Be Filled with the Spirit

by Ron Moore
DESCRIPTION
When you are filled with something, that thing controls your life. Our ongoing prayer is that the Spirit will control us in every moment.
Ephesians 5:18-21

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

When you are filled with something, that thing controls your life. For instance, if you are filled with anger, anger controls your life. If you are filled with bitterness, bitterness controls your life. If you are filled with alcohol (or personified as “Al K. Hall” in the Women’s Christian Temperance Union youth meetings that my mom made me attend), alcohol controls your life. You get the idea. So, Paul says, don’t be under the influence of sinful appetites that lead to destruction; instead, be controlled by the Spirit of the living God who lives in your heart.

Now for some important theology. In Scripture, we are never asked to be baptized by the Spirit. Baptism is the work of the Spirit at the moment of salvation that places us into the body of Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body… (1 Corinthians 12:13). In Scripture, we are never instructed to be sealed by the Spirit. The Spirit seals us at the moment of salvation, guaranteeing that we are a child of God. …You were sealed in him with the Holy Spirit… (Ephesians 1:12). In Scripture, we are never asked to be indwelt by the Spirit. Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16) These are all one-time-for-all-time events. But the filling of the Spirit is different. It calls for continuous action. Our on-going prayer is that the Spirit will control us for the moment, as we face a difficult challenge, as we wait for the doctor’s report, as we enter into a difficult meeting, as we worriedly watch Wall Street.

Here’s a prayer you can pray for the control of the Spirit.

Father, this is your day on loan to me, and I want to be used by you for spiritual impact. I submit myself, my plans, my activities, and my interactions with others to you. I thank you that I have been baptized and sealed by your Spirit. I thank you that your Spirit dwells in me. Now I ask that your Spirit control every aspect of my life. Take control of my tongue, that my words will reflect your love and grace. Take control of my emotions that I may respond obediently and calmly. Take control of my thoughts, that my mind may be quickly cleansed of those things that will not honor you and be full of the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy. Control my actions in such a way that others will see my deeds and know that they have been influenced by you. Give me the strength to live this day in a way that pleases you. I submit myself to your control. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Endure With Confidence

by Dr. R.C. Sproul
DESCRIPTION
We who have confessed Christ need endurance so that we will receive all of His promises.
“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Heb. 10:35–36).

Faced with the real possibility of final apostasy among those professing faith in Christ, the author of Hebrews wrote his audience a letter to encourage them to persevere in their faith. This audience was so troubled by the persecution that came with being a part of the Christian community that they wanted to return to the old covenant where they could enjoy physical and, so they thought, spiritual safety.

The problem was that many in the original audience of the Hebrews had forgotten about the eternal reward they once anticipated (10:34). They had forgotten that Jesus was superior to the angels and to Moses (1:1–3:6). They had forgotten that He was the great High Priest from the greater order of Melchizedek (chap. 7) whose sacrifice did away with the ineffectual sacrifices of the old covenant (9:1–10:18).

However, things had not always been this way for them. The author reminds them in 10:32–34 of how they had behaved when they first professed Christ. Their love for one another and endurance of persecution demonstrated that some, if not all of them, had true faith and could be steered back to confidence in Christ.

In today’s passage, the author reminds his readers that they must hold onto their original confidence. He tells them not to throw it away because it has a great reward (v. 35). In light of the suffering that many have already endured for the sake of Christ, throwing away confidence in Him would not make any sense at all. It would be turning back on the only one who can give access to the presence of God (John 14:6). It would be turning away from the one who will renew all things (Rom. 8:21). It would be turning away from the one who grants His people to rule and reign with Him (Rev. 20:4).

If we throw away this confidence, we will also throw away our reward. We who have confessed Christ need endurance so that we will receive all of His promises (Heb. 10:36), because only those of us who maintain our confessions until the end will be saved (vv. 38–39). Commentators agree that this endurance is based on the firm resolve of heart and mind that result from having our confidence in Christ alone. The troubles of life will pull us away from Christ if we are confident in our own abilities to be faithful and not in His faithfulness.

How to Experience Peace While You Work

by Shana Schutte
DESCRIPTION
Some of you may think true peace is impossible while you work. Shana Schutte offers insight on how to experience internal rest at all times.
There are some people who balance the demands of work or of their calling with extraordinary grace. They calmly endure crises with joy; they patiently wait for God to act when things go awry, and they confidently navigate numerous daily pressures.

Then there are those of us who panic and burn ourselves out while trying to control the future, striving while we work, and worrying ourselves into fitful nights without sleep.

