Understanding Idolatry and Developing True Love for God

Our women's group embarked on the "Idols of the Heart" study about a year ago. We found within the pages the words of a woman who struggled with the same things we all did. One who was transparent, and who told us there was no reason for us to dwell in the temple of self any longer.

What (or who) must you have to be happy?

This book shows you why answering that question will reveal the true object of your trust, your hope, your worship. If the answer is anything but the God of the Bible, then you have named the idol of your heart (more likely idolS, if you're honest). The lie of the enemy is that we need something other than God for our happiness. Overcoming this lie with the Truth that ALL of our happiness rests in the Lord of Life is the essence of sanctification. Elyse Fitzpatrick does a great job of explaining these truths. I found her thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter very helpful in applying this crucial material. Why crucial? Because learning to love and enjoy Jesus Christ above all else is training for heaven, the place where we will spend eternity perfectly happy. The reason we will be perfectly happy is because we will finally know that our happiness is in Jesus alone. Heaven is not joy apart from Christ, but perfect joy in Christ, "I say the joys of heaven are not the joys of heaven without Christ; he is the very heaven of heaven." (Richard Sibbes) The quicker we crush the idols of our hearts, the quicker we will experience a measure of the Joy of heaven.