What steps can we take to restore holiness in our personal spiritual lives? Seeing the Problem: From Temple Theft to Heart Theft “For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred things of the LORD’s temple for the Baals.” (2 Chronicles 24:7) Just as Athaliah’s sons stole what was holy and repurposed it for idols, sin steals what God set apart in us—our time, affections, and bodies—and bends them toward unholy ends. Step 1: Recognize and Grieve What Has Been Defiled • Own the damage: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) • Let sorrow work repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). • Nehemiah wept and fasted before rebuilding (Nehemiah 1:4); honest sorrow precedes holy restoration. Step 2: Remove Every Idol • “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature… idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) • Little substitutes for God must go—relationships, habits, screens, substances. • “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) Step 3: Restore What Sin Misused • Joash gathered offerings to repair what was broken (2 Chronicles 24:12-13). • Return stolen hours to prayer and the Word. • Redirect misused talents and money back to kingdom purposes (Matthew 6:19-21). Step 4: Re-Embrace Covenant Obedience • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) • Daily choices—speech, entertainment, finances—either honor or profane the covenant. • “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) Step 5: Offer Your Whole Self in Worship • “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) • Be filled with the Spirit, “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” (Ephesians 5:18-19) • Worship realigns the heart to God’s holiness. Step 6: Guard the Gates Going Forward • “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) • Set boundaries on media, friendships, and habits that once opened doors to desecration. • “Come out from among them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) Step 7: Walk in Daily Dependence on the Spirit • “It is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) • Confess quickly, obey promptly, trust continually. • Holiness is restored and maintained as His life flows unhindered through ours. Take these steps, and what was once looted for idols becomes, again, a living temple where the Lord’s glory dwells. |
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