“The human heart is an idol factory.” John Calvin

Gosh have I been experiencing this lately!  Every few months I take a break from all the things that I possibly can and just try to really hear from God.  I try to rid myself of as many distractions as possible. Social media, work, and anything extra I have on my plate. I sometimes even pair it with a 3 day fast from regular food. The last two times I’ve done this, even when my life threw curveballs and chaos during those few days of listening, I heard His still small voice. And both times, He showed me how I was making an idol of something that was not Him. This is why my heart was unsettled. This is why I didn’t feel close to Him. And this is why I didn’t have peace.

The quote that I started this with revealed to be so true.  It’s good for our hearts to yearn for something. It was made to crave One. But that’s where things get twisted.  Our hearts crave to worship God but so quickly it can latch to something else. Something more tangible that promises to bring us all the peace and happiness we ever wanted. But in the end, we find out anything other than God will exhaust us and leave us disappointed at times.  Think about that for a second.  Think of all the times you made something an idol that wasn’t God; A relationship, a home, a career. And then think about how many times those exact things have tired you out and let you down.  There is only one true God meant to be worshipped. There is only one that will give you rest, never let you down and never tire you out.  He promises “His yoke is easy and His burden is light.”  Actually, that should have been my first clue every time I’ve started to make an idol of anything that was not Him.  I notice the things that I make an idol in His place start to feel really heavy. But when He is the King of my heart- life is so much lighter.

 

So how do we get back on track?  Start trusting Him again and stop putting your trust in the thing that is feeling heavy right now.  Once we start remembering where to put our trust, obedience to Him will follow. And that obedience leads to peace.  Karen Stubbs from Birds On A Wire put it something like this. “When a child trusts in a parent, the child believes that their parent wants what’s best for them. So, they obey.  And it’s no different with us and God.”  Are you in a place where you are believing God wants what’s best for you? If not, start talking to Him again. Start journaling to Him and reading His Word.  Every relationship, including the one with our Heavenly Father, starts with seeking and drawing near.  “Seek Him first and all the other things will be added.” I’ve been clinging to this verse lately as a reminder that He is everything.  If I have him, I have everything. It draws me near to Him and I start putting my full trust in Him.  And then my obedience follows which brings me so much JOY! And if you listen to the Bible Recap like me then you know- He’s where the joy is!