“An idol can be anything. It may even be a good thing. But if we want it so badly that we sin if we don’t get it or sin to attain it, then we are worshiping an idol rather than Christ.”

-A quote from Lou Priolo, The Excellent Wife, p. 59

We are worshiping something or someone all the time. What we worship is what we talk about, spend time and money on and seek after. There is a struggle in our hearts between the desires we have and pure devotion to Christ. When we allow idols into our hearts God will do what He must to break us from them because He deserves all of our hearts.

Our idols may seem to be subtle and we can be easily deceived by them. I remember hearing the word “idol” when I was around 10 years old and I just had the image of a little statue or totem pole in my mind. But these are not the false gods we are usually worshiping. In chapter 7 of The Excellent Wife, Martha Peace gives a list of common idols that wives may have their hearts set on–

-Good health
-Physical appearance
-Having a Christian marriage
-Being treated fairly
-Having a hurt free/pain free life
-Worldly pleasures (drugs, alcohol, sex)
-A child or children
-Another person (man or woman)
-A material thing
-An ideal (”pro-life movement,” “peace movement”)
-Money
-Success
-Other’s approval
-Being in control
-Having your “needs” met

The Excellent Wife, p. 60-61

I long to have deep intimate fellowship with Christ and pure devotion to Him, but as I look through this list I can pinpoint areas that I struggle with. It is a good practice to regularly ask God to show you your idols. Last year I started doing this in my quiet times. I wrote out Psalm 139:23-24 on a card and put it in my prayer journal. I’ve really started to see my idols for what they are and that the right response is casting off those idols and clinging to Christ. This is so spiritually refreshing to be able to confess those things and have forgiveness and is also motivating for holiness because I know that God wants me to be pure in my devotion to Him.

As long as things are going well in the areas you have your heart set on, you will feel all right. When they do not turn out as you may desire, frustration and perhaps anxiety begin to build even to the point of desperation…God also frustrates your idol worship because He wants your pure devotion to Him (Matthew 22:37-38).

The Excellent Wife, p.61

Idols are things all of us, not just wives, struggle with. I hope you will join me in praying Psalm 139:23-24 with a readiness to change any desires that are hindering pure devotion to Him.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139:23-24