Introduction to Idols

First off, Idols are very destructive but it’s important not to get too hyped up about them. 

Don’t Idolize Idols. 

Jesus is more powerful and the steps to becoming free from them may be difficult because they are so addicting but there is so much grace and it’s worth it. I’ll go into getting rid of the more in the end.

I’m all about simplifying matters. 

Idols cause all sort of problems. It can be overwhelming. It’s like trying to bail out the water of a leaking boat instead of patching the hole. 

SO You can try and deal with all the problems…

OR 

Just simply recognize the idol and take steps to remove it. 

I have found the problems caused by the Idols often disappear when the idol is fully laid before God. Laying an Idol before God can be very tough BUT it’s SO MUCH EASIER than trying to just deal with the symptoms so it’s worth it. 

Journal as You Go

The first powerful step to getting rid on an Idol is to recognize it and how it is hurting you. As you read, I have questions to help you identify Idols. I suggest you take time with each question and answer them to the best of your ability. You can think of multiple idols or focus on one at a time. 

Everyone has Idols.

Lots of them and it’s so easy to get them. BUT there is no shame or condemnation. We are all in this together. 

Humans are wired to worship and depend upon a god.

If the god isn’t the actual creator of the Universe then it will be something else. Every person no matter what belief they have, worships gods. Even an atheist puts their faith in the gods of time, chance, mutations and survival. 

What are Idols?

Humans have had Idols for our entire history. They aren’t just statues, they are things like entertainment, wealth, a job, a significant others, gods from organized religions etc.

Idols can be something we Love or Hate.

It’s very important to remember that you may idolize things you absolutely despise. 

Idols are anything that we turn to instead of God. 

It’s so easy to get Idols. You have a need, and you don’t know your creator well enough to know how to get that need meet by God and there are things that are just easier and Quicker.  It’s when some good thing God created becomes higher in our hearts than the creator himself. An idol is something that you worship, focus and meditate on and trust in more than God.

NOT everything we turn to is an idol. 

EXAMPLE: We go eat food when we are hungry instead of expecting some magic food to appear from God. Or we receive love from other people instead of directly from God. Those things are not idols in and of themselves. They only become idols when we make them into one. When we forget that God created this world and every good thing comes from him. That doesn’t have to be a religious constant thought. It’s just an understanding that is in our heart.

Idols actually give us something but it’s never enough.

Why do we have Idols? 

Idols do in fact give us something or we would never have idolize them in the first place. They provide a service. No one would get addicted to an Idol if it didn't actually help to some degree. 

BUT they also cause a lack AND dependance by never fulfilling the need completely. 
See the next post How Idols affect us and how to Recognize them

A way to recognize an idol: is you find yourself constantly turing to something. It makes you feel good, gives you a sense of accomplishment and momentary peace. THEN soon after you feel empty and unsatiated. So you get stuck in a vicious cycle where you have to come back again and again and It’s never enough.

Example: a person has the Idol of self image. The idol gives them motivation to work out and eat healthy. BUT it also causes binge eating and depression because the standard to too high to actually be met. And so we see the endless cycle of hope and despair driven by an obsession with the idol induced image. 

Check List: Do you recognize idols in your life just based on this description? List them in your journal.

Move on to How Idols affect us and How to Recognize them.

How Idols affect us and How to Recognize them

First Read the Introduction to Idols

Journal as You Go

The first powerful step to getting rid on an Idol is to recognize it and how it is hurting you. As you read, I have questions to help you identify Idols. I suggest you take time with each question and answer them to the best of your ability. You can think of multiple idols or focus on one at a time. 

Idols Control Our Emotions

Idols create an Emotional Roller Coaster

When idols don't meet our expectations we experience volatile emotions. Idols often lead to a roller coaster rides of extreme hope and extreme despair. This is because they cause us to hope and work for something. We get a taste. THEN it isn’t enough or it slips from our grasp and the void deeply effects us because we have expectations so high the only Being that can handle them is God himself. 

Example: A classic example of this is codependency in relationships. When each person places huge expectations and hopes and try and draw life from the other moral only to be inevitably disappointed. 

Check In: Do you notice some things in your life that cause that cycle. It can be people, or things or activities or Goals. But the defining factor is the high hope then crushing disappointment. What would it look like if the highs an lows weren’t connected to something and instead you had peace and joy despite the circumstances?

Feeling of failure, punishment and deep regret

When the idol is not obtained or achieved the effect is a feeling of failure. Sometimes you feel punished or you punish yourself for not getting it. You feel like you didn’t do well enough or you didn’t deserve it. God doesn’t punish us when we don’t do this or that but Idols do.

Example:  A person idolizes their car. They are driving perfectly safe but are in an accident and the car is totaled. The person has so much regret and hatred towards themselves for “letting” that happen. 

