Rooted in God's PresenceSample

I encounter many people with an inherited faith. For those of us who grew up where Christianity is the norm, we might think that officially “becoming a Christian” is something everyone does—or at least what our parents and grandparents did and what is expected of us too. Made a profession of faith? Check. Said the sinner’s prayer? Check. Got dunked in water? Check. Ticket to heaven punched? Check!

But following Jesus is much more than that. It is a personal, lifelong journey of walking with the Lord and learning to know Him better. It is allowing Him to transform you from the inside out. If you have not already done so, I pray that you will commit yourself to following Jesus and allowing Him to change you. I hope that your faith will become more than a “family thing.” I hope that knowing the Lord deeply and serving Him all of your days will become the deepest longing of your heart.

And part of that process will be identifying the things we have made into gods and throwing them away, either mentally or physically or both. Some of us have allowed our hobbies and pastimes to become the priorities of our lives. Some of us have adopted philosophies and practices from Eastern religions. Some of us look to our horoscope or a psychic or a palm reader. Some of us are deep into yoga or meditation or martial arts that are based on Eastern religions. Saying, “Oh, that’s just for fun” or “I do it for the exercise” won’t protect you from the destruction you’re inviting into your life. Some of us have taken pagan gods so lightly that we have artwork or statues of them sitting in our homes and gardens. Over and over, the Bible tells us not to worship or make graven images of other gods. I urge you with all seriousness to do a personal and household inventory and rid your heart, mind, schedule, and home of anything that hints of pagan idolatry.

Prayer

Lord, please help me identify any idols in my life and my home. Please help me to know You deeply and to follow You in all that I do. Amen.