! Leave the technology behind. It is good.
God met me yesterday when the kids and I joined a friend to sing “Thank You Jesus for the Blood Applied” at our church service. So sweet.
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
I’m finding this book difficult to understand. I’m sure I need to slow down and savor more of it; life seems to have sped up lately.
These thoughts stand out:
The conscience is blemished by our sin.
“The blood of Christ cleanses the conscience.”
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols?
Christ gave Himself so we could be cleansed, inside and out. He deserves respect from us; lose the idols and come to Christ!
Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
Well, this is very difficult to actually do! I suppose one cleansing that was rough stuff was releasing control of my children. Oh my! So difficult.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
Question 2: I had an incident last week with a student that I have not experienced in 26 years of teaching. I was taken off guard. I made a couple (gulp) of wrong choices and my conscience kicked in to help me out. Thank God! I was disappointed in my weakness and thankful that I had the strength to fix the problem. I do not think my conscience in that moment was tender or damaged. It bailed me out!
5. Read Romans 2:1-16 and ask the Lord to convict you of any sin you might have been ignoring. Done
Releasing control of children is so difficult — but I think you have seen God work mightily through that — am I right? Not where you want to be, but so much further than you were?
Absolutely Dee! I have such a different perspective these days. I love our Lord so much. Much more than my kids. That is key. If I only knew then what I know now….thank you Dee!
1. Do you have a way you saw God at work?
Similar to Bev’s post above, I camped out a bit on Day 8 from last week. Reflecting on the truth of my spiritual bankruptcy was convicting. I always go back to the time when I was able to hear Joe Stowell, then president of Moody Bible Institute, speak, and he said that when we first come to the cross, we are so aware of our need and poverty, but it doesn’t take us long, on the other side of the cross, to start to pin our “blue ribbons” back on ourselves. So as I imagined going to the bank and taking the lid off of my spiritual safety deposit box, I saw that it is empty indeed of anything that is mine. Reading through Ephesians 2, I read that I had been an object of wrath, BUT “because of His great love for me, God, who is rich in mercy, made me alive with Christ even when I was dead in my transgressions.” And I saw how anything that is in my spiritual bank account was deposited there by God – it is all His riches that He has graciously shared with me.
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
Other people can forgive me, but the one thing they cannot do is change me on the inside. The cross of Jesus gives me forgiveness and reconciliation, and it transforms me, too. My conscience operates by the standard that my heart has surrendered to. Sin not only blinds me, but it also blinds me to my blindness. The blood of Christ cleanses the conscience.
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life?
This passage in Hebrews points out how much more excellent is the blood of Christ to purify us than the blood of bulls and goats. I just noticed that the former sacrifices of animals purified “the flesh”, but the blood of Jesus purifies the conscience. It goes in deeper, then. I think the only way we can truly work this into our lives is to gaze upon His beauty, and see His love being poured out for us in His sacrificial death. It isn’t just a remote thing that happened thousands of years ago. His blood is still continually cleansing us if we will let it. Gazing upon His worthiness and beauty and love for me also helps me see that my idols are cheap substitutes for His love.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
When was the last time my conscience kicked in? Just the other week when I was thinking critical thoughts about another person. I never said anything, but I saw that the thoughts I was having about that person were negative, critical, and that I was wrong to think them. I think I can have both a tender and a damaged conscience. Tender when I am focused on Jesus, and damaged when my heart is centered on myself or on the wrong actions of another, which results in me feeling justified to sin against them. For example, if my heart is surrendered to resentment, then my conscience isn’t working properly.
I always go back to the time when I was able to hear Joe Stowell, then president of Moody Bible Institute, speak, and he said that when we first come to the cross, we are so aware of our need and poverty, but it doesn’t take us long, on the other side of the cross, to start to pin our “blue ribbons” back on ourselves.
Susan , So appreciate your comments. And this resonated with me. “I think the only way we can truly work this into our lives is to gaze upon His beauty, and see His love being poured out for us in His sacrificial death. It isn’t just a remote thing that happened thousands of years ago. His blood is still continually cleansing us if we will let it. Gazing upon His worthiness and beauty and love for me also helps me see that my idols are cheap substitutes for His love.”
Ditto!
Monday – Day 11.
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
These stood out to me:our conscience alarm only sounds based on the standard that your heart has surrendered to
Without divine intervention our conscience is don’t operate the way God intended
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
Abiding in Christ, daily taking in the gospel, what Christ has done for me, when I am sane makes me not want to pull away from that relationship, to pursue fulfillment in wrong things.I remember once at a time when I was struggling a lot with overeating, taking refuge in food, I was pondering a feast or an indulgence of some sort and remember a feeling the the Lord really gently was asking me to remember I no longer had to live for those things. The I recall it this still has an effect on me. I still sometimes struggle with food, but I am no longer a slave to it.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
2) When was the last time your conscience kicked in and prevented you from doing something you knew you shouldn’t do?
