Bob Sorge, one of my favorite teachers, has book titled In His Face. I’m currently reading it for the fourth time. Funny what I missed the first three times, and wonder what I’ll catch the next time I read it. I often refer to this book, probably because it’s about focusing and sharpening our passion for Jesus. The eyes of our heart need regular check ups!
In the book, Sorge shares a poem he wrote about worldly distractions. One of the lines says, “...You watch TV instead of praying because you enjoy food offered up to idols.” (We can replace TV with anything that distracts us from focusing on Jesus, or anything that has our attention.) Sorge explains that particular line. “The world practices and portrays its idolatry on TV. You would never do the things they do on TV, because you don’t serve their idols. But when you watch them do it, you are eating the food they offer to their idols.”
This thought haunts me. I invited the Holy Spirit to let me know when I was eating idol food, and as He is faithful, He never misses an occurrence. It’s embarrassing how often I hear His whisper, “This is idol food.” Embarrassing, but amazing. I highly enjoy taking ground in my heart, soul and mind for the Lord’s residency. And I feel empowered to protect my husband and son from idol food too. I wouldn’t feed them meatloaf with a side of poison. Likewise, I’m becoming more and more aware of when I can offer them something better for their spirits.
Song of Solomon talks about the little foxes that spoil the vine. In an effort to have a pure heart, I’m looking for the foxes. I want the Spirit of revelation to reveal to me when I’m partaking in something unholy.
What if watching a TV show that is 90% good and 10% evil gives damages my spiritual hearing. Or, what if reading a book that is just fiction and silliness impairs my ability to discern between good and evil. What if listening to music that is instrumental, but the composer is Shaman really does release a sound that is contrary to the sound that God releases or sings over me. Sincerely, I wonder if watching excessive cooking shows dulls my sensitivity to the Lord. Living a lifestyle of purity is much more than saying no to sexual sins. It’s saying no to anything that defiles a heart, soul and mind. It ranges from the obvious to the secret places that we might not even think twice about, i.e. how many cooking shows can I watch in one day without it affecting the highest place in my heart? Seriously?
In February I started writing a song called Purify My Heart. One of the lines is, “...reveal empty spaces, wasted places...” I started to imagine, rather, tried to imagine what it would be like if God truly had his way in all my places. There are the obvious places that need working on and the secret places, but then there’s the empty spaces and wasted places that have so much potential for God to live and reign in. My heart says, “Yes, take up residency,” but my flesh says, “I like idol food, entertain me.”
Thankfully, God’s mercy triumphs over judgement. The Psalmist says (I paraphrase), “Blessed are those who set their heart on a pilgrimage, through the valley of weeping, they will go strength to strength until they appear before God in Zion.” Psalm 84
I am not perfect, but I am on a pilgrimage. The Lord responds to me and my desire for purity. There will be weeping, but He gives me all the strength I need to get to His face!
0 comments:
Post a Comment