Sometimes when I am in worship I do crack up within because I love to “look up”. My internal amusement is based on my realization that God isn’t limited to the heaven’s, but He is in fact all around me and even if I were kneeling, He would still receive my worship based on what’s in my heart, not my outward appearance/posture. Yet, I do love the symbolism of elevating Him and surrendering ourselves to His authority when we look up and/or lift our arms up to the heavens.
Thank You Mighty God for Your great love and faithfulness. Thank You Lord Jesus that I can lift my arms in worship or worship in other ways and that it is my heart You want. Thank You Lord that You make me worthy of such unlimited, extravagant and extraordinary love. I am in awe of You! Thank You Lord for turning my life around! Be exalted in it! May all that I am, say, think and do reflect Your Glory and be a living sacrifice to You Mighty Jesus I pray, Amen!
So a few months ago thanks to COVID-19, I have gotten through most of Killing Kryptonite by John Bevere and let me just say… wow! Such a great read! It let’s you have it! Hot truth! Such a powerful text. It has offered me lots of information and more clarity on how to identify and expel some of the things that steal our strength as believers. I have referred to this text elsewhere on this blog, I highly recommend it (And there’s a course on it too and a devotional on Youversion and MessengerX app). What’s funny is I started reading it pretty early in my walk with Jesus. But I am so glad I did.
“You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness (form, manifestation) of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth [as an object to worship].”
Exodus 20:3-4 AMP
Based on Killing Kryptonite, an idol is anything outside of God that gives us happiness, comfort, peace, provision, authority, respect etc… It could be a person, thing or activity. It is anything that we put before God in our lives and hearts. Anything we draw strength from or give all our strength to. Things that we love, like, trust, desire or give our attention to more than the Lord.
Phew!
Almighty God should be our only Source! But how do we stay faithful in this?
For so long the biggest idols in my life were my job and my marriage. I put everything I had into both of them. My identity as a person was completely wrapped up in what I did. And when I was not busy with work, I was obsessed and worried about everything my husband wasn’t and everything I needed him to be that he couldn’t be. Totally unfair of me because he is not meant to replace God’s place in my life (I have since apologized to him). Only God can give me love, joy, peace, and hope in abundance if I choose to submit. My husband can complement and add on, but it is not his responsibility to fill me. That’s what the Holy Spirit does! I praise God for the freedom He has given to me on so many levels and even for how He continues refining me (ouchie)! I am grateful though, I am finally living awakened to my life. Thank You Jesus!
“We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.”
Luke 1:74-75 NLT
I am currently walking through not idolizing the ministry I am a part of. I am grateful that I get to serve and love on His daughters and to see God’s glory being unveiled, but this past season I truly spent myself like I never have most of my life. I have been trained to go at high capacity and I praise God for it, but this was different. I have had to check where I have strived or been moving on my own strength. And I have unveiled and choose to step away from past perfectionist tendencies so that I may grow as God’s daughter of excellence in all the ways He is calling me to in the upcoming seasons of 2021. In Jesus Name I pray, decree and declare, Amen!
We may idolize other things or people outside of our jobs or ministry, like social media, other people’s opinions and perceptions of us or our children. Colossians 3:5 also defines other kinds of idolatry. The sad thing is that our joy, self confidence and contentment are then determined by these unreliable things/people.
“Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.”
Jonah 2:8 ESV
Jesus is the only One consistent and constant. His love and faithfulness never ends no matter what we do or don’t do. This truth is so overwhelming. What amazing love He offers to us, fresh and new each day. And yet many of us choose to turn away and keep chasing the things that continue to leave us lonely, battered, unfilled and hurting. We continue to let things outside of God dictate our level of joy and peace. Will you choose Jesus?
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
Deuteronomy 7:9
My declaration:
- I am not a perfectionist
- I am a woman of Excellence. Daughter of the Most High, driven by the love of and my love for my Mighty Father to live as a living sacrifice in full surrender that everything that I say, think, and do may worship His Holy Name. In Jesus’ Holy Name I declare, Amen ❤️
Mighty Father I praise You for the journey of freedom of 2020 and all that You are working out in me in 2021. Lord I pray that You grant us all more clarity and that we may see the idols that have been built up in our lives, consciously or subconsciously. Father I pray that You grant us hearts of obedience ready to do whatever it takes to tear down all that You reveal to us. I pray for wisdom and strength. In Your Holy Name Lord Jesus, Amen.
With love,
Uju
Dear Uju 