This is a wee thing, but I came home from work and realized my husband had run the dishwasher when I would not have deemed it full enough. I first impulse was to berate him in my head, I did a redirect and prayed about my judgmental heart towards my husband, realizing that I was angry with him as he was trying to help out around the house. The fault was all mine, I own it. I have been asking for heart change in this area. I really need help!
It’s those little things that so add up to character!
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
This stood out:
“Often we make the mistake of thinking we have a heart for the Lord when really we’re just thankful for him because at that moment he seems to be delivering to us what we have truly set our hearts on.” Ouch.
Our emotions are a window into what we are really worshiping.
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
Tripp’s story about how one man’s approval had become his god. How he was going over and over in his mind things he had said. God is setting me free from the same kind of situation with a man in our church. I’m not rehashing (much) and when he comes to mind I do pray — and I am seeing God move.
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
#3 What do your emotions, as a window into your soul, tell you.
I do love God and do have strong emotions about what He loves: the oppressed, children. I also still love to be respected, admired– and need to die daily to that! As I get so close to seeing Him face to face, I am dwelling more on eternity — even in my dreams.
8. Do the prayer exercise on Colossians 3:1-10.
Father, help me remember Francis Chang’s rope diagram, and how foolish it is to set my mind on this millimeter of time down here. Help me love what You love, consider what matters eternally. I ask that You would guide me concerning a proposition of writing someone’s biography, someone who does set her mind on things above continually. Am I the right person? Help me put to death selfish desires, anger, malice, and lies. In Jesus Name I pray.
Tuesday — Day 12
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
“Our emotions are a window into what our hearts really love.”
Wow, this is not an easy chapter. It calls to something deep in the heart asking about the emotions which are at the core of how we function. Frankly I need more time to think about this and consider where I really am.
Tripp said “Often we reduce God to just the deliverer of good gifts, rather than recognizing him as the ultimate heart-satisfying gift.”
I know this in my head and I have experienced Him as the most heart satisfying gift but where am I today in my heart, really? I just need to ponder it.
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
Think I’d enter just jump down to the prayer exercise and spend my time there.
Monday
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
The cross not only offers forgiveness and reconciliation but also change. One thing I remember from my Mother is how she would talk about the conscience. She helped me understand that God put it there to open my eyes to my sin and how important it was to make that right with Him…a work of the Holy Spirit. I will admit, there were times and still are times when I ignore or at least try because I don’t want to change, I want to wallow in the mud so to speak. But then there are times when I am startled by the sin lurking and rearing it’s ugly head without realizing it was there…but there again I see the “amazing grace of a conscience.”
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
The cross had the blood of Jesus Christ which purified our consciences from sinful deeds…the blood of goats and bulls could only cleanse bodies.
During this season I have given up Facebook and Instagram, definite idols in my life and the cross has helped me by replacing them with reading His Word and spending more time meditating on it, praying through it and has changed my thinking on other things, which I won’t go in to.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
#2 It kicked in this last Sunday when I started thinking about the woman who was teaching Children’s Church and if she was qualified to do it…oh my, I stopped that thinking, asked God for forgiveness and to give me grace to see her as He does.
I would characterize my conscience as damaged and tender as it depends and I hate to say it how quickly or slowly I respond to sin.
5. Read Romans 2:1-16 and ask the Lord to convict you of any sin you might have been ignoring.
Oh, Sharon! Our mothers sound so much alike! Such a good idea give up Facebook and Instagram!! I don’t go there much, but I should go even less. This is golden: I would characterize my conscience as damaged and tender as it depends and I hate to say it how quickly or slowly I respond to sin. Thank you!
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
Forgiveness and reconciliation are two things that the cross of Jesus Christ does for us. The third important thing, which is huge is “How much more will the blood of Christ…purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God” I found this to be powerful! The cross changes our heart! We have a new heart! In a recent sermon, the pastor said that a new “changed” heart is demonstrated by our belief and behavior. Our dead works also encompass our idols. All we do for the sake of our idols is dead work for Christ; to serve the living God, we must be “other” centered, not self centered.
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)It is so easy for me to fall into the “Martha” role, when I really want to be “Mary”. I catch myself doing what is important instead of what is Best! How I pray that my heart can have a “refresh” daily to serve the Living God, who gave me this new heart. When I get focused on doing something that seems so important and I am interrupted by someone in need~ how do I react? do I take the time to listen to that person’s need or problem? do I say I will call back when I have time? I believe that God brings us opportunities to serve Him(and we do have to be discerning), but I need to be available first to serving Him and not myself.
4. Answer one of the closing questions. What are some things that you can do to help yourself be more sensitive to your conscience?
