Thoughtful Words - Idol Words

Do the words of others haunt you at night? Do they repeat themselves in your head over and over? Do you feel like crying as negative words are whispered in your imagination?

Have you made those words into an idol?

*gasp* Yes, that is a tough thought.

How about the flip side? Do you crave to hear that you are awesome? That you are loved? That you are the best thing since sliced bread (excuse the cliche)?

Although we should be told we're loved and be appreciated and respected and honored, if we depend on that to make us feel good about ourselves, we could be idolizing those types of words, as well.

Rather than looking to human beings to define our worth, we should be turning to God and His word for the definition of who we are. People make mistakes. God doesn't. People can't always tame their tongue. God knows exactly what to say and when to say it to bring correction or affirmation. People are imperfect. God is perfect. His thoughts are unfathomably higher than ours.

So why all the stinkin' thinkin'? Because we want to feel valued and loved by those around us. Even those who don't seem to like us.

When those negative voices try to take over our minds and chide us all day, we need to take them captive to the things of Christ. 

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. - 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (emphasis mine)

Our weapons are spiritual in nature. We have the power of God dwelling within us. We are capable of pulling down the strongholds that try to seize our thoughts. We are capable of using the Lord's words to cast down arguments and every high thing, those things that exalt themselves above God's word. We need to bring our thoughts before the throne and into submission to the One who created us in His image.

Because God loves us. He knows who we are at the depths of our spirit and soul. He didn't create us to succumb to the image others see of us. He created us in His image.  

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. - Romans 8:28-30

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

If this is true, then why do we continue to carve out our image in the negative words others say to us or the lack of words from those we desire to hear them from?

You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. - Leviticus 26:1

 We need to remove those images from our minds and hearts and seek God's word for His image of us. Today.

Photo Courtesy of Dreamtwist