Shatter: Leave Your Idols BehindSample

Day 2: Searching the Heart

Before jumping into this journey of removing these idols from our lives, we need to examine our hearts. Truthfully, breaking down idols is a tough decision to make. We like our idols. They make us feel good, comfortable, or even numb. Getting rid of these things means letting go of something we treasure.

If you are ready to take the step to remove idols from your life, that is incredible! If you have any sort of hesitation, well, that is a completely normal feeling. Fear, anxiety, and reluctance are the emotions we feel whenever we let go of something we have always clung to. Think of a child having to leave behind his security blanket or let go of the hem of his mother’s skirt. What is ahead of us is a life full of blessings and satisfaction, but still, we have trouble letting go of our past.

Matthew 6:24-25 is very clear that it is impossible to be both obedient to God and be self-serving. We cannot serve two masters at once. From our idols is going to be that much rockier. Jeremiah 29:13 says that we will find God once we search for him with all our hearts! God knows our hearts, and when we align our hearts with Him, then we see the growth that our hearts truly desire.

As believers, our hearts should want the things of God. We should want to honor Him in everything we do. Romans 12:1-2 urges us to be living sacrifices to God. That means we are dying to ourselves every day to fulfill the plan God has for us. That means being willing to get out of our comfort zones when God calls us to do the uncomfortable. That means saying goodbye to our harmful coping mechanisms. That means leaving behind a life of sin. This is not a simple switch in our hearts that we can turn on and off. The Bible says that this is a transformation. We must continually relearn how we should be living a holy life. Galatians 2:20 says that we are crucified with Christ; we no longer live for the things of this world but live for Christ, who lives within us. In response to Christ’s love for us (He died for us!), we need to be willing to make sacrifices for Him. This humble spirit is what God asks of us, and in turn, He will reward us. God promises that we will be blessed when we follow Him (Psalm 119:2).

But what if all of this is not the case for you? Do you really want to destroy the idols in your life, or are you just on a spiritual high after the retreat? Do you genuinely want to live a God-honoring life, or do you just want the benefits of it all? These are the types of tough questions that need to be answered.

The good news is that even if your heart is not in the right place right now, it can get there! Our sinful nature is not easy to shake, and God knows that. Psalm 51:10 is a prayer that we can bring before God. Ask God to give you a clean heart and a renewed spirit. God promises us that He will remove our hearts of stone and replace them with new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26). True heart change is something only God can do. We can change our mindsets and our outlooks on life, but our own hearts are impossible to change without God. Our hearts are desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Psalm 37:4 tells us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will mold our desires into His desires. We will no longer strive for our old idols. Sin will no longer look as tantalizing as it once did.

Take daily steps toward Him, and you will see growth.

Questions to Consider:

• What would it be if you had to choose one reason for wanting to break down your idols?
• Which idol in your life brings you the most comfort? Why does it bring you so much comfort?
• How could you replace that idol with a God-honoring practice?
• Do you feel like you are really ready to remove the idols from your life? If not, what is holding you back?

Written by Kyndra