I need to stop and consider my words before I speak and act. I so often say things that come out the wrong way, not even what I mean to say. I need to think and pray before I speak, especially when it is something that others may be sensitive about. I love what Paul Tripp wrote: “Moral sightedness is essential to the proper function of the essential tool of the heart.”
5. Read Romans 2:1-16 and ask the Lord to convict you of any sin you might have been ignoring.
I do think it is so easy to fall into judgment, even in the simplest of ways. The minute I think something that I know is going to sound judgmental when I say it….I remind myself: “How would I feel if someone thought or said that about me. ” Oh, to be able to control my heart, mind and tongue, Lord help me to do that I pray! And as I am writing this I hear a song that my husband is listening to:” Walk a Mile in My Shoes” A Kiss from the King!!
I also need to spend my “time” in worthwhile ways. Years ago, my mom gave me the gift of a simple bangle bracelet (which I never take off). It has Roman Numerals around it~ representing time like a clock. It reminds me that “Time is the most important thing we have to spend ~ spend it wisely.”
Oh yes Patti…”how I pray that my heart can have a refresh daily to serve the Living God, who gave me this new heart.” To spend time at the feet of Jesus…a Mary heart!! Thanks for that reminder.
Every lesson of this book seems to be speaking specifically to me. I dont think I have ever taken a lent so seriously as this one and this book is amazing in helping me open my eyes, mourn and see the sinfulness in myself. I also find myself wanting to skip the mourning and jump to the celebration of the redemption and live there—which is me using redemption/God for my personal wants. It is hard for me to find a balance on this journey as I am such an “all or nothing” person. I am praying for God to show me a balance in my life and todays lesson on emotions again brings to light my “people pleasing” idol or maybe it is my “people pleasing me” idol? I also realize how I habitually look outward in my discontentment. “If my husband would, then….”, “if my children were then…”, if my family would…”. My 5 year old grandson does not want to take responsibility for his part of the situation (because you made me…….) and I realize I am doing the same thing. How ugly is looks and now I see that is me! Forgive me God. (Just realized this as i am typing and my, what an eye opener! God never ceases to surprise me and usually when I dont expect it). My prayer this morning is that I grow up in God and take responsibility for my part. Thank you God for the revelation that I am no different than my 5 year old grandson.
Becky, What great insights! I am feeling more serious about Lent, as well. I love that the study is pulling back the curtain to some of my bad habits! Lord, show me the way! Thank you for sharing in such a transparent way!
Oh Becky — you encourage us all to really take this to heart!
8. Do the prayer exercise on Colossians 3:1-10.
I do live in this world and focus on myself way too much. I also think a lot about life in heaven though too. Sometimes I feel like it is too good to be true. Gulp…I hope it is as true as I believe it is. I know I shouldn’t say it out loud, BUT. Many of the sinful behaviors noted in this passage I don’t have too much trouble with, however I have my own issues for sure. Equal things not listed. Ugh. Please Lord help my unbelief! I have a great joy about me lately. Maybe God is working hard on me. Not much fazes me. He is in control. I am His. Thank You Jesus for the blood.
Sounds like His Spirit is alive and well in you, Laura. Good prayer. He will help your unbelief!
I understand — His grace often does seem too good to believe –and heaven too. I found so much encouragement from Isaiah who was so spot on with prophesies about Jesus crucifixion and resurrection — seems he will be spot on with prophecies about heaven.
Can you direct me to some of those passages Dee? I would like to read about that.
Sure, Laura. Isaiah 53 and Isaiah 65:17-25
Too funny Dee, I asked you about this before I got to the scripture that Tripp gave and it was the Isaiah 53 passage! So good.
Laura, I believe that the great joy you have about you lately is indeed God working in you!
2. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
What stands out to me is the idea that Jesus’s sacrifice not only brought reconciliation, and forgiveness but it also brought purification to my conscience.
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
It resets our inner moral compass. What in the ‘old man’ we once thought of as right or good, because of the purification of the cross and the helper of the Holy Spirit, we now can see clearly, what is of God and what is not. An example of how because of the cross, I now have the Holy Spirit correcting me is recently I was pondering a response of a church to someone’s sin. I queried in my own mind if there was some behavior on the part of the church that reflected a ‘ivory tower’ of truth, but no compassion on the sinner. In other words sometimes Christian’s can use truth or right theology as insulation or protection, rather than getting involved in someone’s messy life. As I was pondering this, God brought to my mind that although generally I don’t fall into that sin, I can instead build an ‘ivory tower’ out of fear, and sometimes not obey Him to be involved in someone’s life because of my fear of hurt or loss. Thus I was convicted of my own sin.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
The last time my conscience kicked in and told me not to do something was a warning to not build bitterness with my thoughts, towards someone (who I struggle to like), but to pray for them, and for God to fill me with love for them.
Love your answer to D, Tammy — sooo good.
