Barriers to Freedom

As I read this devotional by Tozer, I was struck by how deep this idol runs in my life. I know this to be true because of the agony I still suffer in my mind when I am rejected. Just when I think this idol has been put to rest, the Lord shows me it is still alive and kicking. It wants to be served. I only want to serve Jesus with my life, not man. Please Lord help this idol be put to death in my life for good.

Blessings,
Tammy

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Trials and Pain: The Labor of Self-love by A. W. Tozer

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ --Galatians 1:10

The labor of self-love is a heavy one indeed. Think for yourself
whether much of your sorrow has not arisen from someone speaking
slightingly of you. As long as you set yourself up as a little god to
which you must be loyal there will be those who will delight to offer
affront to your idol.

How then can you hope to have inward peace?

The heart's fierce effort to protect itself from every slight, to shield its touchy honor from the bad opinion of friend and enemy, will never let the mind have rest.

Continue this fight through the years and the burden will become intolerable. Yet the sons of earth are carrying this burden continually, challenging every word spoken against them, cringing under every criticism, smarting under each fancied slight, tossing sleepless if another is preferred before them.

Such a burden as this is not necessary to bear. Jesus calls us to His rest, and meekness is His method. The meek man cares not at all who is greater than he, for he has long ago decided that the esteem of the world is not worth the effort. The Pursuit of God, 112.

"Lord, give me this peace, this rest, this meek and humble spirit this morning. Deliver me from concern for the esteem of this world. Give mevictory today over every trace of self-love. Amen."