Check In: Do you notice times when you lost something or someone, or didn’t meet a certain goal etc and you found yourself beating yourself up because of it. You cannot forgive yourself or let it go? List this things. What would it look like if you didn’t have that regret, or feeling of failure or punishment and you had the feeling of acceptance, security and unceasing forgiveness instead?

Idols Cause Envy

Idols are like salt water. The more you drink the more dehydrated you get. Idols create more and more need. The result it jealousness, coveting and constant comparison and the feeling of always being in lack.

Example: Someone idolizes clothes. They have a huge wardrobe but they can’t help but always wish they had more. They wish they could have other peoples clothes too or afford where they shop. Whenever someone is around them with better or newer clothes they can’t help but compare and wish. It’s never enough. 

Check In:

Stress, And lack of Peace

Idols INTENTIONALLY take peace away from us. It’s one of the biggest way you can recognize if something is an idol or not. Idols are destructive so they cannot give peace and their intention is to destroy so the stress of not having them or meeting there demands will always be felt, however slight. 

Example: a person idolizes their Job. They are doing well and are respected but they always feel anxious and afraid they will lose the job. 

Check In: What in your life constantly causes you stress when you don’t have it or take care of it properly. You want it and value it yet it takes your peace and gives you stress. Write down those things? What would it look like if you didn’t have that stress and you had peace instead?

Idols are Controlling and take from us

The Cost of what Idols give us is high

give us something but the price is varying degrees of destruction

Example: 

Check In: 

Idols demand Money, Time and Resources 

Another way to recognize an idol is to notice what you would willingly give money time and resources to without thinking I does require times require our money and so when we idolize them we give them money without thinking 

Mimiking tieth 

Example: 

Check In: What do you give money to without thinking that may not be so healthy or may be compulsive? What will you give time and energy to without a hesitation when other things you would never go out of your way for? List those things.

Idols cause compulsive often repetitive actions

Idols demand worship. So each idol has some sort of accompanying action that is very hard to resist when one has the idol. 

Example:  A person has materialism as an idol so they find themselves constantly shopping and reading about things to buy. 

When you find yourself composed to do a repetitive action it can often be because of an ido

Example: 

Check In: 

Does the suspected idol cause compulsive action that is more or less destructive and you can't seem to stop?

Obsessive thinking

And idol is often something that you think of first in your morning. Idols are often something you start obsessing about when you wake up. 

God is something that you often think of

Idols are something that you obsess over for a lot of the daywhen you find yourself obsessing over something it could be an idol

Example: 

Check In: Do you find yourself thinking of something first thing most mornings, more than is healthy? Do you find yourself obsessing over something during the day?

Idols are often something you think of first thing in the morning

 control us by fear

You can recognize when something has become an idol because the thought of letting go of it or a good feeling you creates fear often intense and even crippling fear

But idols do that cycle so that they can control

No matter how awesome and idol is it is never worth holding onto because of the deficit it creates in the destruction yields to our soul

Example: 

Check In:

Idols Block us receiving from God

Idols block God's blessing 

in our lives

Example: 

Check In:

Idols block our ability to hear God clearly

Idols create noise in our head they talk to us they have opinions that they put in our mind

the more idols you get rid of the clearer your mind will be

Idols are particularly vicious because they can sounds like God in our minds and can miss direct us

Another way to recognize an idol is when you're praying for something and you hear you think you hear gods voice

Example: 

Check In:

are there times you couldn't tell if you heard GOd clearly? Could you have an idol in that area that may make you hear different?

Idols Dictate our Identity

You are what you worship

Idols Dictate our value

We are meant to get our self value from God. God values us without us doing anything. When we are in a healthy relationship with God we know that 

Example: 

Check In:

We become like the idol

Image of the Idol

When we worship and think and obsess over in idol the image of that idol gets burned on our soul

So we started becoming more and more like that idol and our identity gets lost in it

Another big way to recognize an idol is by what you have a strong identity in

Not everything that you identify with is bad but when it becomes a core part of your identity and you become very insecure when that part of your identity is poked at it could very likely be because of an idol

 And I don't can be anything it can be a person of thing a concept an ideal it can be something good or it could be something that you hate

You do not have to love and idle for it to be one and I don't can be something you hate

Example: 

Check In:

Why Idols are so Bad

“Have no other God before you” is the First of the ten commandments for a reason. 

Yeah they cause SO many problems. It is NEVER WORTH Tolerating Idols for a moment. 

Move on to How To get Rid of idols

I have Faith I Am encouraged!

When I get discouraged or feel like I don't have faith, It's a LIE! 

I have faith. 

I just need to see that I am powerful and it's worth praying. 

I am tired yes but I AM POWERFUL!!!

There is hope!

Don't let the enemy lie to you!

trauma Prayer Video

Release EVERYTHING!!!