• Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Here are some of the common ways we foolishly waste our energy:
Energy Waster No. 1 — A Negative Attitude
The Apostle Paul told us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). If you practiced this verse, you would not be losing energy due to a negative attitude, because you can’t be negative while you’re rejoicing! It’s impossible!
Pray this verse into your life every morning. Repeat it on the way to work each day. Memorize it and recite it out loud as often as possible. This will plug up that energy leak and you’ll save all that energy you’ve been wasting on a negative attitude.
Energy Waster # 2 — Trying to Control the Uncontrollable
Someone wrote: “If you will control the controllable, you can cope with the uncontrollable.” Ask God to help you spend your energy on the things you can affect—which is mostly you—and not to waste energy trying to control the uncontrollable. A good verse to memorize is 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Turn those uncontrollable situations and people over to God; it will save you a lot of wasted energy.
Energy Waster #3 — Poor Body Stewardship
Paul asked the Corinthians: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?… Therefore honor God with your body” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). When we take that seriously, we’ll do those things we know we should do—like exercising regularly, eating nutritiously, etc. Much energy is wasted when our bodies are not properly cared for.
Energy Waster #4 — Letting the Little Things Upset You
Here’s my rule of thumb which I use to keep me from being obsessive about little things. I ask myself: What difference is this going to make in 24 hours? And if I can’t come up with a 24-hour difference, then I don’t allow myself to spend any energy on it. I can’t get angry, upset, frustrated or hurt, because it just doesn’t matter that much.
Paul wrote to the Colossians: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). In other words, don’t get mired down in the small stuff that really doesn’t matter. It wastes your time and energy.
Energy Waster #5 — Relationship Problems
Titus 3:1-2: “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.” If we all practiced this in our relationships with others, we’d find most relationship problems would go away. An immense amount of our energy is wasted when there’s an unresolved relationship problem.
Energy Waster #6 — Trying to Carry Your Own Burdens
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30:).
What burdens are on your heart? Can you by faith just drop them right where you are? You may have to drop them several times a day, because we tend to keep going back and picking them up again and again. Trying to carry your own burdens will drain your energy very quickly.
If you will identify one way you waste energy and begin to work on that area, God will start a miracle in your life. He is waiting for you to admit your need and turn to him, to apply the truth of Scripture right where that energy is leaking out, and watch him stop that leak. Then you’ll discover that you can get so much more done, that you don’t feel nearly so stressed out, that you are motivated to keep on keepin’ on, because you have the energy to do so.
- Article by Mary Whelchel
Category: Entrepreneurship Is The Future
