A Trap Set

Once, It was a while ago, I was given a yummy German-Chocolate pastry to try. I loved it!!! I was so mad because before that day, I never had tried one before, so I never knew how good they were. You might be thinking, "That sounds like a good thing!" Well, let me tell you why it isn't:

I love sweets! Love, love, love them. I would probably forgo any other food if it were possible to survive on sugar alone. I have a hard time controlling my cravings - even more so since I have had kids. Before I tried that yummy desert, I never knew I liked it, which meant I never knew I wanted it, which meant I never had a craving for it. See the downward spiral I am facing?

Cute as this anecdote is, it is a snippet of a picture of my walk with the Lord. There are things I have a hard time turning away from. Things that, in themselves, aren't bad, but they are things that distract me from GOD! Yikes! AND! I can't help but make a parallel between the "if I never tried it" thoughts I have about the pastry, and the "If I never tried it" thoughts I have about the things that distract me from God.

I love Disneyland. I went there on my honeymoon and I have been thinking about going there again on vacation. But, wait. I need to stop and think. Is that something that I could do without to further serve God? If I never went there, would I want to go again?

I was reading a book called "A hole in our Gospel" - a GREAT book, by the way. Something I realized while reading was that perhaps we are cursed by our affluence. Since we don't have a need, we are blind to the needs of others. Since we can afford a trip to Disneyland, perhaps we don't realize what it is like to not be able to afford to eat? I don't think Disneyland is the problem at all. But, if my desire for Disneyland out-weighs my desire to serve the poor, seek God's will, then it's as if I made my idol the bobble-head Mickey. I never want to say, "I would serve You God, but I can't because of the vacations (or pedicures, or dinners out, or new clothes, or nicer cars, or new furniture, etc.) I would be missing...

I am challenged to examine my life and see what things I am putting before the Lord and then I am challenged to watch for things that can ensnare me. I know I need to stay away from the German-Chocolate pastry.

My prayer today is: Heavenly Father, giver of all good gifts. If there is something I am putting ahead of you, please reveal it to me today and help me avoid it like poison! Help me not even know about the things out there that would ensnare me if I ever gave them any attention. Help me FLEE from evil. Keep me from sinning against You in this way. Lord, please let my focus remain on you that I would never allow myself to grieve an idol that I have made in place of you. Help me remember Isaiah 40:18 To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare Him to? and Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Amen.