What REALLY is coming first?.....

I couldn't really think of a clever title like I wanted to for this post, but oh well, you'll get my point hopefully.


I was cleaning up around the house the other day and I walked by this (See picture below) and it totally represented where I am spiritually ALOT of days. (In case you don't know that is my "stuck" bible study that I'm doing right now that is underneath the gossip magazines)

I have been a believer for most of my life. I have Loved the Lord for most of my life and yet here I am.. a mother of 2 kids, wife of 6 1/2 years, a 27 year old woman who STILL chooses so many things over my God that I adore. I STILL put so many other things right on top of my bible. Why do I do this?! 


This got me thinking. What if I took a picture of every single thing that I put before God over and over? What if I took a picture of the things in my life that really could be considered "Idols" and that I choose over spending time with Him. It would probably be embarassing and there would probably be way too many pictures to even count..


In Romans 1:22-23, 25, Paul says, "Although you claim to be wise, you became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles (in my life, I exchange the glory of the immortal God for material things, a clean house, more sleep, laziness, etc..). You exchanged the truth of God for a LIE, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator- who is forever praised."


Ouch.. Can you say conviction? How many times do we do this? How many times do we choose the things that are on this earth over our Heavenly Father? I choose even earthly relationships over my relationship with my Creator over and over.


So I decided I would take a picture of as many things that I could tangibly take a picture of to represent the idols in my life. The things that on my selfish days I choose before God. (obviously there are a lot more than what I document here)


I choose..

facebook, blogging, pintrest, etsy, pictures, online shopping over Him

 I choose laziness and trashy t.v. over Him

 I even put my kids and husband over my Creator

I put my housework and my desire to keep a "put together" house over my time with Him

I choose material possessions and shopping time and time again.

(that is a pillow on top of the Bible.. Ha! Hard to tell)
I choose to sleep in to the very last minute instead of waking up to spend quality time with Him


There you have it.. My little spiritual exercise that really helped me put my walk with the Lord in perspective. It's now documented in pictures and on my blog so I can't hide from the real truth ;). I am human, I mess up ALL the time, I give in to my selfish flesh time and time again.


The good news.. I have a God that is bigger than all of this and He loves me no matter what. He always welcomes me back with open arms every time I screw up and don't pick Him first. He is a good and gracious God. Like Paul says, "what a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God-Through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24


For those of you who know the same God I do, I hope you found this post relatable and I encourage you to do the same exercise. It really helped me put things in perspective and get my priorities straightened out.