Unexpected Idols

November 20th
Unexpected Idols
By: Nicole Goddard

When we think about modern day idolatry, we usually think of money, fame, careers, relationships… But what about the sneaky ones? The ones that begin in a good place but become all too consuming that we lose sight of the Glory of God.
 
I'll share one that creeps up on me – my to do list. I'm a doer. A list generator. The kind of person that gets a dopamine hit from crossing things off. I want to read Philippians 4:13 as if it says "I can do 'ALLLLLL the' things through Christ, who strengthens me" as if it justifies my load.  
 
Put very simply, I make an idol of the things I can accomplish in a given day. But as expected, I am frequently met with disappointment and feeling overwhelmed. I can miss those kingdom moments where God wants me to speak life into my child, or I tell myself I’ll call that friend back because I just can’t be interrupted. Sometimes, I’ll even go as far as to martyr myself and entertain a self-pitying chorus in my head that everything relies on me…
 
In Paul’s previous verse in Philippians 4:12, he says I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content… That secret is God. It's presenting my to do list to him and asking him to speak over my day and help me to balance my abundance appropriately with his glory. All of it is granted to me because of him anyways!
 
I’m sure you’ve found yourself down a path you never intended that originally started from something good. Ask the Lord to search your heart and show you what needs to go.