Dear Reader Friend,
There are less than 10 days left in this 31 day challenge. I’ve posted scripture and songs and stories from others. The things going on in my personal life (see Day 2 for a glimpse into THAT) have made it very challenging to carefully craft out a blog post each day. I lost a few days early on and am not quite caught back up yet. But thank you for hanging in there with me.
you-are-here-illustration by hikingartist (CC BY-ND 2.0)
So, where are we now?
My goal this month was to look at the things in life that we try to build on, trusting in our own strength or ability rather than leaning wholeheartedly on God, his strength and his peace. I thought I would go through different things we try to rely on and show how they are kingdoms with foundations built on sand that easily crumble. Instead, my physical kingdom, i.e., house, crumbled. Not literally, but with water soaking our entire basement floor and an upstairs crammed with all the furnishings that were down there, it’s been a challenge. I’ve learned that I don’t need to wait until my house is perfectly decorated to invite people over. Instead, I’ve actually had more people in my house this month than probably the past three months combined. It’s hard to swallow pride and ask for help, but the community that has surrounded us has been worth it.
I’ve had some stumbles, too.
Temptations that repeatedly tease with their false hope of something “better” have been taunting me. Being tired and worn thin, it’s been easier to give in, to allow the serpent in the garden sweet talk me into taking a bite of his apple. When I look at it in light of crushing kingdoms, the sins I gravitate toward are often my attempts at building my own kingdom. The idols I manufacture are my attempt at putting myself on the throne.
The next step in this series, though definitely more difficult to spell out in words, is to look at four of those areas that are often classified as the deep idols. These would be the root of the issue, so to speak. If you take the sins you feel you struggle with and start probing even deeper, where does it lead you? At the heart of things, what is it you really long for? How do you figure that out? Here are some questions to begin asking yourself:
What do you worry about the most?
What, if it failed or you lost it, would make you perhaps not want to live anymore?
What do you rely on for comfort?
What do you do to make yourself feel better?
What do think about, or daydream about, when there’s nothing else pressing in?
What gives you your self-worth?
What are you proud of?
What would you want printed on your tombstone?
Think through these, so in the next several posts, you’ll more clearly see what deep idols you are clinging to as you crush your kingdoms.
Thanks for following along with me this month, whether you’ve been a faithful reader for a while or if you’re one of my new friends, many of whom are also participating in #write31days.
Have a blessed day,
Janice
aka Claygirlsings ← (how this name came about)
shelbywrites63
/ October 24, 2014These are hard, hard questions. To be very honest, in my humanness, I feel like I’ve lost enough and shouldn’t be asked to give up anything more. (parents are gone, healed a crisis in my first marriage just to have him die two years later, etc.) Not a pretty attitude even for a human. Especially ugly for a Christ-follower. I’m almost afraid to read the rest of your series but I’m going to. I need it. Thank you for being a catalyst for some hard looking at myself.
claygirlsings
/ October 24, 2014I agree, this isn’t easy. I have to constantly remind myself to lean in on God, to trust his strength when my own gives out. It’s really the only way I know to get by. Thanks for sticking along for the journey.
Wendy
/ October 24, 2014I think it was in Elyse Fitzpatricks book “Because He Loves Me.” that she shared this definition of idolatry: Anything that when taken away makes it feel like our lives will end.” This is a great topic you are focusing on and your questions made me assess the idols creeping into my own life. Thanks
claygirlsings
/ October 24, 2014I haven’t read that, but I like Elyse’s writing. Great definition.
Linda Caroline
/ October 24, 2014I agree these are hard questions, but it’s the hard questions that help you grow & isn’t that why we are blogging in the first place. We have all these thoughts in our heads that just need to get out. And it’s those hard questions that keep us focused & rambling. Thank you for sharing
Linda Caroline
/ October 24, 2014not sure where my comment went? this was my #5, so will see if it came on later
claygirlsings
/ October 24, 2014It was awaiting moderation, but it’s here now (see above). Thanks for visiting.
Anita Ojeda
/ October 24, 2014What a great idea to post a ‘here we are’ post :). I’m glad you’ve kept with the challenge–despite the setbacks of flooding and disruption. I think on my tombstone I want them to print, “Loved by God.”
30oclock
/ October 24, 2014I admire and respect your ambition to delve deep into these topics. I look forward to learn more and learn from you. Thank you for sharing.