Tuesday 25th of June 2019
They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true
God
1 Thessalonians 1:9
It is remarkably easy for us to grow accustomed to false gods. We can develop
a bizarre security in trying to please a god-who-will-not-be-pleased. We
persist in the belief that if we keep trying, and keep working and keep
attempting to control ourselves, we may finally be acceptable to our idol-god.
But the trying and working and attempting to control never seem to work.
Instead, we find ourselves re-enacting old family dramas. We find ourselves
ever more deeply entrenched in shame, blame, rejection and self-loathing.
A remarkable thing can happen when we turn from our idols, from our false
little gods, to serve the living and true God. It doesn’t happen all at
once. But gradually we unclench our tight fists. We open our closed hearts.
We take in light. We take in love. It is like coming outside after being
in a small, dark room. We walk outside and feel overwhelmed by the richness
of the sky and land around us. We thought God was small and dreary. And
we discover instead vastness and warmth.
The call to turn from our idols to the living and true God is a daily call.
The old, idol-gods will draw us back. We need to leave them over and over
again. We need to turn again and again to the God who seeks to liberate
us from their bondage.
I turn to you again today, God.
You are the Living and True God.
I leave my idol-gods again today.
I renounce the god-of-impossible expectations.
He is not God.
I renounce the god-who-is-eager-to-punish.
He is not God.
I renounce the god-who-keeps-his-distance.
He is not God.
I turn myself again today to you,
Living and True God.
I turn myself to you.
Amen.
Copyright 2019 Dale and Juanita Ryan
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