IBOGIRLLIVING

 DAY 5: PRAY AGAINST THE IDOL OF SELF

ANCHOR SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 2: 15-17

In all my years of living, there has never been a time where doing whatever to please oneself or make oneself happy has been preached more voraciously than today. The 21st century seems to demand that man idolize and prioritize himself above God. Almost all of us are guilty of idolizing ourselves at one time or another. Doing what we want how we want when we want 'as long as it makes us happy and is not hurting anyone' is the new normal and narrative. But often times doing what makes us happy is not what makes God happy is it?

Solomon was a man who started his reign over Israel well by seeking God and doing what pleased Him. God responded by prospering him in wisdom, wealth, possessions and success over his enemies but after a while, Solomon veered off course and decided to do what pleased himself by worshipping the idols of the women he married and building temples to honor them. God's response to that was to strip away 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel from the lineage of David. See 1 Kings 11:1-13. Pharoah was also a prideful, wicked and arrogant king who thought himself and his idol gods to be supreme over the Lord God. He ended up losing his son, allowing the destruction of his people and possessions and ultimately losing his own life. 

Whenever the Bible talks about idolatry, it is typically followed by the raising or erection of an 'Asherah Pole'. An Asherah Pole according to my research is the representation of Asherah, a Canaanite fertility goddess who was also regarded as consort of the gods. She was the mother of idol god Baal and supposed partner of idol god, El with whom she creates 70 other gods. It is an occult representation of pagan worship and is seen as a major rival to the worship of God.(see Exodus 34:13 and Deuteronomy 16: 21).

When I think of an Asherah Pole being erected in relation to what we do as people who have turned ourselves to idols, I think about how we have put our own needs, wants and desires before God. Our desires are direct rivals to the Will and worship of God that have become our absolute pre-occupation and taken reverence away from the Father. This culture of ' Do what makes you happy' is many times never mirrored against what God's Will is because if 'having an open marriage or having sex with every boyfriend, doing drugs, drinking and partying any and everywhere etc' are things that make me happy, it means I have raised an Asherah Pole in my heart that now rivals my worship of God.

Question: Have You Prioritized Doing What Pleases You Over Doing What Pleases God?

Our anchor scripture warns us "not to love the world nor the things it offers for when we love the world, we do not have the love of the Father in us...". It goes on to say that " the world only offers cravings of physical pleasure, everything we see and pride in our achievements and possessions...". Isn't this how we are and what today's culture wants us to give our time, focus and worship to? The things that give us pleasure, our possessions and achievements are of the world and the Bible says that this world is fading away. 

None of what I've said here means that we should not work or enjoy the fruits of our labor, by no means is that what I'm saying however, anything that we have been given; resources, physical and spiritual gifts, opportunities etc are all for the glory of God and for the benefit of His Bride, the Church. Self Love, Self Care, The Soft Life are all fine things to desire but should not supersede God or doing what pleases Him. If you or I can dedicate any amount of time to ourselves but not give God the same time or more, then He is not priority to us. WE are our priority and that means we are idolizing ourselves above Him. May that not be who we have become but if it is, repentance should be swift and honest so as not to risk the abandonment and wrath of The Almighty.

PRAYER:

My Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me in Your image and likeness. This means that I am the express representation of You and should carry myself as such. You formed me, breathed life into me and so deserve my unrivaled worship because I belong to You. Forgive me for being so arrogant to place my desires, wants and needs above Yours when everything that I have is because You have so graciously allowed me to have it. Remind me Holy Spirit that God wants relationship with me not for me to want relationship with things or other people above Him. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

💓💓 

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