#61 “Identifying Barrier: To Answered Prayer!”

(Worshiping Idols of the Heart)

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and

Put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.

“Should I let them inquire of me at all?.”

[Ezek 14:3].”

King James Version (KJV) 

“They have set up idols in their hearts and set wicked stumbling blocks before their faces...” I know that most of us think that this passage is solely speaking of statues of gods that men worship; however, this is also referring to things we worship over God. Lets read this same passage from the Message Bible, “Son of Man, these people have installed idols in their hearts. They have embraced the wickedness that will ruin them. Why should I even bother with their prayers? Therefore tell them, ‘The Message of God, the Master: All in Israel who install idols in their hearts and embrace the wickedness that will ruin them and still have the gall to come to a prophet, be on notice: I, God, will step in and personally answer them as they come dragging along their mob of idols. I am ready to go to work on the hearts of the house of Israel, all of whom have left me for their idols.”

For many of us here in America we know nothing about worshiping idols, status in the form of some deity or animal. However although we may not bow to any graven images we still have idols we worship in our hearts sometimes they’re in the form of addictions to drugs, sex, pornography and maybe even alcohol. These addictions become the ruling forces in their lives, driving us to do all kinds of things just to satisfy the addictions. These idols can also take the form of people that we idolize and worship like celebrities, pop stars, actors and even men or women we fantasize about.  They consume our thoughts and hearts to the point that we don’t know whether they are real or imaginary. Whether they realize it or not this is idolatry.  

 

If we’re not careful these idols can become so woven into our imaginations, hearts and minds; that they occupy our affections and we hold them closely and cherished; our hearts have become the altars on which we worship these idols, the throne upon which we’ve positioned them.  We will even hold these idols in highest esteem, and give them the greatest honors even above God. “ Philippians 3:8; and so every carnal lust that is gratified and indulged is no other than an idol, or a dunghill god, set up in the heart”

This is why king David say, “I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way—O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart.  I will set no base or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of them who turn aside from the right path; it shall not grasp hold of me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil person or thing.” We just like David must understand that God cannot be the Lord of our lives as long as there are idols possessing our hearts. One of the ten commandments which were given to the Israelites was, “You shall have no other gods before me...”[Exodus 20:3]

 

Nevertheless  many of us still prefer our own plans over the plans of God. We even have our own righteousness, or pathway to salvation. Jesus says that, “He is the way the truth and the life…” let us not have any other god ruling on the throne of our hearts but God almighty, let us keep our hearts pure and clean for Him to dwell therein. When we see that we are becoming too deeply involved in something, we should stop and reevaluate it and see if that thing is becoming something that will draw us away for God’s presence.

My Prayer; Heavenly Father, forgive us if we have allowed things or people to; become, idols in our lives without knowing it. Help us keep our focused on you and your plans and purposes for our lives. We renounce all other gods or idols which have become the object of our affection, or passion and our delight. Father we will have no other god ruling in our lives beside you. We will be like David and say that we will set no kind of evil before our eyes so keep us in your grace and mercy. These things we ask in Jesus name Amen!!!

Have A Bless Day…Go in God’s Peace!  

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