2 Kings 17:41   So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images.  Their children did likewise, and their children’s children – as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

If you read this whole chapter you find that there were lions that were sent by God into the land and they were killing the people living in Israel because they didn’t fear God. So, the King of Assyria had one of the priests of the Lord go there to teach the people how to fear God and to know the laws of God.  It seemed like a good idea I am sure but they still didn’t let go of their carved images that they worshipped as gods.

So girl, what about you?  Do you live as though you fear God in most areas but hold on to some things that mean too much to you to let go of?  If there are things in our lives that we are unwilling to let go of to better serve God then they are no different than a carved image that we worship.  Sometimes it can be a habit, sometimes it could be a friend, it may be that everything under the sun comes before spending time alone with God.  For some people it is an addiction to drugs, porn, anger, sex, shopping – give any addictions you may have small or large to God.  There are often things in our lives such as “shopping” (we’ll just use that as an example) that are great and there isn’t a thing wrong with it unless it is taking the place of God in our lives by being our “stress relief” instead of Him, especially if that “stress relief” is causing a financial burden for your family.

Search your heart today and ask God if there is anything that you are holding higher than Him.  Ask Him to create a desire in you that will help you recognize any area that you are allowing to take precedence over Him.  You will be amazed at how full your life will be the more you allow Him to fill your heart and mind with Him.  True peace and fulfillment in life come from a life filled with Jesus!

Quote:  “One of our greatest dangers in life is in permitting the urgent things to crowd out the important.”  Charles E. Hummel