I have to admit, there have been many seasons while I have worked that I have experienced peace, but there have been other times when work demands and seemingly impossible tasks have threatened to steal all joy.

So over the last year I have been asking myself, “How do I work without striving, so I can still experience internal rest and peace while I work? How do I push forward through the day and face its demands without becoming a victim of panic or worry?”

Some of you may think true peace is impossible while you work. Instead, you believe the only way to experience internal rest is to experience external rest—to retire to the Caribbean, buy a slice of heaven on the beach, and stay there until God takes you home.

In his study on Hebrews, John MacArthur writes:

“Rest does not mean free from all nuisances and hassles; it means freedom from being so easily bothered by them. Rest means to be inwardly quiet, composed, peaceful. To enter God’s rest means to be at peace with God (Romans 5:1) to possess the perfect peace He gives (Isaiah 26:3). . . Rest involves remaining confident, keeping trust. In other words, to rest in something or someone means to maintain our confidence in it or him.”

Internal rest is found in belief and trust in God (Hebrews 3:18-19) even while we work. Belief that God’s promises are true, that He is who He says He is, and trust that we are enveloped in His power and lavish love to accomplish all that concerns us. Remember, the one who hears God’s promises but does not believe them is the one who does not experience internal rest. People who do not believe and trust cannot rest while they work even if they want to do so. They are always driven out of their unbelief to striving, worry, panic, or restlessness.

Do you want to experience internal rest and peace while you work? Choose to trust God today and tell Him that you know He has all things that concern your life (and work) under His control. Let Him carry your burdens.

Managing Change

by Boyd Bailey
DESCRIPTION
Are you facing a change that requires great faith? Remember that Almighty God is unchanging; He is your rock of reassurance and stability.
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning” (Daniel 2:20-21).

Change can make me uncomfortable and uncertain about the future. If I ignore change, I lose my opportunity to influence the process. If I embrace change, I treat it as a friend who wants to help, instead of a foe who wants to hurt me. The reality of change requires a Spirit-led response, not a naive dismissal. Change can manage me or I can manage change. In the same way, I learn to adjust to my body’s ongoing issues so I grow in how to make the best of life’s ever evolving events.

Daniel experienced the radical transition of moving into a new country with its unique culture and demands of god like loyalty to its king. Daniel was a person of prayer and principle, thus he would not worship anyone but his one and only sovereign King, the Lord God Almighty. He did not cower under the pressure to compromise his deeply held convictions. He managed change by rejecting expectations of political and religious expediency. Conversely, he challenged the status quo by offering dietary options that yielded better outcomes. Managing change requires courage.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (Philippians 1:20).

What change do you face that requires great faith? You may feel your body has betrayed you. Ask the Lord for wisdom in how to leverage these new physical limitations for His purposes. Work associates may have transferred or been terminated. You are left carrying the load of their job responsibilities. By God’s grace be a team player. Do your best and trust the Lord with the rest. Be a problem solver, not a chronic complainer. Perhaps a relationship has gone rogue and you feel alone. Use this season of singleness as an opportunity for solitude with your Savior. Managing change takes a magnitude of wisdom and discernment from your heavenly Father.

Almighty God is unchanging. He is a rock of reassurance and stability. Like the weather can be sunny one day and cloudy another, so life has its dramatic occurrences. Therefore, we are wise to let life’s drama draw us closer to Christ. Our dependable Jesus wants us to go deeper with Him. He is especially near when we face the pressure to compromise our beliefs for the accommodation of an unjust authority. Prayerfully, we manage change so it doesn’t manage us.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Related Readings: Psalm 15:4, 55:19; Daniel 6:17; Matthew 18:3; Acts 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

The Busiest Man Who Ever Lived

by Bryant Wright
DESCRIPTION
No one has ever been busier than Jesus when He walked on this earth. Why not learn from Him when you’re frazzled, exhausted, and burned out. Take some time to be with God.
Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. (Mark 6:45–46 NIV)

He was exhausted, completely worn out from dealing with people and their problems. What He needed was a rest. He got away to spend some time alone with God. When He did, His spirit was renewed and refreshed. When the crowds came, He was able to respond, to care for them and meet their needs.
His name was Jesus Christ, and He was the busiest man who ever lived. He accomplished more than anyone did before or since His time here on earth.

We live in a very fast-paced world with great demands on our time, yet no one has ever been busier than Jesus when He walked on this earth. Why not learn from Him when you’re frazzled, exhausted, and burned out. Take some time to be with God. If Jesus needed time alone with God, surely we do as well.

