The Torah Network

2 yrs

OVERCOMING FEELINGS OF FUTILITY – PART 2

2 – Resist Negative Influences:
You know that old saying: [Misery loves company], well it’s true. There are people out there who are in a similar or worse circumstance than you are and whether they are trying to or not, they will do everything they can to keep you down. In addition to that, Satan wants nothing more than to keep you in your present state because it keeps you from effectively living your life for YHVH. Paul was writing to the Corinthian church and expressed this fear: [I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Moshiach, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent.] -- 2 Corinthians 11:3. Normally when we think of Satanic attacks and spiritual warfare we think of some huge, obvious and extreme temptation, but Paul’s fear is that these believers would be [led away] from their [pure and simple devotion to Moshiach. And that is exactly what happens when we allow others to pull us into or keep us in, a state of futility. We lose that pure and simple devotion we had once known. [Putting confidence in an unreliable person is like chewing with a toothache or walking on a broken foot.] -- Proverbs 25:19. Both of those activities sound painful, don’t they? But they are not nearly as painful as the life you are going to have if you continue to be influenced by the negative forces around you. When someone joins you in your misery, you have to begin viewing that as a spiritual attack, and in the Name of Moshiach rebuke those negative thoughts and images from your mind. Refuse to be a part of those negative influences by restating, remembering and re-enacting the fact that you are a child of Elohiym, that you are destined for heaven, that Ruach HaKodesh indwells you and that nothing or no one can change that fact.

3 – Re-Discover Your Purpose:
In his book; [Teaching the Elephant to Dance], James Belasco describes how trainers shackle young elephants with heavy chains to deeply embedded stakes. In that way the elephant learns to stay in its place. Older, powerful elephants never try to leave, even though they have the strength to pull the stake and walk away. Their conditioning has limited their movements. With only a small metal bracelet around their foot attached to nothing, they stand in place; the stakes are actually gone! Like powerful elephants, people are bound by earlier conditioned restraints. If you are suffering from futility, it is a learned behaviour that has taken place over time and is as limiting to your spiritual progress as the un-attached chain around an elephant's foot. Yet when the circus tent catches on fire and the elephant sees the flames and smells the smoke, it forgets its old conditioning and runs for its life. If you are suffering from futility, you need to realize that your spiritual house is on fire and you better do something about it before everything crashes in. [Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So, I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches.] -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-26. Now how does the runner win the prize? By focusing on the end of the race, by seeing clearly the goal set before him, by knowing that his purpose is not just to run the race, but to win the race. Your purpose in life, as a follower of Moshiach, is to win the race, not just sit by the sidelines and worry about what might have been. It is time to remind yourself day after day, moment by moment, that you are not here on this earth just for yourself, but you have been called to a higher purpose one that brings glory to Almighty YHVH Elohiym. And even if life has handed you some bad times, even if you haven’t accomplished everything you would have liked to and even if you have failed in life, the one thing that never changes is your purpose to live like a Elohiym loving, Moshiach following, Kingdom growing, child of YHVH.

4 – Rest in YHVH’s Peace:
You want to know something? While YHVH might want you to be the best in business, the greatest spouse or parent, what He wants more than anything is for you to put away these feelings of futility and realize that He loves you no matter what. HaShem isn’t grading you on how much money you make, how long your pedigree is or how many accomplishments you have to your credit. Isn’t it time to just relax and let YHVH do His work in you? Isn’t it time to quit trying to please yourself and everyone around you and rest in the fact that YHVH Loves you just as you are. Let me give you a few Promises from Yeshua and let them be the promises that you claim today. [Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My Yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My Yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.] -- Matthew 11:28-30. [I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.] -- John 14:27. Now it’s one thing to read these promises and say, [That’s really nice.] It’s another thing to read them, meditate upon them and let them sink into your soul, why not go home and relax and read these words over and over again to yourself, allowing Yeshua to speak to you directly through them? He wants nothing more than for you to rest in His peace.

We give You thanks, most gracious Elohiym, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains and rivers, for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise You for these good gifts and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of Your abundant creation, to the honour and glory of Your Name. Teach me, then Adonai, not to murmur at the multitude of business and the shortness of time. Not to magnify undertaken duties by seeming to suffer under them, but to treat them all as liberties. Not to call attention to crowded work or petty fatigues. Not to gather encouragement from appreciation by others, lest this should interfere with the purity of my motives. Not to seek praise, respect, gratitude or regard from others. Not to let myself be placed in favourable contrast with another. I need You to teach me day by day, according to each day’s opportunities and needs. Give me, O Adonai, that purity of conscience which alone can receive, which alone can improve Your inspiration. My ears are dull, so that I cannot hear Your voice. My eyes are dim, so that I cannot see Your gifts. You alone can quicken my hearing, purge my sight, cleanse and renew my heart. Teach me to sit at Your feet and to hear Your Word. YHVH Elohiym, teach us, we pray, to ask rightly for the right blessings. Steer the vessel of our soul toward Your Heart, the tranquil Haven of all storm-tossed souls. Show us the way we should go. Renew a willing spirit within us. Let Your Spirit curb our wayward senses and guide us to that which is our true good, to keep Your Laws and in all our works to rejoice in Your glorious and gladdening presence. For Yours is the glory and praise from all saints forever and ever. We pray this in the Name of Yeshua. Amein

Comment

Discover Posts

Weekly Bible Reading for October 2-8: Yom Kippur & Ha'azinu (Give Ear) - The Barking Fox

Weekly Bible Reading for October 2-8: Yom Kippur & Ha'azinu (Give Ear) - The Barking Fox

Heather Mott