When we desire someone or something so badly that we will do anything to have it in our possession, it has become our idol. An idol is anyone/anything that we have a passionate devotion for. It's considered an 'idol because we lust or have an intense longing for it. It's also considered an idol because it is a false god. God is the ONLY True and Living God! He desires and deserves your devotion; affection, loyalty and dedication.

So then, an idolis something that has become more important to you than your desire to serve God. Your heart has become set or fixed on attaining this thing. Don't be deceived! An idol can be anything. This my dear sisters, is sin. On page 59 Mrs.. Peace says that, “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 worshipping an idol rather than Christ.”

Now, with that in mind, take a moment to honestly picture your own marriage relationship. Has it become an “idol?” Do you have a longing, a burning desire for your husband’s approval, acceptance and love? Do you strongly hunger for a loving relationship with your husband? Ponder these questions in your heart before the Lord. Consider what God is saying to you through this particular scripture in light of what you’ve discovered:

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Some of us may be saying, “Gee, is it wrong to desire a loving relationship with my husband? Doesn’t God want my marriage to work and be fulfilling?” No, it isn’t wrong to have such a hope, and Yes! God does have a good and perfect plan for each of your marriages. However, the problem lies in your affections and your devotions being set on your husband/marriage, not on the Lord.

Here’s a fascinating truth that delivers much hope! Matthew 22:37-40, shares an amazing fact and clear message from Christ Himself.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Jesus declares that our first devotion is to be to God. ...”love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” So, this discovery supports the idea that all of your affections, thoughts, motives and choices are to be God centered. This passage of scripture also points out to us, as does Mrs. Peace on page 60 that all “Believers have a God-given capacity to have a pure devotion to and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ....” The first and greatest commandment is to have a love for God. “And, the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Your closest neighbor is your husband and he’s to be loved as if he was you! Wow!, what an eye-opener.

Please pay close attention to these scriptures because they impart an important truth. The truth of the matter is this: If your relationship with the Lord is not in tune, then your relationship with your fellowman, (in this case we’re discussing our husbands), will not be in tune either. It is mans relationship with God that determines and defines his relationship with his fellowman.

A good way to gage whether or not you as a wife have idolatrous affections is to think about your husband’s behavior toward you. What happens when things don’t turn out as you’d like them to? Do you find yourself becoming frustrated, bitter, resentful, manipulative, sinking to self-pity? It’s possible then that your husband/marriage have become an “idol.” Let me illustrate for you: When things in your marriage are going well, you’re fine. But the moment your plans backfire or don’t turn out the way you envisioned, you become frustrated. Feelings of anger creep in. You may even become desperate in your thoughts and actions, and are willing to do anything to get your “idol.” But God, in His loving discipline will frustrate your plans because He wants your pure and sincere devotion to be to Him. (Matthew 22:37-38).

On page 60, Mrs. Peace gives a list of Common Idols (“False Gods”) Wives May Have Their Heart Set On. Please prayerfully consider Psalm 139:23-24:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

Ask the Lord to reveal to you your idols/lusts. Write down the ones you’re guilty of.

List of Common Idols (“False gods”) Wives May Have Their Hearts Set On

It’s so important that our hearts be renewed by the Word of God. It’s easy to be distracted and led astray by our own whims if we’re not committed to letting the Holy Spirit be our guide in all areas of our life. Your heart is the seat of your emotions, you thoughts, motives, and choices all begin in your heart; The “control center” of your being. There are always struggles or small gods competing for control of our minds. How lovingingly the Lord wants to free us from those struggles. As you yield to Him full control, the frustrations will lessen. You will begin to have a changed and renewed heart as you re-focus and re-arrange your priorities. Remember, the scripture teaches devotion to God first, then everything else, including your marriage relationship will fall into place.

Matthew 6:33 says:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Looking at what we have learned so far--this gives us the opportunity to stand naked before God. He knows what each of us struggle with yet He lovingly wants to free us from those struggles. Don’t hold on to the old pattern of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Instead take God at His Word and begin to experience the freedom that He offers. The Lord says that vengeance is His, He’ll repay. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you have a right to treat your husband the way you are treated by him. Christ had every right to live, yet He became obedient to God the Father and died in order that you might live. He wants you to live victoriously in Him! He wants you to access His power within you and lay aside every weight and every sin so that you may live! Your right is to be a kind, loving example of Christ to your husband/family. Your right is that your life will bring glory and honor to God.

If there are areas in your life right now that God is revealing to you concerning sin, confess and forsake those sins. Repent. Don’t be a slave to sin any longer. God in His living and plentiful mercy will faithfully forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9).

On page 63, Mrs. Peace gives a list of “False Saviors/Refuges”. As you read the following list of false saviors/refuges, think about yourself and write down the ones that you have sought for comfort/protection.

List of False Saviors/Refuges

If you’re still seeking comfort in any one of these “false saviors,” confess it before God and turn to Him. God wants to be your true Savior. Only in Him will you find a refuge of comfort, peace and relief!

As I come to a close, I’d like to share with you Mrs. Peace’s thoughts from page 64:

“Pursuing a “false savior” only compounds sin and makes matters worse. The God of the Bible wants the undivided worship and devotion of your heart. He wants your thoughts, motives, and choices to be focused on glorifying Him. He should be your greatest longing and desire and refuge. Your thoughts, motives and choices should be set on glorifying Him, not on your idolatrous heart’s desire.”

I’m so excited about God’s plans for my life. I don’t know nor quite understand the details of His plan anymore clearly than a passenger understands the plans of how one man can fly such a great and massive piece of metal we call airplanes. Yet, just as the passenger boards the plane and trusts that the pilot will get him to his destination safely, so I trust in the Lord. He’s the Pilot of my life and I sit in the passenger seat, trusting that He will lead me safely through the calm and storms of life.

May you be encouraged today that God has nothing but plans of hope for you. He will not leave you nor forsake. Hold onto this truth and go day-by-day, moment-by-moment with Him.

Next week we will compare an illustration of a woman whose desire has become her idol/lust, with that of the Psalmist’s heart desire. We will also discover a plan to help you have God honoring heart’s desires, those desires that bring glory and honor to the Lord.