FT111.com Forum

What are the signs of exhaustion? Discouragement, disappointment, lethargy, tiredness, sickness, helplessness, hopelessness, despair, being overwhelmed.

These symptoms of exhaustion, although at times manifest physically, originate in the soul and in not understanding the spiritual dynamic of being vital.

Vital is defined as existing as a manifestation of life, maintaining life and activity, renewed vigor.
Vitality is the capacity to live and develop, power of endurance.
The opposite of vitality is death!

John 10:10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I want us to understand this concept -- I used to get exhausted at least once a year from trying to be a good pastor and taking on other people’s problems instead of taking them to God and depositing them on His altar and leaving them there.

Exhaustion comes from getting our focus on ourselves and our own sufficiency instead of drawing from life in Christ.

Things I know about exhaustion:
1. It usually does not come through hard physical work and productivity.
2. It comes by trying to accomplish something where I have no responsibility or authority. (I can’t fight where I’m not stationed – I can’t do for someone else what they must do for themselves)
3. It comes when my prayers go unanswered – my own prayers, not prayers by the Spirit.
4. It comes when I am discontent with myself, situations or others.
5. It comes when I have unfulfilled expectations – my own, not God’s. Banging my head against the proverbial “brick wall” makes me tired.
6. It comes when I am trying to be in control – the savior syndrome! Presumption and fantasy are still lies and no matter how hard we try, they will never be truth or reality, for example finding the perfect church, perfect spouse, perfect job, raising perfect children, never making a mistake!
7. It comes when I try to swim upstream instead of yielding to God’s flow.
8. It comes when I’m being controlled, forced to do what I don’t want to do.
9. It comes when I am either still hanging on to the past or trying to live in the future.
10. It comes when I have no vision.

What to do with exhaustion?
Spend time in the presence of the Lord.
Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Let God be God in all things. Trust Him. Yield to Him always.

Prayer of Serenity: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.

Don’t try to save others from their trouble … we learn obedience from the things we suffer.
Hebrews 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

What do I do when I am in a situation where people control me - one being my born again husband, and another a spiritual leader. Where they talk to each other and are not honest with me. I'm being manipulated, feel controlled and suffocated. I do forgive them and continue to do so. All I know to do is to go to Jesus, going deeper into Him, love, bear fruit, submitting to my husband and listening to my spiritual leader. But I know I'm not safe with them, but think that if I'm in Jesus, then i'm safe no matter where I am. There is no deliberate sin in my life - I fear God and Love Him and walk in obedience as best as I can and know the Holy Spirit helps me and enables me to do so. I love Jesus and want to serve Him with everything in me. I want His will for my life, and stand up in my calling... And the battle to keep standing in this situation is exhausting me - it's like being thrown into a pit, getting out, going forward, being thrown in again, getting out, going forward again...

Your battle is not against your husband or spiritual leader. Your battle is against a controlling spirit.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Bind the power of this control. Prohibit it's work against you and command it to stop by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Get to the source of what allowed this door to be opened against you, and repent for allowing this spirit to manifest against you. Then, shut that door on purpose, and begin to proclaim your freedom to be who you are in Christ.

And, we break every curse and assignment against you and command every demon to flee NOW in the name of Jesus. And, we loose you from all bondage and open the door to perfect freedom. Amen.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Thank you! I take that, I agree and will do.

Thanks Marsha for this posting! I am a member(5 active) of a prayer group in my Church and one of our members has been diagnosed with cancer after continued back pain for a very short period of time (49 days ago). She accepted the diagnosis and that really created a personal conflict for me. I have been praying about it and for that reason the urge of bringing it to the forum was not there. It appears another member of the group have sided with her husband and I continue to pray for God's will. Now, I being challenged by this particular member who has sided with family to play an active role in her care. I decided to explain my boundaries since I am a nurse by profession. Also Provb.18:14 states that, the spirit of man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? I have a minimum information about all the dynamics in the family and I am struggling with this situation. I do visit her in the hospital however, I do not have the unction to act as I would normally do. I need prayers for my prayer partner and family at this time and some suggestions to stay in God's will.
Thank you all!
A125

If I understood your post, your prayer partner has decided to trust in health-care professionals apart from believing God for healing. If that is correct, then that was her choice, and you can't violate her free-will in your prayers. You have to honor her decision. What you can do is ask her how she would like for you to pray for her and her family. You can also try to encourage her by reminding her of God's will for her to be healed and bringing healing scriptures.

It is definitely difficult to pray for someone who doesn't have faith to receive, but remember that it's not your problem. You have no responsibility in this matter apart from the moving of the Holy Spirit to pray through you.

Hope that helps.

M

Thanks Marsha! You nailed the situation right on. And I have been sending her Scriptures on peace and God's will. On my last visit I reminded her the Almighty power even with a faith of a mustard seed. I have been listening to your sermon on "Joseph Company", which really encourages "The Church" to rise up in faith in every situation for the mighty hand of God to action; and I am very grateful to God for the Spiritual support I receive from Faith Tabernacle. May we stay focus on God's plan as He continues to lead us through our journey of Faith. God bless you all at Faith Tabernacle!
A125

Hello Marsha,

Nearly everything in my life with the exception of GOD has been going topsy-turvy lately and when I finally got to sit down this morning and visit the forum....go figure! God really spoke to me this morning through this article you had posted. That is exactly where I have been for a while now...a state of exhaustion. It really was inspiring because it is so difficult for me~ I seem to "try to be and do everything for everybody and fix everything" (if that makes any sense!) and end up exhausted. I am beginning to realize some of the battles I encounter are battles I must not attempt to fight; they are someone else's battles...or the Lords. So much has been going on...with elderly in-laws to care for, husband was home sick for over 3 weeks, 3 sisters and all 3 with serious health problems, a family death, and stretched beyond what I felt I could be, do, or fix... sometimes we "pour out" more than we realize and without taking time to "re-fill" we become so empty and feel so wasted. Yet....just a few moments....seconds....of time with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to our inner most being....we are revived. Our God is so good. Sometimes we get in such a dillema of trying to "survive" that we do not have time to really "live". And it is as though I can hear the Father saying, "I came to give you "Life" and life more abundantly! In His Presence is fullness of Joy. And truly the Joy of the Lord is our strength!

Thank you for ministering words.
Love and prayers, JAM

JAM, I appreciate your taking the time to share. You already stated the answer for us all that in His presence is fullness of joy, and I'll add that times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord. We need to take the time to have face time with the Lord.

I feel like a ship that's been out in the open sea in battle, and have been hit from so many directions - this ship just want to reach the harbour. Or like a car that's been in an accident and need to go to the panelbeater for repairs. But the people shooting the ship and wrecking the car, stil expect the ship to sail perfectly, and the car to give top performance. And I get so tired and weary of welldoing and got to guard my heart all the more against the enemy's onslaught. The only place is the Harbour, and the Panelbeater's garage...

You are so right - His Presence... the only safe Person, the only safe Place. Ps 16:5,11 "Lord, You alone are my inheritance. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your Presence and the pleasures of living with You forever"

And I've learned, seek Him, seek His Face, then the joy wells up from inside my spirit where He abides, and when the joy comes, the strength comes, and your spirit lifts on eagles wings.

thanks for your wisdom - it helps so very much
Zoe