A lovely young lady and I have been going through The Excellent Wife, by Martha Peace. While we often disagree with some of her scripture usage to support her points, today’s chapter not only brought zero holdbacks, but bombarded us with several convicting points. The first pertained to idols, and the second to deliberation.

She pointed out that if a desire becomes so important to us that any interference causes us to sin with anxiety or frustration, we have made an idol, because we are no longer concerned with the true honor of God, but rather whatever we are pedestalizing (is that a word?). For me this occurs when I am ill. I become angry that I cannot accomplish my goals, instead of being thankful for the myriad of blessings I have. I didn’t really think about the fact that if someone could read my mind, it would be communicating that the most important thing to me is my agenda.

A notable thing that humbled me was her point that time-use  reveals what I am worshipping. This is obviously not quantitative, or it could be said that I worship changing diapers, or doing laundry, or keeping my floors clean. Rather I was convicted about the complete lack recently of purposing to honor God. I have been haphazard in my spiritual life. Deliberate during my times of devotion, but not extending that devotion through my day. The Lord has been convicting me of the choices I have been (or not been) making.

May the Lord help me to be deliberate and thoughful as I seek to live a life that makes an effort to worship Him.