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
What stands out to me is the truth that habits of religion is not the same as our hearts being ruled by Jesus Christ.
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
There is always a lot of fear in my life. That is a negative state of mind (emotion) that is in my life more frequently than it should be. I don’t know how much this is due to anxiety that is part of a disorder, and how much is due to my struggle to find security in the Lord. I believe its both. There is a place where my will intersects with my wiring, a place where I choose fear or faith, anxious thoughts over faith. In the place of wiring, God meets me with grace, and in the place of will, I have need for repentance.
Wednesday:
The whole concept of sin’s deceitfulness — how a man like David could be so deceived by his sin, shows me I can be too. To think conviction is repentance, for example. This study is helping me pray more for God to search my heart, and to be a better repenter. Thankful for those of you journeying with me.
My youngest daughter and children are visiting. Her 6 year old learned a bad word at school and has been forbidden to use it. He told his sister, when angry, he would say it to her if he could but he can’t. His mother had such a good talk with him about how it is the heart — even wanting to use it is sin because it reveals his heart. So good.
Tuesday – Day 12.
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
“How about taking stock of what your emotions tell you about what you are truly serving?”
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
If our emotions are a window into what our hearts really love, what do your emotions say about what you love?
Through Keller sermons and CCEF teaching I have learned to pay attention to what’s underneath my emotions, to look for why I am emotional. Sometimes the emotions are good and right, sometimes they reveal my go to idols of comfort and approval, I don’t want to love these things most, but it is a battle not to.
I am grateful that through this blog and the teaching here I have been equipped to examine what’s really going on when my emotions are heightened.
And you bring such a richness because of that, Chris!
Wednesday- Day 13
9. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
The last paragraph of today’s lesson brought it down to the very personal challenge in two questions. In light of the sufferings of Christ “…would you not be willing to make sacrifices for him?”. And “Do you find comfort attractive and sacrifice hard?”.
Why does that stand out to me? Because it speaks to my complete inadequacy to offer sacrifice of any kind to him. As I am honest with myself I tend to “choose” my sacrifices. I realize I have quite a way to go to getting to the bottom of what really has my heart that I would be willing to sacrifice to him.
10. Take one of the final three questions to answer.
1. Have you given something up for Lent? How is it going? What sacrifices are hardest for you to make, and why do you think those particular things are so hard for you to give up?
In light of what I said in answer to question 9 I recognize I very much find my comfort to be attractive and any meaningful sacrifice hard. I struggle with the little stuff like giving up sugar and taking all the games off my phone with the hope of controlling them in a meaningful way. But Tripp offers perhaps a better solution. He says offer a sacrifice of confession, admitting my struggle to let go of things of this world so I can hold on more tightly to Jesus. This world shapes me far more than I realize or want it to. I see here that letting go means dying to self. It really isn’t as much about what I give up as it is giving my heart over then I can give up those things and replace them with Him. I need to be more desperate like Hannah was because in reality I am desperately needy.
11. Do the prayer exercise.
List of sacrifices Jesus made in Isaiah 53
Beauty and majesty
Acceptance
Joy in life
Love from his own
His own body
Taking on our sin
Made no defense for Himself
Kept silent
Was led away
Accepted condemnation
Faced death and gave up his life
Thank you Jesus for sacrificing everything you were and had and coming into this fallen broken world. Thank you for living a sinless and perfect life so you could be the perfect sacrifice for my sin.
Thank you submitting to the will of your Father and allowing yourself to be crushed and broken to accomplish being the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Thank you for the Cross.
Thank you for the wonderful hope the Cross brings to my life.
Thank you for new life and grace upon grace that you pour out for us between the already and the not yet. I love you Jesus.
So good from Bev and Tripp!
I struggle with the little stuff like giving up sugar and taking all the games off my phone with the hope of controlling them in a meaningful way. But Tripp offers perhaps a better solution. He says offer a sacrifice of confession, admitting my struggle to let go of things of this world so I can hold on more tightly to Jesus.
9. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
These stood out to me:If Jesus willingly endured what he suffered and suffered all that he suffered to be the perfect substitute, doing for you what you could’ve never done for yourself, would you not be willing to make sacrifices for him?
Do you find comfort attractive and sacrifice hard?
I don’t imagine too many honest people could reply that they do not find comfort attractive and sacrificing hard. Comfort was the first idol the Lord convicted me about, I heard a someone read part of Counterfeit Gods and my heart was smote, I went home and ordered the book immediately. I can be fierce when protecting my time, I hate feeling overwhelmed or stressed out. These things can become an overriding focus for me. Sacrificing my comfort is hard, but sometimes the Holt Spirit leads and empowers me to do just that.
10. Take one of the final three questions to answer.
Have you given up something for lent? How’s it going? What sacrifices are hardest for you to make, and why do you think those particular things are so hard for you to give up?
