What gets in your way? Is it sports, job, spouse, friends, money, drugs, alcohol, shopping, hobbies, your own kids, etc.? Some things on this list seem harmless, while others could be deadly. But if you let any of the aforementioned get your way of The Way, then you have a problem.
Any time you put something or someone before God, then you have created it to be your own god.
I know that when I allow something to consume my time and take me away from time with God, I am one grouchy person when it’s all was said and done.
In today’s scripture reading this theme seemed to stand out for me. In Deuteronomy 4:23 we were given an instruction to “Don’t make any idols in any form.” Get that? It said “any form”. Even if that “form” seems to be good, for example our kids, don’t put anything ahead of The One True God.
Later in verse 49 we read, “So today you must remember and accept that the Lord is God. He is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other god!” Don’t forget God. Believe in Him. Make Him your first priority. There in NO other god!
Then in Psalm 40:4 we read, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” When we choose God above gods, we are rewarded. We will be blessed.
Psalm 40:5 ties both Deuteronomy and Psalm 40:4 together. It says, “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.”
- We need to remember the numerous amazing things that God has done and continues to do for us. (John 21:25, “Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.”
- We need to submit ourselves to His will for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”)
- Nothing even comes close to God. He is first. (John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”)
Don’t let anything or anyone get in your way with your relationship with God.
Here’s my journal entry from July 2012 on the same topic: god vs. God . Enjoy. Thanks for reading.
Blessings to you.
April 3