I have now been home from the World Race for a little over 2
weeks and came to the realization tonight that I have been filling my idle time
with the consumption of idols.
During the race we all would think of things that we could
not wait to do when we got home. Foods we couldn’t wait to eat, television
shows we couldn’t wait to watch, streaming internet we could not wait to use
etc.
While I thought I would merely enjoy these things, I did not
envision them becoming idols again. This year I realized that I have had a lot
of idols in my lifetime that have taken control of me and have turned my focus
from God. In high school I was ‘in love’ with NSYNC and had every poster I
could and read every magazine I could buy. In college NASCAR consumed me. My
schedule revolved around it and if something prevented me from watching it I
was not a happy camper. In fact I would tape it so I could watch it later. Post
college I allowed an online child’s website, Webkinz, to consume my time. (Not
saying its bad for kids but you should watch their time on it and make sure its
not intruding on God/family time).
So when I returned home I was aware of things that would try
to grab my time and attention. I thought I was stronger and would not succumb
to them again. While I have not succumbed to the same things as before I have
created new ones.
If you are on facebook you might know of the new game
applications Fishville and Café World. Yep that’s right, I have allowed stupid
games like these to consume my time to the point where I think about feeding my
fish and creating my food dishes around my schedule so they don’t die or rot.
Idols are anything that takes your focus away from God. When
you think of something or someone more than you think of God you should be
checking yourself to make sure that you have not turned it into an idol.
Since returning I have not ‘lost’ my time with God, I have
simply shortened it so I can spend time with my idols. REDICULOUS. Filling time
doing these things does absolutely nothing for my life, in fact the only thing
they do is harm it because I am not spending as much time with the most
precious person in my life, Jesus Christ.
They are also taking my time away from family.
I have talked with several squad mates this past week and
several of them have mentioned that discipline is becoming a problem. Its so
much harder to be disciplined here than on the race because here I don’t have 6
other people surrounding me and holding me accountable.
But this is not going to happen anymore. It can’t. I enjoyed
my time with Jesus on the race too much to let it go now. God is too big, has
to many plans and has too much to say to me for me to be missing my time with
Him every day.
How are you filling your idle time today? What have you allowed to become and
idol? How will you go about getting rid of it?
The most fulfilling relationship in life is knocking at your
door, how will He find you spending your time today?
