“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21
Heavenly Father, outside and inside forces are waging a fierce war. It’s not a children’s game of “capture the flag.” It’s a life and death battle called “capture the heart.” Whoever, or whatever, becomes our heart’s preoccupation, treasure, or trust, that is our functional-god—no matter how religious or ill-religious we may be.
Indeed, we, your “dear children,” are quite capable of “honoring you with our lips” while our hearts grow farther and are farther from you (Matt. 15:8). What can take your place in our hearts? How many cereals can we choose from at Publix, Kroger, Albertsons or Trader Joes?
Sometimes people’s approval or affection (or our quest for it), defines us more than the love you’ve lavished on us in Jesus. Though we don’t treasure our fears and anxieties, they can take on whole-life defining power. Naming a few… the fear of not being enough or having enough. The fears of not mattering, being left out, or traded in.
Aging out of relevancy and edging closer to death can seize the 18 hours we’re awake, and explain why we sleep so poorly the other 6. We don’t light candles and sing praise songs to our anger, unforgiveness, resentments, shame, and regrets—but they can become our heart’s fixation.
Loving Father, during this last week of August 2022, and in the coming weeks, renew our love for you, and our delight in you. Restore us to our first love for Jesus, our first trust in your faithfulness, our first joy in being your beloved, “dear children.” So Very Amen.