F utile
E nergy
A pplied to
R eal life
I am studying,” Esther-It’s tough being a woman”, by Beth Moore, at a local women’s community Bible study. Fear was the main topic today. I know that God’s Word teaches us to fear not, but I didn’t know that it was the most frequent commandment written. (did you?)
How many of us waste time fearing?? Beth asked us to think about this before we wrote anything in the blanks: “And if ____________, then ___________.” What would you put in the blank? (ie “this happens” (name it), then “I’ll be depressed, panic, etc”.) We could put a number of words in the blanks. Beth pointed out that what we fear the most, will be the very weapon the enemy uses to attack us over and over. Beth highlighted that the second blank should be filled in, with GOD or GOD will.
Esther was wise, she fasted and prayed for three days and nights, and asked her people to do the same, before she faced her fear. (going before the king, without being summoned)
Lord, help us to be like Esther. Let us seek and trust You, when fear wants to take us over.
thedailylily.com 
“God didn’t give us a spirit of cowardice, but a Spirit of ability, love, and self-discipline” – 2 Timothy 1:7 (Bible as Poetry)
Thanks Needles for your reminder/definition above of fear: ‘Futile Energy Applied to Real Life’. Fear is a drainer and accomplishes nothing but negatives.
When fear wanted to take the psalmist, David, over, he faced it with a declaration of trust in God and the truth of His word and stood against it.
“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”
The psalm above is from Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJ)
Needles, your point is well taken. the opposite of Faith is FEAR. It might mean we aren’t strong enough to trust God. Some fear they won’t be percieved as bright enough or intelligent enough or socially competent and acceptable. Some fear they are not good looking enough or rich enough or talented enough or skilled enough. My favorite devotional writer David Teems writes for tomorrow’s date.. (paraphrased)”If I wear a mask and you wear a mask, we meet, we interact, we exchange but NOTHING happens. Authenticity is hidden in deception. Our encounter is but a spin, a sleight of hand, a mere phantom of a person and not the person himself/herself; a ghost encounter with ghost-like results. All that can follow is a pretense of amity, pretended harmony that can only result in suspicion, contention, argument and break down, and splintered relationships.” This is utimately caused by fear….the fear to be the authentic self and lack of faith & trust that the Lord will uphold and deliver one through all situations and circumstances. Fear that the real person, will not be spurred on by trust in God’s providential covering; will not be
deemed acceptable in their life’s experiences. And so instead of trusting in the God that David wrote about in Ps 37:25….”I have never seen the righteous forsaken or His seed out begging bread”
So we accessorize our fears and doubts. We put on a big show of material splendor but our hearts are puny and as Paul says in 1Cor. 3:3, “for you are still carnal and worldly seeing that there are still jealousy, strife and confusion among you,,,can you deny that you are NOT unspiritual?” That is what fear does to the soul.
Jesus said, “without faith it is impossible to see God.” And He has given us the measure of faith so that we can put FEAR to flight each and every time.
Not sure I would know that it was the most frequent command written, but at least I thought or would have guessed it. Why? Because at a very young age we would sing about Joshua and Moses… Deuteronomy 31:7 “Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, …”
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
I learned that it would be wise to take courage in all situations. May be hard but true. Choose Faith not fear!
Face to face mask leaves one thinking how can we behold Him, the Lamb of God? MG quotes David Teams as saying nothing happens when two mask met. I think nothing holy happens but something does happen.
F utile
E nergy
A pplied to
R eal life
What a waste of energy.
Yes, you’re right. Something does happen, but it is Futility. Because what is NOT of FAITH and what is not of TRUTH and what is done out of FEAR is futile, vanity and waste.
Faith and Truth, Freedom!
Don’t Quit, I was reminded of the value of this poem on Saturday when one of our volunteers, Ann, showed up for work with her coffee cup with this poem written on it. She has travel through much with her faithful cup. She inspired me to rethink some of my actions when Fear wants to take hold and say run but faith says, Don’t Quit!
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”
– Author unknown
Needles, thanks, let’s get a petroleum spirit and forget about futile energy.
This great poem ‘Don’t Quit’ you posted above Sara reminded me of a quote you had in your workbook ‘Dressing for His Glory’ from Retreat ’09 by Theodore Roosevelt reminding us to keep on striving valiantly:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena:whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again;who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and, who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he falls while daring greatly so that his place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”
I listen to Osteen today on fear. He said “…resist and act against fear… and if you don’t you will develop a negative mind set and that will be much more difficult to overcome.”
Life and faith is a tug of war or so it seems. I believe it is but the tug is the war and the resisting is faith. We can win as they say ‘hands down’ if we use the right technique.