Vain Idols

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. -Jonah 2:8

This verse practically jumped off the page at me when I read it in church this morning.

This is me, I thought. Convicted, I made a list of the things in my life that I have set up as vain idols. I am ashamed by how many things cause me to forsake my hope of God's steadfast love.

I pondered how to best attack the vain idols and realized that the answer lies in the following verse of Jonah's prayer.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to You;
What I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!”

I pray that the Lord will give me the resolve to deny myself, to sacrifice my selfishness for His glory, and I pray for strength to depose the vain idols that keep me from His steadfast love.