One

I like having lots of choices. Do I choose chicken, hamburger, or some other sandwich? I love going to a restaurant and making a choice. I’m thankful that I have choices. I like choosing what trips to put in my schedule. Some of the dates are set by others or they are the same time each year. Christ followers have lots of options for a church family. There lots of churches across our country where we can choose to worship. In West Georgia, there are over 100 churches. I think it’s wise to carefully choose a church that is grounded deeply in the Word of God and has a deep heart for lost people in the community where they are planted.

The Word of God is really clear that God doesn’t like to share the stage of my heart with anyone else or anything else. He wants to be the center of my life. When I learn to make Him the center of my life, the rest of my life comes to life in a powerful and beautiful way – according to the design of The Creator.

Asaph pens a Psalm that reflects upon their choices and they failed in the past. He writes from God’s perspective. Check this out….

I heard an unknown voice say,
⁶ “Now I will take the load from your shoulders;
    I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.
⁷ You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you;
    I answered out of the thundercloud
    and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah.

⁸ “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.
    O Israel, if you would only listen to me!
⁹ You must never have a foreign god;
    you must not bow down before a false god.(Psalm 81:5b-9 NLT)

There are many “gods” who fight to be center stage on my heart. I have to keep my heart in check. I do enjoy having money in my account. If I’m not careful, getting more money can distract me from seeking the heart of God. My success in business is also another “god” that I have to do battle with. I can want my success so strongly that I walk over others to attain it. I also can put my family on center stage of my heart. My family belongs to the Lord and I must trust him with them. Becoming popular, well-known or famous can also be a “god” that fights for my allegiance.  I must do careful inventory of my heart to keep Jesus on center stage of my heart. There are multiple competitors who fight for their space on the stage of my heart.

I am a worshipper for sure. I want to only worship God, the Creator. I have welcomed His Son Jesus to be the Center of my life. I believe that it is a daily, hourly or minute by minute process to keep Jesus front and center on the stage of my heart. It’s a battle worth fighting for sure, because the enemy is relentless in his pursuit of my heart. God will not share center stage of my heart with anyone else or any other thing.

Pressing On!

Dwayne