The Unseen Forces That Shape Our Lives
Have you ever stopped to think about what has a hold on you? What is it that you can’t live without? What has the power to make or break your day? These questions may seem simple, but they reveal a profound truth: we are all influenced by unseen forces that shape our lives.
The Power of Idolatry
As long as sin resides in our hearts, we will have an inclination to ask the physical creation to do for us what the Creator alone is able to do. This is the essence of idolatry. We look to creation to deliver the things we are searching for, such as joy, peace, and contentment. But satisfaction of our hearts is not the purpose of the physical creation; it has a much higher purpose.
The Purpose of Creation
Creation was made to point us to the one who alone has the power to satisfy our longing hearts. God is the bread that will satisfy our hunger. He is the living water that makes us thirst no longer. With every vista, on every day, with every new experience and each new look, creation has been designed to point us to God.
The Dangers of Idolatry
Looking to creation to do what it was not meant to do will not only disappoint us; it will enslave us. Idols never just disappoint us; they addict us as well. Because the buzz of joy that creation gives us is so short, we have to go back again and again, and soon we’re convinced we cannot live without the next hit.
Breaking Free from Idolatry
So how do we break free from the hold of idolatry? How do we let go of the things that have taken control of our hearts? The answer lies in letting ourselves suffer loss for a season. Let go of things you tend to prize. Let this season of sacrifice loosen your hands and free your heart. Pray that a season of going without will refocus your eyes and reposition your heart.
Finding Lasting Comfort in God
May this season’s discomforts lead us to find lasting comfort in God. May we learn to seek Him above all else, and may we find true satisfaction in His presence. As we journey through this season of Lent, may we be reminded of the transforming power of Jesus Christ, and may we connect with Him in a deeper way.
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