Intentional Worship

By Kandice Adams

My first thought was even the wise man couldn’t get it right.

I had just finished rereading the 11th chapter of I Kings, and I couldn’t help but agree with the scripture that a man’s heart is deceitfully wicked (Jer. 17:9).

It is in Kings that we find Solomon, the wisest man that ever walked the earth; the one who was in a position to impact the Israelites for generations to come-- growing old and growing away from the Lord.  The Bible says that Solomon “loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter” (I Kings 11:1), “…700 wives and 300 concubines and his wives led him astray” (1 Kings 11:3).

That wasn’t initially the case with Solomon.  He started off well, building the temple for the Lord in all its grandeur and he walked upright (1 King 5).  The Lord was so pleased with Solomon that He blessed him with both wealth and honor (I Kings 3:13).

He had it all but still somewhere along the way, even he took another path and turned his attention to idols.

While it may seem implausible when you stand and look from the distance of a few thousand years, don’t we each do this from time to time?

I know I do.

First my actions reflect my complete devotion to the Father.

I seek Him in my decisions, seeking Him first in all things.

I long for His presence; upon rolling out of bed, I run to Him.

And then somewhere along the way, sometimes days or sometimes weeks later, my attention is diverted.

Before not too long, I find myself seeking social media before my feet hit the floor, looking for confirmation from friends, instead of affirmation from the Father.

I begin spending my time, my money and my energy on fruitless circumstances and situations, instead of investing further in the kingdom of God.

Little by little, I become infatuated with the life I believe I have created, and then slowly I begin putting it before the creator of the universe.

And it isn’t just my attention that is diverted; my intentions are diverted, as well.

As my perspective of what’s important shifts, my reasons for doing things slowly changes-- no longer being to bring Him glory but to shine the light upon myself.

Little by little, one by one, I set up idols before the Lord.

Just as Solomon, I allow myself to be led astray by the people or things around me.

I know that I am not alone because as I look around I see that our world is in a precarious position today because most of our idols are not statues that have been casted of some fine metal which stand in all their magnificence on some large hill.  Our idols are subtle and they tend to be those things or people that we tweet or talk, or worry or daydream about the most.  They tend to be those things or people that if we fasted from, would cause us distress.

But while they may not always be obvious to us, they are obvious to our Father who sees everything.

They become easier to spot, the more you seek Him.

Have you offered your extreme devotion to someone or something other than the Lord?

Sweet friend, you are not alone either.

The Bible says, “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes” (Proverbs 24:16).

Friend, I encourage you today, to not keep along your diverted walk, having fallen over idols along the way; rise from your fall through repentance and return to the arms of the Father becoming enamored with Him once again.

Let’s not wait days or weeks but purposely recommit yourself to Him each morning by giving the Lord the first fruits of your day, your time, and your attention.   Let’s be intentional about who we worship, giving our complete devotion to our Father.   He promises us that when we seek Him with all of our hearts, we will find Him (Jer. 29:13).

Won’t you intentionally seek Him today?


Word of the Day
For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

 

Prayer
Lord, thank you for opening the eyes of my heart allowing me to see where I have strayed. Today, I ask that you forgive me for allowing my attention and my intentions to be diverted.  And as I recommit myself to you this day, giving you the first fruits of my day and my time, I ask that you reveal yourself to me, making your presence known.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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