I gave up a game I play on my phone called Two Dots. I was convicted that I turned to it oftentimes when I ought to have been doing more important things.It has gone well, I actually feel a sort of freedom having laid it down.
I spoke above about what’s hardest for me to lay down, comfort and approval…they are the things I often feel I must have. Lord help me to set my mind on things above and not be sucked into the here and now!
Oh, Chris! I love your honesty! I, too, have a difficult time sacrificing my comfort and privacy (and time fits in that too). I am giving up my fear and anxiety for Lent. I know that sounds crazy, but sometimes I cling to fear of the future. I am laying this at the feet of our Lord daily and clinging to Him. Thank you for sharing this! God is so good to encourage us when we have the courage to leave our idols behind.
9. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
Our suffering is nothing compared to His on the cross. This is a no brainer.
Substitutes aren’t always inadequate. Jesus was the substitute for Adam and Eve, the sacrificial animals, and the high priests. He was a perfect One who, in one fell swoop, saved everyone, no matter their law, or where they came from; but as long as they believed in Him and loved Him and others.
perhaps my first sacrifice this Lenten season should be one of confession, admitting my struggle to let go of the world and hold on tightly to God. Yes. This is exactly what I need to do.
10. Take one of the final three questions to answer.
Question 3. I am so thankful that Jesus gave Himself for me! He is the Savior! Thank You Jesus for taking my sin so that I can be with You in heaven. I want to remember this daily. I need to come up with some sort of memory trick to remind me. I have thought about getting a henna tattoo of the crown of thorns around my thumb to remind me. Henna is not permanent and it would be a way for me to jar my memory that He is my Kinsman Redeemer.
11. Do the prayer exercise.
Jesus sacrificed being loved by many, He sacrificed himself to be weighed down by our sin, He sacrificed his physical body being beaten so that we could be whole, and He was buried like a criminal, despised, and rejected for us to be with Him eternally.
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why?
OUCH this hurts! I’m the WORST at taking “constructive criticism.” It hurts so much. But, I do see what he is saying….it is reflective and good for us. I also would feel awkward to do this to someone else. I’m not sure how to “hone this skill…”
I’ve seen you take it well, Laura — or at least seem too! 🙂 I think it is only effective with those who know we love them– and it has to be so lovingly done. And simply. Jan’s “Seems to be a pattern in your life, Dee” was good for me.
Thursday: Day 14.
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why?
Tripp’s point that “We succumb to believing that no one knows us better than we know ourselves.” was radioactive because I know that exact feeling. I have had that thought and felt that if they only understood me. It has probably happened most between me and my husband in his attempts to correct me. Oh how true when Trip says if “sin blinds and it does then I will not have an accurate view of myself as long as the sin remains and I end up thinking I am more righteous, mature, consistent, or godly than I actually am, because…..I do not see or assess my self properly”. This whole thing of sin blinding me but also blinding me to my blindness. What a trap of the enemy.
13. Do question 2 or 3 from the end.
Question 3. Is my prompt to have a discussion with my husband about this blindness and acknowledging some of my hardness in past discussions. Trip says be humbly, prayerfully ready to receive his answer with gratitude and grace. Wow gratitude and grace. This Lenten exercise is more challenging than I really ever imagined. But yet I have this seed of hope in my heart to be cleansed of the deceitfulness of sin. I really appreciate the six new things suggested by Tripp to do in this Lenten season.
14. Do the prayer exercise.
I memorized Psalm 139 a few years ago and I have it on my list of verses to to re-memorize. Now seems like a good time.
Thank you Jesus for what you are showing me here today.
Bev, I admire your desire to sit down and have that hard conversation with your husband. I am afraid to have a similar conversation with my husband. He has always been a critical ‘type A’ CEO kind of guy. Praying for your conversation and God’s grace, truth and love to meet you both in it.
I’m impressed you are memorizing Bev when you say how hard it is for you!
6. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
Emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, discouragement, inner complaining, happiness and joy function as a “barometer to what you truly value and want out of life” and are windows into our hearts, revealing what we truly love.
The Bible’s command to rejoice is a call to surrender the control of your heart to the One who always gives you reason to rejoice. I thought this was a very good and relatable explanation of this command.
7. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
If our emotions are a window into what our hearts really love, what do my emotions say about what I love? Wow. I believe that often when I feel sadness, loneliness, and discouragement, it is because what I love is meaningful connection to other people. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, because God made us for relationship, and it is hard to develop those kinds of friendships in today’s modern and busy world. It can be hard to feel like I am meaningfully connected to my children who live so far away. I know that I can become too dependent upon others for my happiness, though.
I can also feel anger, irritation, and frustration, and that usually happens when I feel as if I’m not getting the approval or affirmation that I want. It could also be an idol of power or control, as in wanting to be able to control the behavior, actions, or even opinions of others because I believe I am right.