Our Constant Friend

by Dr. Charles Stanley
DESCRIPTION
Have you experienced times of abandonment?
2 Timothy 4:16-18

Many of us have experienced times of abandonment by others just when we needed them most. It could have been a spouse withdrawing emotionally, a co-worker who ignored you, or a close friend who was too busy to help. The life of the apostle Paul teaches us how to avoid discouragement in such situations.

Remember that the Lord is with us always. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, we enter into a relationship with Him, and His Spirit comes to live in us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus remains with us at all times, regardless of the circumstance. He is our friend—one who will never leave us. And His is the most important friendship we have. Reading our Bible will help us to remember this.

Draw on God’s strength. Through the Holy Spirit, we have access to divine power every minute of the day. When we let go of control and depend on the Lord, we will be able to draw on His strength. Then, if family or friends cause hurt, His presence will provide comfort and help us to forgive them.

Look expectantly for deliverance. Paul testified that the Lord had rescued him and would continue to deliver him from every evil situation. The apostle knew he could always trust God.

Paul faced many painful situations without the support of friends. Toward the end of his life, those who cared about him were widely scattered. Yet his attitude remained hopeful because Christ was his constant Friend. Do you know the Savior? Allow His presence to walk with you throughout your day, and experience the joy His friendship brings.

God Is Backward

by Mike Kendrick
DESCRIPTION
Success is not what you've done compared to what others have done. What is success?
Success is not what you’ve done compared to what others have done. Success is what you have done compared to what you were supposed to do. –Tony Evans

Have you noticed that God’s value system is radically different from ours?

In His kingdom, the first will be last and the last will be first (Matthew 20:16). To be great in His kingdom, we must become servants (Matthew 20:11). The proud will be humbled; the humble will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). Those who mourn are blessed (Matthew 5:4). Only when we are weak are we in a position to be experience His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). And in order to truly live, we must die to ourselves (John 12:24).

There are many paradoxes like these in the Bible, so it shouldn’t surprise us that God doesn’t define success like we do. The world defines success as having a loaded bank account, receiving accolades, and having a fancy job title. Therefore, we admire movie stars, envy business tycoons, and worship star athletes.

Could it be that these people aren’t successful at all according to God’s definition?

God doesn’t consider the CEO of a Fortune 500 company a success just because of his position. A $120,000 Mercedes doesn’t impress Him. He doesn’t care if you make a name for yourself and are featured on Oprah. Instead, God says you are successful when you do with excellence what He has called you to do. Therefore, you can’t compare yourself to others to determine if you have been successful. Instead, God values your relationship with Him and the impact you make for Him.

Perhaps the best illustration of God’s perspective about success is His own Son. Jesus wasn’t born into a wealthy family with earthly fanfare; He was born in a stable among farm animals. His father was a hard-working carpenter in a small town. And, when Jesus chose his disciples, He didn’t select well-educated scholars, decorated military leaders, or astute businessmen. He chose common fishermen, a despised tax collector, and other ordinary guys. Even after His reputation grew and people wanted to crown Him as their leader, He chose the cross instead, a humiliating and disgraceful instrument of torture.

In spite of humble beginnings and a shameful death, Jesus was amazingly successful because He completed all that His Father sent Him to do (John 17:4). God’s value system is not at all like ours. God values humility and sacrifice, not wealth, fame, and beauty.

What are you doing to accomplish God’s purposes? Are you completing your God-given assignment? I encourage you to ask yourself each morning, “What will I do today to accomplish God’s plan? How will I move toward the mission He has given me?” Then you can experience true success.

Are You Using Your Sword?

by Revive Our Hearts
DESCRIPTION
In order to do battle with Satan's lies, dig into God's Word.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Psalm 139:13–14).

"But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart'" (1 Samuel 16:7).

"The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord" (Psalm 45:11).

Suddenly I knew I had been lied to.

For years I struggled to accept my own beauty and value. I believed lies like "You have to be perfect in order to be loved," "Everyone else is thinner and more beautiful than you are," "Your value is tied to your weight," and "There's no such thing as too thin." It wasn't long before I started to dwell on those lies. Then I started to act. Before I knew it I was in bondage. And I didn't even know I had been lied to.

But that changed when I got serious about turning to God's Word for truth. When I read passages like the ones above and chose to accept them as truth, those lies suddenly lost their hold on my heart. God's Word became a spotlight pointing to areas that I'd been deceived.

This is the mystery spelled out by Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

God's Word is the sword we must use to defend ourselves against the lies told by the world and by the evil one. It is also the shovel we must use to uproot lies once they have taken root in our hearts. We cannot live lives committed to God's truth without loving and reading God's Word.

