Fighting Burnout

Iron Man 3 will be released on Friday.  I'm getting excited to see the movie after seeing the trailer.  If you haven't see the trailer, click the link.

What's interesting is the angle this movie seems to take.  This is a very powerful, rich man who could have anything he wants.  He has the girl, he has the money, and yet, there is this level of anxiety and worry that seems to overwhelm him.  He is consumed with the idea that he needs to build more and more super suits, and the obsession takes his attention away from his girl.

Have you ever felt that level of anxiety that consumes you?  Do you have obsessions that take over your life, because you worry about what may happen if you don't focus on them?  Jobs can take over our lives, if we don't be mindful of what is important.

Solomon writes about life and how much the pursuit of wealth is meaningless.  Listen to this passage he writes:

"So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?  Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest.  It is all so meaningless.  So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?" ~Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 (NLT)

Eat, drink and find satisfaction in the work, but then he points out nothing has meaning without Him.  He goes on to say that we need companions to get through our short time on earth before we go to heaven.  The secret to fighting burnout is to find relationships that have meaning.  We need each other to be able to fight the battles that we face in our daily walk.  We need our loving friends.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

~Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Don't be afraid to share your real self with others.  This helps you be in the kind of relationship that will help you get through this life until we go to heaven.  This helps with the burnout we face in our daily walk.  We need our friends.  We need love.

Gift of Power

Bruce Banner or Incredible Hulk

Have you ever felt powerless and weak when you were facing an adversity?  Have you wished that you could be filled with power when the need arose?  Growing up as a girl in the 1970's, I admit I was fascinated with the TV show "The Incredible Hulk."  Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to gamma radiation and given to turn into a large and powerful creature when he became too angry, or if his life was in danger.  This is a power Bruce felt was not his, and rather was more of an alter-ego, because he wasn't always in control of the Hulk.

I've been studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament of the Bible.  When the Spirit came upon the believers of the early church in Acts 2, there were many signs and wonders.  Winds whipped through the house, and tongues of fires appeared upon the people.  Believers spoke in other languages, and performed all kinds of miracles.  They appeared for all to be supermen.  Men with innate power and abilities.

However, the source of the power was not theirs.  God would choose to fill them with His Spirit and then consume them.  The power manifested by the men was actually God's Spirit overflowing through them.  It gave them strength to speak before many people and withstand tremendous persecution and abuse.  God knew we believers would need Him, and His power is still bestowed on those of us who remain close to His Truth and choose His path.  I've written about our responsibility when we have this great power in a different post (Great Power, Great Responsibility).

When God fills us with His Holy Spirit, we may feel like Bruce Banner did when the Hulk came out - a bit out of control.  But, God means for us to submit to Him and allow His power to work in our lives and in the lives of others.  We must yield to Him.  If we worry about criticism, this means we are still focused on ourselves.  Don't worry about making a mistake.  Remember, God is big enough to handle your mistake.

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:29-31