Misplaced Value
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie”
This line from scripture came at me like a punch in the gut. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever.” This verse forced me to consider - what truth do I exchange for a lie? What goodness do I trade?
What truth do I sacrifice for a lie?
For me, this scripture isn’t just about sex - it’s about what I deem to be more important than God - what I’m willing to trade Him for. No, for me, this scripture is about a whole lot more than sex. This scripture is about value.
When I’m going through the fire, what do I value more? What opinions or people or status do I worship - instead of my creator? What truth takes a backseat to the lies that I believe? What gifts do I sacrifice for a quick fix? What blessings are overridden by misplaced value?
What voice do I value more?
Do I let my wounds and my sin and the lies I carry do the talking? Do they tell me who I am or what I can and can’t do or will make me feel better? Or do I let the Father do that? Do I run to Him or to a coping mechanism? It’s my choice. When I experience difficulty, I choose where to go. And my choice tells me what I value, what I trust.
Sisters, I want to be a woman who chooses Him. I want to be a woman who goes to Him. I don’t want to exchange anything for God. I want to turn to Him for comfort, for rest, for consolation, for every good thing before I turn to anything else. I don’t want to binge-watch tv or have one too many at a loud bar or drown myself in sleep or pointless phone games. I want to be the kind of woman that goes right to Him.
I don’t want to exchange anything for the truth.
God freely offers us truth and relationship and love. And nothing else can even come close. Nothing on this earth and in this world can ever replace the goodness of God. So, today I’m praying for the grace to exchange nothing for the truth. And I’m going to ask God some really hard questions. I’m asking Him - what do I trade for You? What do I allow to take Your place? What do I run to instead of You? And why? Why do I value those things over You? Why do I go there? And how do I stop?
Sisters, I’m with you. These are hard questions with hard answers. But we’ve got to ask. We have to examine our behavior if we want to become holy because change requires honesty. Every time. So I’m going to lay it all out there, all over again. Today, I’ll swallow my humble pills and get honest with my Father. Will you?
Father,
Where do I even begin? I’m sorry for the times I’ve run to other things and people and places of security to tell me who I am. I’m sorry when I’ve tried to fix myself, when I’ve tried to cope on my own. Father, You know me. You know that I’m broken. You know that I need Your help.
Father, You know that my ideas are never as good as Yours. When I look for comfort, my solutions don’t ever work as well as Yours do.
Remind me, God. Remind me to come close. Remind me to run to You. Remind me who I am again. Remind me again of who You are to me. I always need reminding.
Abba, I want to be like You. I want to walk like You and talk like You and be like You. I want to bring others to You by my witness. You know that. You know the deep desires within me to love You and to make You loved. Help me live up to that desire.
Help me to become holy, Father. Help me to love You recklessly, Father.
Because I do love You, Abba. More than anything else.