False gods
O Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. - Jeremiah 16:19
We like to call ourselves sophisticated. We trust in scientific theory and read the Wall Street Journal. We subscribe to the theory, secretly or not, that mankind has evolved intellectually and that we are far superior to our simple-minded, superstitious ancestors. We smirk when we read how they worshipped man-made gods—those deaf, dumb, and blind pieces of wood and gold.
Yet at the same time, we’re on our knees worshipping more subtle, but just as tangible, false gods—the “isms” of our day: workaholism, as if the fruit of endless labors will finally bring satisfaction; legalism, as if being good and performing flawlessly will secure peace; intellectualism, as if we could get so smart that we would finally feel fulfilled; and materialism, as if some possession could bring us joy.
The first step in the worship of false gods is exchanging truth for lies. “You will not surely die,” was the serpent’s lie to Eve in the garden. Cling to the truth. Once it’s discarded, you’ll believe anything.
The truth of the Bible doesn’t change with our circumstances of life; rather, it defines and weeds out all falsehood. Remember Jesus’ words, “…the truth will set you free.”
“A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
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Taken from The Life Recovery Devotional: Thirty Meditations from Scripture for Each Step in Recovery by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Copyright © 1991 by Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
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When we stop demanding that God resolve our problems according to our dictates, we unlock the door for God to show us his redemptive purpose.
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Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams (Gen. 40:8). Do you have dreams that never came true?
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Come nearer to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8). You can choose to feed your soul and strengthen yourself from the inside out.
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Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (Eph. 5:1). We live in a culture that values things that are large, extravagant, and impossible to miss.
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A good name is more desirable than great riches; To be esteemed is better than silver or gold (Prov. 22:1). No amount of money or fleeting temptation is worth a strong reputation's undoing.
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Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col. 3:2). What I thought would bring me respect and comfort made me a slave.
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But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful (Ps. 68:3). Do you have an Eeyore in your life? Perhaps you've taken on that role for yourself!
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Accept who you are in Christ. He accepts you. Work through your insecurities and let God use you, starting today, just as you are.
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Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways (Ps. 25:8). Have you ever strayed from the Lord and wandered down the wrong path?
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The path to wholeness is never one you have to walk alone. God sees you and is by your side as you follow The Twelve Steps of Life Recovery, and he has special gifts in store for you along the way—even when the journey is filled with turns and twists. From the creators of the bestselling Life Recovery series, The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery illuminates the gifts God holds for you as you travel through the Twelve Steps. With expert insight and biblical truth, recovery pioneers Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop explore the blessings God offers to those who seek him. Recovery isn’t just about giving up an addiction or dependency; it’s about receiving something better: gifts from God for those courageous souls willing to do whatever it takes to change. An encouragement both to those in the recovery process as well as to the loved ones walking beside them, The Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery is an inspiration and an invitation to move step by step into a new, fruitful future.