8. Do the prayer exercise on Colossians 3:1-10.
I always need the reminder to put off my old self, and to put on my new self. The Message says that doing whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts my fancy, is a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. I think this ties-in to this lesson….we can let our emotions shape our lives instead of having our lives shaped by God, depending on where our focus is.
9. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
What stands out to me is how Jesus can save to the utter most those who draw near to God through Him. That His sacrifice was utterly complete. Also what stood out to me was the appeal to offer my life as a sacrifice.
10. The biggest thing I miss, that I gave up for lent is reading for pleasure. I miss it due to the fact that I did it most nights, and it was an easy escape from reality, a comfortable place to hang out so to speak. It’s a struggle a lot of nights to either read for growth or fill those couple of hours.
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why? What stands out to me is how blind we can be to our own sin. Particularly how how I think I know myself better than anyone else. What an ingenious way to be defensive. I will have to ponder this statement and how accurately, describes me.
Sins I was not admitting to myself during times of distance from God, include how angry or hurtful my words are (in disagreements with my husband)and not glorifying to God, rather I have seen them as ‘defending myself’.
Interesting you gave up reading for pleasure. I think there are some edifying books that are also pleasurable. I loved Another Gospel and more recently Eugene Peterson’s biography Burning in My Bones. What are you replacing this time with? You intrigue me!
13. Do question 2 or 3 from the end.
Question 2: When I was in college I was far from the Lord. So many sins, so little time! Ick. I was tremendously unhappy. I had no idea that I was in trouble. It was only when I had my first baby that I began to wake up. I knew something was missing from our lives; there was something I needed to provide for Him. It was God.
“I had no idea I was in trouble.” Amazing how we can deceive ourselves. Look at where you are today!
Friday Day 15
15. What insight does Paul Tripp give into this Ezekiel 14 passage? What insight do you have?
Tripp says to understand the passage we have to understand the two terms.
Stumbling block—anything or anyone that leads you to desire to do something that is wrong in the eyes of God (sin).
Idol—the Bible defines idolatry: an idol is any person, place, or thing that exercises control over the thoughts and desires of your heart that only God should have.
There was so much in this lesson this morning that brings such clarity to the spiritual war in this life we are in.
My first thought as I was reading through this was “Here is the reason God led Dee to write her book Idol Lies”. We have to do the hard confessing work of identifying those idols in our lives that are stumbling blocks that lead us into sin and to make us take a serious look at what really has our hearts.
Tripp said “This is where the spiritual war rages. It always rages at the level of the thoughts and desires of your heart.”
This is so true and what a convicting lesson this is. Everything can look good and fine in my life but I am again challenged by having to acknowledge and answer the question “what really has my heart?”
16. Do one questions from the end.
In answer to questions 1. & 2. As to what are the stumbling blocks and what are the idols in my life I don’t feel I have one major thing. Too many small things that can become big things. It is humiliating to recognize as Tripp said fighting the spiritual war “at the point of the thing that controls your behavior, that is, the thoughts and motives of your heart. And this war rages on in the most mundane moments of our everyday lives.”
The most important question for me is # 3. What are you doing to remove the stumbling blocks and idols from your heart?
It requires me in Tripp’s words “to confess to a wandering heart, examine what I crave, cry out for rescuing grace that Jesus died to give me and to let sorrow do it’s work. Am I doing that? Sadly in way to small of measure. But this is the road I am on and I want to keep walking down it. “into a deeper dependency on the rescuing and forgiving grace of your (my) Savior and into a deeper celebration of the freedom that he promises”
Catching up here. I was out of town for 4 days and forgot to bring my book with me. Yikes!
Monday – Day 11.
1. Read and underline Day 11 and share what stands out to you.
Jesus Christ not only forgives our sins and reconciles us to Himself, but He is also the only one who can bring about change in us.
The conscience is the inner alarm system designed to warn us and redirect us…that we would live as God intended. Sin has damaged the function of this vital tool of the heart. Your conscience only sounds based on the standard that your heart has surrendered to, either surrendered to a good and godly moral value system or a bad and self-centered moral value system.
Sin blinds us to the sound of the alarm system and it also causes the conscience to be blind to its blindness!
3. Meditate on Hebrews 9:13. How can the cross help purify us of our idols? Can you give an illustration from your life? (This will help us all!)
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh…
Whereas the blood of goats and bulls purify the flesh, only the blood of Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience cleanses it of its blindness and imparts to it a renewed ability to see.