Many of you have told me that you also struggle in the areas of beauty and worth. My advice? Dig into God's Word. Others of you struggle with boy craziness or the need to have affirmation from a boy. Dig into God's Word. Some of you are wrestling with the consequences of past sins. Dig into God's Word. Some of you don't know where you've been deceived, but your lives are a mess and you sense that something isn't right. Dig into God's Word.

The Bible is so much more than a book. It is living and active. It is a sword that has the power to slice lies right out of our lives. Have you picked up your sword today?

Wear Your Helmet!

by Greg Laurie
DESCRIPTION
In Ephesians, Paul tells us to put on "the helmet of salvation." Guard your thoughts!
Paul tells us we are to take “the helmet of salvation” (Ephesians 6:17).
In a war, the two most sought-after and vulnerable targets on the ancient battlefield were the heart and head. With our heart and other vital organs ably protected by the breastplate of righteousness, the enemy will try to strike the head. One well-placed blow here and the battle is over.

What does it mean to wear the helmet of salvation?

It would seem to me that the apostle is telling us to watch our thoughts in general. Most temptation comes through the gateway of the mind and imagination.

This is why Paul tells us, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your mind may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3).

Smashing warped philosophies

When those “flaming arrows” of ungodly thoughts come, we need to have our guard up.

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5-6:

“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity” (THE MESSAGE).

Watch your thoughts!

So watch what you allow into your thought life. Our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “As a man thinks, so is he.”

Satan recognizes the value of first getting a foothold in the realm of the thoughts and imagination, as this will “prepare the way” for that thought to translate into action! As it’s been said:

Sow a thought and reap an act.
Sow an act and reap a habit.
Sow a habit and reap a character.
Sow a character and reap a destiny.

So think “heavenly thoughts” today!

Take Up the Shield of Faith

by Brandon A. Cox
DESCRIPTION
Satan doesn’t get tired of stalking you with temptation and untruth. So take up your shield and stand strong in your faith!
Believing that victory is possible is the first step in achieving it. And for those who believe in Jesus, victory is not only possible, it’s certain. And the confidence that victory is certain is our greatest defense against the enemy who would seek to destroy us. Or as Paul put it…

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. - Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)

Satan doesn’t wear out. He doesn’t get tired of hounding God’s people, pestering us constantly with temptation and untruth. It is the shield of certainty that God has already won the war that will help us to knock down the arrows he hurls our way.

In Paul’s day, Roman soldiers on the front lines would carry an enormous wooden shield, covered in leather that had been soaked in water. When the enemy army shot its flaming arrows at the Roman line, those on the front would crouch down together and combine their shields to make a solid, thick wet wall that was not only impenetrable by the arrows, but also served to extinguish the flame.

This is faith. When we believe God’s truth about Himself, we carry a HUGE shield. And with that faith, we put out the flames of Satan’s arrows. When he whispers, “you’ll never measure up,” we can by faith proclaim but Jesus measured up for me. When he whispers, “God doesn’t really love you,” we can reply in faith God proved His love for me in that while I was yet a sinner, Jesus died for me. And so forth. Arrow after arrow will be deflected to the ground if we walk in the certainty of the victory that is ours.

So take up your shield and stand strong in your faith in the God who has already triumphed for you!

Dressed for Readiness

by Brenda Emmons
DESCRIPTION
We must recognize that God has a purpose for each of us every day, and we must open our hearts and minds to receive it. We must put on His will for our day and dress in complete obedience in carrying out His plan.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning” Luke 12:35

I rarely wake up already knowing what I am going to dress myself in for the day. It is one of the last things I think of and only when it is time to leave the house. There is no planning ahead… as a matter of fact I stand there in front of my clothes with a blank disinterested stare. I usually reach for the same thing based on its comfort…ease…and lack of needing ironing. We are told in our selected verse this morning to always be in a state of readiness when it comes to serving God. We must recognize that God has a purpose for each of us every day, and we must open our hearts and minds to receive it. We must put on His will for our day and dress in complete obedience in carrying out His plan. We must consider that the only way to accomplish all of this is to continue to stoke the fire within our hearts to keep the lamp burning. To reflect His light in our lives is to never let the lamp grow dim.

