Tough Topics with a Christian: Idolizing the Wrong Thing.

Welcome back to TTWAC part 2!!

You all voted for idolizing the wrong things...and can I be reallll honest with you all? This is a topic that I am no stranger to. I grew up hearing the 10 commandments and how we should never idolize anything or any god before our God and I was like "duh of course I won't worship any other god!" How easy is that?

But what about worshiping money? Idolizing the way I look on social media? Fashion, friends, parties, and anything else that pulls me away from Jesus?

I truly thought idolizing another god was the only way I could idolize something else. I grew up and went to college, only to realize that my life was all about idolizing the wrong things.

It seemed like my only priorities were how I looked to other people, new clothes, how much money I showed off (when really I was the same broke college student as everyone else), and being a lover of the world. I would put ALL these things before reading my Bible, doing Bible studies, and even just saying hi to God. I hope you don't read that and think differently of me. I find the best way to connect with people is through vulnerability, even when it doesn't look pretty.

Maybe for you, it wasn't as bold of things you have idolized. Are you someone that chooses mindless comparison and scrolling on Instagram every day over spending time with Jesus? Someone that spends your time beating yourself up everyday for not looking like someone else? Feeling like you choose everything that is from the world over just 15 minutes with God?

I've been guilty of everything in that paragraph more than one time. At first, it was a shock to me when I finally realized I was idolizing and making all the wrong things a priority.

To be quite honest, I felt shame. The kind of shame where I asked myself "Can I ever get better from this?" Spoiler alert: Yes, you can. I didn't intentionally put God on the back burner and I never intended to idolize the wrong things, but there is one thing that is the same about all humans. We make mistakes. Big mistakes some times and we don't realize till much later. God knows this and he knows that we are going to mess up. He knows that we may drift off and come back. He knows the world is one huge temptation especially when everyone we know is so invested in the activities of the world. He knows temptation. Jesus actually knows temptation better than anyone will ever know.

He knows that as humans and as his children, idolizing the wrong thing is going to be one huge temptation.

But despite knowing this and knowing that so many of us will fall short with this, he loves us anyway. Isn't that just so encouraging? Despite how many times we fail and get back up, he is right there. He loves us unconditionally more than the world will ever offer fully knowing that we will all mess up time and time again. That love is one of a kind. That love can not be found in the world, or money, or any other material item.

The next time you realize you are idolizing the wrong things in life, remember that we have a God of grace. When you feel shame, know that God is still with you and he is never going to stop loving you because you are in a season that is caught up in the world. One of my favorite lessons from Delight Ministries is that God is our father. God loves us no matter how bad we mess up. All he wants is to just open the door for his children to come home and be with him no matter what mistakes have been made. God wants to open his arms and say "welcome home" when you lean on him in times of shame and realizing you've been idolizing the wrong things.

I challenge you to really dig deep within yourself and think of what you are putting before God. I have been so guilty of going on Instagram and playing the comparison game every morning. I put time limits on social media where I cannot go on until a certain time in the morning to create time for Jesus as my first thing and wow, has it done wonders. Just these small changes can help us realize what we are idolizing and how to make God our center again.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I loved writing it.

With love,

Dani