Ezekiel 14:1-11  This word is directed to the elders of Israel.  "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity." 

These men came to consult with the Lord, but their hearts were turned away from Him and filled with their "idols".  The Lord told them, "Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all  your abominations."  The stumbling block of iniquity.. the inner idolatry of mankind.. is an obstacle that keeps us from hearing from the Lord.  He will not be consulted by a people that have separated themselves from Him by anything or anyone else.  

The Lord warns the prophet to no longer speak His Word to these idolatrous men.. or their iniquity would become his own. God would stretch out His hand against him and against those who refused to repent.  All this.. God says.. is "in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from [Him] and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be My people and I shall be their God." 

We are reminded again to examine our hearts, for Jesus said, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things that defile man..."  To the religious leaders in His day, He said, "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out that which fills the heart.. " 

Father in heaven, You see our hearts.. our inner most being.. and You know what kind of things fill us.. whether good or evil.  We pray that You will cleanse our hearts of any obstacles that keep us from You. Let no iniquity.. no idol.. become a stumbling block between our hearts and You, our God.  We repent and turn away from the things in this world that are obstacles.. enticements.. offenses... for we desire to be completely Yours alone.  Hold us in Your righteous Hands Lord God!  We ask this in the Name of our Savior who came to take away the sins of the world, Amen.