Truth Devo Week 4 – Recenter: Idols & Lordship

We love what is practical, fast, and efficient. There is nothing wrong with that, right?  Just ask ChatGPT.

Instant answers and predictable results have become cultural expectations. Tools like ChatGPT make information immediately accessible, shaping how we approach problems, decisions, and even uncertainty.

AI culture is quietly training us, and those after us, to pursue the illusion of control. Some of us may know that AI does not truly control outcomes, just as Baal did not in the time of the Judges. Yet fear and the feeling of ”lack” have always driven humanity to chase control. What Baal once represented through rain and harvest is now reflected in how much control we believe we gain through AI. In the same way it shaped Israel’s worship, it is now shaping our hearts, our habits, and our way of life.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1

Our Actions Often Reveal Something Else.

Psalm 23 reminds us that in God we lack nothing. Yet when we feel a lack of control over resources, clarity, timing, or daily direction, our actions often tell a different story. Like the Israelites, who turned to Baal for rain, harvest, and security, waiting on God’s timing became difficult when “fear of lack” took hold. That fear tempted them to embrace the illusion of control offered by what promised immediate provision.

Resist Temptation

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
— James 4:7

Israel sought Baal because he appeared to offer predictable outcomes, such as crops, survival, and stability. In the same way, AI and tools like ChatGPT can become substitutes for trust, offering fast answers and the comfort of control. James reminds us that resisting temptation begins with submission to God. When we consistently reach for immediate solutions instead of first consulting the Holy Spirit and waiting for His guidance, we repeat the same pattern, taking control back into our own hands. In doing so, we risk replacing the Helper with something that can inform us, but can never shepherd us.

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Lauren Daigle | Trust in You Listen on YouTube.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Where in my life am I trying to control outcomes instead of fully trusting God?

Do I rely on tools, systems, or technology for solutions that only God can provide?

When I face a lack or uncertainty, do I patiently wait on the Holy Spirit, or do I turn back to relying on myself, AI, or ChatGPT?

TAKE ACTION

This is a new year.  Take time weekly to pick three  areas of your life where you tend to seek control and where you need to resist the temptation of replacing the Holy Spirit. Pray over it daily, surrender the outcome to God, and record moments when you notice His guidance or peace instead of relying on your own methods.