How to Give Up an Idol for Lent

Are you giving something up for Lent this year?

This is the very first year I will give up something for Lent.  I write about it in the chapter on Self-Control in my book, The Fruitful Life.  Let’s just say it’s something very near and dear to my heart, in a place where God wants to have primary residence.

I’m not giving my idol up because I want to fit in with a group of other Lenten fast-ers.

Not for personal benefit either (for example, give up smoking and get healthier).

I’m not giving my idol up to get a spiritual promotion in exchange.

I am giving up my “treasured possession” because it’s taken up too much residence in my heart.

In this season of contemplating the sins of mine that Jesus covered on the cross, the least I can do is give up this little idol.  This idol which has a higher place in my heart than Jesus, who died on my behalf.

Giving Up an Idol for Lent

It will be HARD!  I turn to this idol many, many times daily for pleasure, comfort, ease, and good feelings, even if they only last a moment.

But it will be GOOD for me to learn to turn to the Holy Spirit many, many times daily when I face temptation during this Lenten season.  When I miss my idol.  If I think using my idol is the only way to feel good again.  When the enemy whispers, “Surely God didn’t say this idol is all that bad for you.”

I’m afraid this idol has stood in the way of me bearing greater fruit for God’s kingdom.

If I keep relying on my idol instead of God, even in small ways, I wonder if he can’t trust me to bear more fruit.  So he gives the opportunity to someone who can, who has self-control in this area.

I’m willing to accept this challenge.  Every time I want to turn to my idol, I’m turning to God in prayer.

How Prayer Helps Us Let Go

I’m using prayer to fight my battle with this idol. If I have to pray one hundred times per day, so be it. I don’t want it to have a stronghold in my heart any longer.

With each prayer, I’ll confess my desire for my idol to God. I’ll tell him that I want to love him more than the idol or any other thing in my life. I’ll ask him to help me choose him first when the idol tempts me.

Prayer helps us draw closer to God. It’s amazing that he permits a sinful thing, such as an idol, to draw us closer to him. But that shows just how good our God is. He can use everything, both the good and the bad, to strengthen our faith and deepen our walk with him.

How Christian Meditation Removes Temptation

When I have a Bible verse ready to go, I can fight off the temptation to turn to my idol much easier.

By meditating on key verses during Lent, we can be better prepared to resist the lure of our idols.

I’m turning to these verses when temptation strikes in this Lenten season:

They have roused my jealousy by worshiping things that are not God; they have provoked my anger with their useless idols. Deuteronomy 32:21 NLT

Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not trust in an idol
    or swear by a false god.

Psalm 24:3-4 NIV

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. Psalm 40:4 NLT

They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. Psalm 106:36 NIV

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 NIV

By placing these verses in high visibility areas (my bathroom mirror, bedside table, paper planner, and desktop background), they are always keeping me accountable. The more I look at these verses and let them seep into my heart and mind, the easier they become to memorize.

My idol has wreaked havoc in my faith life long enough. I’m looking forward to letting it go this Lent through prayer and Christian meditation, and I hope you’ll join me on a similar faith journey.

My book The Fruitful Life will help you address nagging sins and bear more fruit this Lenten season.  I hope you will check it out here!

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