Skip to main content

Fasting and Idols

I've never fasted from food because my blood sugars go out of whack easily even though I'm not hypoglycemic or diabetic. But, this week, I'm going to fast from something else--the television and technology--this computer. I've decided that I'm only going to check my email twice a day and do essential things on the computer. No facebook, no blogging, no shopping (unless I have to order something, but no looking in the process). My desire to fast comes from the feeling that I need to identify the idols in my life.

Romans 1:25 "...who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

from Tim Keller's study on Galatians "...idols are not sinful things, but good and basic things elevated into being ultimate things"

"An idol is anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone." D.M. Lloyd-Jones, in Life in God: Studies in 1 John

"...acts as if God could not make him happy without the addition of something else."
Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God

"Has something or someone besides Jesus the Christ taken title to your heart's functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight?...the Lordship question: who or what "rules my behavior, the Lord or an idol?"
David Powlison, "Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair"

My husband made a comment that made me think about the role this computer (the internet specifically) and television have in diverting my attention from the Lord. I have not had good quiet times or consistent Bible Study times in a long time since I finished working through the Parent's Handbook for Shepherding a Child's Heart. Television and the internet aren't inherantly bad, but when they take away from me sitting with the Lord each day, it isn't a good thing.

So, I've decided to fast for a week. I'm not sure what God is going to show me this week, but I will soon find out! =)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Missing Pieces

The other day I was discussing a book with my mom and explaining to her my concern about how "blame" is cast upon the child in the story.  My mom commented about how deeply I read and consider what is written. Sometimes I wonder if I go overboard.  Am I questioning too much?  Am I overreacting? Why am I reacting this way? I come back to knowing that God wired me this way.  But, I also reflect on how God has guided my path through the maze of books I've read over the past few years and what I've learned from the books themselves and from reading them.   Recently, I read a book that troubled me.  The book I finished reading was  Guiltless Living  by Ginger Hubbard.  When I began reading it, I found myself puzzled and then disconcerted. And in the end, I cried. But, I cried for a different reason than one might suspect. I'd like to explain. I did not read Ms. Hubbard's previous book “ Don't Make Me Count to Three ”, but I knew from f...
Post a Comment
Read more

listening or rather not listening to directions...

This week has been very eye opening. I am observing and noticing what I need to learn in order to be a better homeschooling mom and teacher and what my daughter needs to learn to be a good homeschooling student. My weakness when I was a teacher in a first grade classroom was not understanding how small concepts had to be broken down--and I lost my patience very quickly. This week, in particular today, I am seeing how detailed my directions need to be. I am going to be working very consciously and deliberately on this. On the other hand, I realized that my daughter does not listen! Wowsers! In a classroom, Autumn listens very well. She is a compliant child and very influenced by peer pressure and conformity. So, she listens along with everyone else and follows directions. But, at home, it's just Autumn and maybe Sami and Mommy. Very, very different! I had forgotten that most of kindergarten in the public schools is not focused on teaching students academic and learning co...
1 comment
Read more

Listening to the Bible

The Word of Promise (Bible on CD) I have been reading the Bible for as long as I can remember. I remember being given a Good News Bible when I was in third grade. When I was 14, my great grandmother gave me a copy of the Living Bible. When I went to college, I began to read the NIV and held onto a thin paperback copy for 4 years that I wrote all over. After I graduated from college, I really wanted a nice NIV study Bible and I saved up to buy one. I have held onto it ever since. Last year, I found a tiny ESV leatherbound Bible on clearance and it is now the one I carry with me in my purse. Interestingly enough, after all these years of reading the Bible, I have never listened to it on CD. I've often considered it. I've listened to lots of teaching on CD from Ravi Zacharias, John Piper, and others, but I've never actually listened to the Word on CD. Two weeks ago, I received a copy of the Word of Promise Bible on CD. I opened it up with excitement ...
Post a Comment
Read more