gods at war

I wanted to be sure to mention this book

which snapped me out of my "comfort zone" spiritually and challenged me to examine my priorities (to be sure that they're in line with God's priorities).  There is something in the zeal and passion of youth that can sometimes get lost with age.  So many people grow comfortable...  

In their social group (surrounded by other people just like them).  

In their faith - (American "cultural Christianity")  

In their finances - (when was the last time you gave till it hurt?)  

In their routine - (are we willing to step out in faith and take risks?)  

This book offers so much insight for so many specific struggles - from control to overeating to money to sex... I wouldn't be able to do justice in a single post, but here are just a couple of quotes:

"Idolatry isn’t just one of many sins; rather it’s the one great sin that all others come from. So if you start scratching at whatever struggle you’re dealing with, eventually you’ll find that underneath it is a false god. Until that god is dethroned, and the Lord God takes his rightful place, you will not have victory."

“You think what you have is a [name of idol here: lust, pride, control, anger, etc] problem, but what you really have is a worship problem. The question you have to answer each day is, 'Will I worship God or will I worship ______?'”

This one hit home for me:

“A very large part of mankind’s ills and of the world’s misery is due to the rampant practice of trying to feed the soul with the body’s food.” - Frank Ferrell 

And the most often repeated quote in the book:

"Idols are defeated not by being removed but by being replaced."

The point here is that it's insufficient to merely acknowledge our idols intellectually.  A book like this is not one that you read and then carry on with life as usual.  It's a journey.  A process of identifying idols of the heart and surrendering them.  Then, as we submit our hearts before the Lord, He will begin to transform our desires by the power of His Spirit - making us more like Jesus.

So, if you decide to read this book, prepare yourself for a spiritual adventure.  When we truly have a hunger for personal growth...  When we want to really rise up and begin to conquer idols and destructive habits...  We better be ready for the fight of our lives.  Cause as soon as you peel away those counterfeit comforts?  A whole lotta painful, uncomfortable, undesirable feelings work their way to the surface.  It can be unresolved pain...  Or it can be sinful desires that you haven't had to deal with in a long time... The flesh is fighting for the comfort it craves because you stripped away its favorite idols.  The journey is not for the faint of heart.  It takes a lot of prayer and commitment to stay in the battle.  But it's worth it.  ♥