I felt very “accomplished” this week from the clinical work that I have done with my students. It was a temptation to hang my “blue ribbons” (somebody used these words somewhere) on my mental wall and to pat myself on the back. Today (3/18), I was on a phone call with the teacher who replaced me and who I have been helping weekly since December. During our conversation, we agreed that I will finish helping her on April 20. Part of me felt relief but part of me was torn up. I was asking myself why I felt the latter. My conscience told me that if I am not careful and mindful of where my identity lies, I will give way to my idol of approval and affirmation and base my significance on the standards of the world. I am thankful for our study here about the alarm system during times like these. Everything I do should be for God’s glory and not my own. My sinful thoughts of pride need to be laid at the foot of the Cross. Everything I do has been made possible because of the gifts that came with the death of my Savior.
4. Answer one of the closing questions.
See my example on question 3 for my answer to closing question 2.
5. Read Romans 2:1-16 and ask the Lord to convict you of any sin you might have been ignoring. I need to trust God to continually free me of my tendencies to base my identity on people’s approval and to not let this be the impetus for what I do on a daily basis.
Oh Bing — I get it! You were using your gifts. I pray for a new door to open that is right for you.
4. Read and underline Day 12 and share what stands out to you.
Oh, my! Paul Tripp was talking about me in this day’s chapter!
The rise and fall of your feelings function as a barometer to what you truly value and want out of life. Circumstantial, relational, and experiential joy is always temporary. Fear may indicate you have trusted something that is fallen and broken and will never faithfully deliver what you are looking for. Often, we reduce God to just the deliverer of good gifts, rather than recognizing him as the ultimate heart-satisfying gift. In this fallen world, we all face a catalog of potential God replacements. (my idols of approval, significance, comfort)
5. Choose one of the three final questions to answer.
What is your current emotional state? Is there a negative emotion that is present in your life more often than it should be?
Worrisome is my present emotional state due to the state of the world, my immediate family, and some challenges of the future. A friend just shared with me something her mother told her; “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday and all is well.” It is well with my soul is a song I need to sing to myself.
6. Do the prayer exercise on Colossians 3:1-10.
Lord, I praise you that your character and your Word is immutable. Regardless of my emotions, which are so unstable, your word stands true. Your Word exhorts me to set my mind on things above where Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Instead of the things of this earth, I should set my heart on the character of Jesus, the one who is eternal, holy, never changing, powerful, all-knowing, wise, and full of love and grace. Let my thoughts, emotions, and will align with who Jesus is.
4. Read Day 13 and share what stands out to you and why.
Jesus is the perfect substitute, sacrifice, and priest. I do not need to do any more sacrifices to atone for my sins; Jesus has fulfilled everything for me. Romans 12:1 is a response of gratitude for the once and for all sacrifice that Jesus did for me. How can I present my body as a living sacrifice to Him daily? Even in the presentation of my body, I need His help.
5. Take one of the final three questions to answer.
#2 How does the fact that Jesus was the perfect second Adam impact your salvation and daily life?
I need to look to Him ALWAYS because, without Him, life would just be living for myself.
6. Do the prayer exercise.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Thank you, Jesus, a tender plant, despised and rejected by man, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, I esteemed him not; He bore my griefs, carried my sorrows, smitten of God and afflicted, wounded for my transgressions, bruised for my iniquities, chastised for me, He bought peace for me, his stripes healed me, all of my iniquities were laid on him, oppressed, brought as a lamb to its slaughter, yet not opened His mouth, taken from prison and judgment, cut off from the land of the living, stricken, his grave was with the wicked, and his death with the rich, bruised by God, put to grief, his soul an offering for sin.
Hallelujah!!!
God will see His seed, prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand, He shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied, He will justify many; He will have a portion with the great, and with the strong, He made intercession for the transgressors.
Saturday: Day 16.
18. What stands out to you from this chapter and why?
“Confession is counterintuitive”
“It forces you to admit that you’re way more spiritually needy than you would like to think you are. ….to admit that you’re a person in constant need of forgiveness.”
“Confession is pleasing to God because it puts you right in the middle of the position you were created to be in: humble, honest dependence on him.”
These comments stand out to me outlining the reality of my sinfulness and my need. Confession is my hope and puts me right with my God every time I return to Him. I’m in need of mercy and He is a gracious Father to me full of mercy and grace.
The challenge for me in spending time confessing was to “take my words” and speak with my lips the specific sins in my confession. I find it easier to generalize rather than pinpoint the sin in my confession. I wander to easily from taking direct responsibility when I sin and to see my sin for what it really is. Sin!
But oh I am so grateful that when I return and when I confess His is there. Always there ready to accept my confession and to apply his mercy and grace to my life.
Thursday: Day 14.
Today is about how sin blinds us — heart idols are hidden — all you can see is the bad fruit that emanates from them. David Powlison said, “When anything bad comes out of our heart or mouth, a heart idol is at work.”
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why?
