I have often wondered why some Christians can do certain things. Then there are others that can't or won't do those certain things.
Me, I use to cuss like a sailor and a truck driver (as the saying goes) all rolled into one. But once I fully gave my heart to the Lord, he started to work on me. I had a little god in this foul language. So little by little, he worked this out of me. Now if I slip, the first thing I do is apologize to the person who heard it and then confess it to the Lord.
Then there is drinking. I use to go to the bars and drink. Sometimes I drank too much. Then there were the times I drank too much and drove. Then I started to drink less but still wanted to be "cool" and hang with co-workers and friends. Again, I had made social drinking a little god. The Lord would impress on me that being "cool" was not cool at all. My little god tended to get me in trouble or made me drive when I shouldn't. I stopped going to the bars and drinking the my favorite hard liquor. But I noticed that I could not go to sleep in the early 2000's. So I made an excuse and started to have a glass of warm Sake. I just switched one little god for another. It ended up being my choice to give up all drinking. I wanted to be sober minded and I know what alcohol of any kind would do to me.
Am I finished with little gods in my life? I don't think so because that clay is hard. It needs to be softened by the Master Potter. He is the only One that can soften a hard heart. He is the only one that can change my mind.
Do you have any little gods? What excuses do you use? Do you feel the Lord would like to have you remove those little gods? I know He will allow you to do so when you are ready.
My prayer for you and I is that we will be willing to give up those little gods and grow closer to the Lord our God and Savior.
A Willing Heart
The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon while he was hiding from his enemies in fear. Yet the angel’s message was, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12, NIV). Gideon did not feel strong or courageous—quite the opposite! But God wasn’t speaking about Gideon’s past or his ability. He was announcing what He could do through His powerful presence.
That same truth changed Andrew Palau’s life. For years, Andrew resisted God’s call to be a preaching evangelist. Speaking in public filled him with dread—he knew he wasn’t good at it! And he felt certain he was the wrong person for the job.
But when he read Gideon’s story, the words of Judges 6:12 struck Andrew. God called Gideon “mighty warrior” before he ever fought a battle. Andrew realized God wasn’t dependent on human ability—but His own ability. God was declaring what was possible through His own strength.
That realization shifted everything. As Andrew surrendered his fear, God began to ...