We are told in Psalm 119:105 that God’s word ‘is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.’ Through spending time learning what God has to say about every detail in our life we will be more ready to carry out His plan. His plan always includes reaching out to those who are less privileged than we are. His service always involves dealing with all people through the compassionate and gracious heart of God. He gave us the Holy Spirit as oil for our spiritual lamps so that our heart for others will never grow numb or dim. It is when we lose our focus on fellowship with the Trinity that we lose our focus on our responsibility for the burdened and the broken. If every one of us considered the spiritual garments required for service as much as we consider the earthly garments for pleasure stomachs would be fed and widows would be nurtured. Children would no longer be fatherless and churches would not be limited to walls. Our verse is small but has huge implications challenging us to look within ourselves, and become more intentional with our spiritual wardrobe and fellowship with the Flame

Wear the Breastplate of Righteousness

by Brandon A. Cox
DESCRIPTION
Satan aims for the heart. So guard yours by wearing the protective breastplate of righteousness and purity.
If you’re in enough battles, you’ll eventually suffer injuries, so you learn early on to protect the head and the heart as much as possible. In our spiritual battles, protecting the heart is less about avoiding emotional pain (which we can’t do if we’re going to counsel and serve hurting people) and more about avoiding unrighteousness, or to put it positively the way Paul did,

…with the breastplate of righteousness in place. - Ephesians 6:14 (NIV)

What is righteousness? The easiest way to grasp the concept is to imagine that which is pure and white, untouched by dirt or filth. Obviously, as sinners, we can’t go back and undo our consumption of unrighteous things anymore than we can take back our unrighteous deeds. What we can do is live as though purity defines us, because in Christ, purity does now define us as a result of the gracious work of God in us.

Satan aims for the heart. If he can harden it or divide it, he’s halfway to beating us in battle. So guard your heart by wearing the protective breastplate of righteousness and purity. If pornography or 50 shades of something or another currently shapes the desires and expectations of your heart, you’re completely vulnerable to utter ruin. If you harbor resentment or feast on gossip, you’re rendering your heart unable to show grace.

Watch the heart. Guard it closely. Wear the breastplate of righteousness. And if you think it’s too late… God performs spiritual heart transplants…

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. - Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)

Cinching Up the Belt of Truth

by Pete Briscoe
DESCRIPTION
Pete Briscoe talks about the importance of truth and how it strengthens our very core.
“Who had deceived thee so often as thyself?” —Benjamin Franklin

Have you ever worn one of those weight-lifting belts and cinched it up nice and tight? It gives you a feeling of stability and strength. That’s what truth does. It strengthens us at our very core. Maybe that’s why the Bible calls us to put on the “belt of truth!”

But what is truth? Truth is reality—things as they really are as opposed to what they look like, as opposed to what they feel like, or sound like, or you wish they were like. That’s particularly important when we are talking about sincerely sensitive issues like heaven and hell. Yeah, it’s touchy, emotional stuff, so we need Truth as the undergirding reality that holds everything else up. Truth can also be found in a very special place. Jesus’ “high priestly” prayer reveals where:

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” —John 17:14-17 (emphasis mine)

First, we need to take time to know the truth. God has revealed His truth to us in Scripture. When you know the truth, lies are obvious. That comes through a lifelong discovery of truth in His Word.

Secondly, take your thoughts captive. This is the dynamic of getting Jesus involved. How? If we have a thought and wonder if it's a deception, we present it to Jesus and ask Him, “Jesus, I just had this thought. Is it a lie or Your truth? Open my eyes to Your truth.” And by His Spirit He will, and He will confirm it according to the principles of Scripture.

Thirdly, take your thoughts to community. One of the great joys of living in a community that believes the Bible is that we can sit down with one another and we can say, “Hey. Here’s what I’m thinking. Does it sound like a lie to you or does it sound like the truth?” And sometimes just by verbalizing it, before we’re even done saying it, we know it’s a lie. It’s obvious.

So where are you today? Is there someplace you are teetering between Truth and lies? Cinch up that belt of Truth!

Lord, I pray that You would strengthen me with Truth today. Bring to mind the Bible passage you want me to focus on. Strengthen me with it, protecting me against the lies of the enemy. I bring my thoughts to You now, to be taken captive by You. Thank You for the brothers and sisters around me who are honest and wise. Use them all to lead me in Your everlasting ways. Amen.

Stand Firm on the Word

by Dr. Tony Evans
DESCRIPTION
Are there things that you are placing above your relationship with God?
Scripture Reading: 1 John 2:15-17 

When most people hear the word idolatry, they think of pagans worshiping statues and assume, "That's one subject that can't apply to me."  Oh, yes it can.

You don't have to keep a carved, wooden tiki idol in your backyard to be an idolater.  You don't have to visit a Buddhist shrine.  Any time you worship the thing God created as a god, that's idolatry.

We can get so caught up in the things of this world - jobs, money, people, material things - that we forget our purpose here on earth. We should live in the world but not of the world.  Spend some time analyzing your walk with the Lord.  Are there things that you are placing above your relationship with God?  Ask Him to reveal things in your life that are being placed above God.