His opening to the chapter hit me to the core: “One of the scariest, most destructive aspects of sin is its ability not only to blind us, but to blind us to our blindness.” This is so powerful to me because I am also doing Dee’s study Idol Lies and I’m just now starting to be somewhat aware of what I’ve been blind to my whole life. It’s an awakening that I didn’t know I even needed. And it’s amazing and scary.
13. Do question 2 or 3 from the end.
#2: I have to admit that I still feel like there are sins that I am unwilling to see about myself. I have a fear of wanting to see them and recognizing how deep my sin actually goes. I can feel God calling me to face those things and feel the tug of my soul trying to lead me away from that. Mr. Tripp talks about spiritual warfare, and I think this is exactly what he’s referring to.
14. Do the prayer exercise.
God, I have been praying for a transformed heart. And while I still long for that, I ask that you show me my sin so that I may face my fear of my wrongdoing with you at my side, and confess my sin in order to receive the forgiveness Christ died to give me. I pray this so that I may continue to be molded into your plan, so that your glory may shine.
Exciting and scary. But as you press on, it will be more exciting as you are set more and more free!
Thursday Day 14
12. What stands out to you from Day 14 and why?
I, like Paul Tripp, tend to be defensive and more especially when I relate to my husband. In my heart, I know he is often right, I just hate it when he points things out. “He should know me by now; He does not need to correct me, etc. etc.”. I was pricked by what Tripp said, “your ministry to me, rather than being hope-giving, will be seen as an affront…I will walk away thinking that wrongful accusations ended our relationship when really, you were attempting to do for me exactly what I need…We fall easily into this attractive trap of delusion, assuming that we know ourselves better than anyone else does or ever will.” Double ouch! Lord, forgive me for being delusional of who I am. Let me not “resist the loving, correcting, and protecting convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit”. Grant that I willingly receive the grace to see my blindness. I do not know myself fully well, only you do. Many times I have been less than open and approachable. Help me to be willing to benefit from the confronting love of others. Help me go to my loved ones and to ask them to help me see what I couldn’t see. I praise you that you do not leave me to my blindness now and that a day is coming when my blindness will forever end.
13. Do question 2 or 3 from the end.
Think back on a time when you were hardened toward your sin or distant from God. At that time, were there sins you were not admitting to yourself?
Yes. I was in a relationship that was not God-honoring and I gave in to lies of the enemy. I bargained a lot with God during those stubborn and willful days. But true to His character of being rich in mercy, God moved me geographically and changed the trajectory of my life. God did not want to leave me where I wanted to stay. I am grateful for His loving kindness and patience with me.
14. Do the prayer exercise.
I did.
This post made me smile, Bing. So honest.
15. What insight does Paul Tripp give into this Ezekiel 14 passage? What insight do you have?
Tripp says that we have idols that become stumbling blocks for us in our relationship with God. We are at spiritual war because of this. He says, “Desire of a good thing becomes a bad thing when that desire becomes a ruling thing.”
He mentions that we might not think we are included in this spiritual warfare. We are.
God wants our heart. He will pursue us to bring us to him. He dies not want us to worship things above Him.
Day 15
15. What insight does Paul Tripp give into this Ezekiel 14 passage? What insight do you have?
We are all estranged from God through our idols.
Idolatry: an idol is any person, place, or thing that exercises control over thoughts and desires of your heart that only God should have.
The desire for even a good thing becomes a bad thing when the desire becomes a ruling thing.
My insight: Only when I allow God to take hold of my heart is when I can be freed from my idols. It is my heart that is the problem. Indeed, I am prone to wander. I need for God to take up residence in my heart and for me to relinquish control. I need to do more daily confessing: to a wandering heart, to want to be in control, to my need to truly be sorrowful over my idolatry.
16. Do one question from the end.
What am I doing to remove the stumbling blocks and idols from my heart?
Scripture reading, Scripture memorization: Philippians 4: 8; Romans 12:1; Ephesians 6:10-18
17. Do the prayer exercise.
May I wake up and resolve to dress for battle each day: to put on the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet ready with the gospel of peace, the sword of the spirit, prayer. The battle belongs to the Lord and I can be strong in Him and be able to stand against the forces of evil.
15. What insight does Paul Tripp give into this Ezekiel 14 passage? What insight do you have? That we can put stumbling blocks in front of us, and stumbling blocks are temptations. As well as an idol is anything, person, place, that exercises dominion in our life where only God should be exercising dominion.
16. The idols in my life that cause me to be unhealthy, involve comfort and escapism. Its easier to read/watch/numb my mind then to feel feelings of loss, or intercede in prayers for others.
18. What stands out to you from this chapter and why? What stands out to me is how hard it is for us to honestly and humbly confess sins.
19. Confession is so hard for us humans because, well for me, its because I am so afraid that really I am not worth anything, that really there is no value to me, and admitting to sin seems to align sometimes with the lies that I can struggle with instead of seeing my sinfulness as a part of God’s truth about us.