Fearful Endurance Today's Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Fearful Endurance ------------------- Date: 2/18/2001 Keywords: "condition" "endurance" "fear" "resist" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. Passage: Psalm 19:9a* The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; Questions 1. Has a struggle with porn left you wondering if anything endures except your failures?   2. How would you describe fearing God?   Practical help There seems to be a common thread among most who struggle with an unwholesome habit like pornography — the seeming inability to attain a position of resistance that endures. If you've seen many Star Trek (The Next Generation) episodes then the words of the "Borg" might echo in your ears: "Resistance is futile!" Well, the truth is, if you're relying on your own ability, resolve, stamina, strategy, wisdom, etc., then ultimately resistance if futile. You may count yourself able, forthright, strong and smart, and yet you succumb. Why? Today's verse is an interesting comment on the fear of the Lord and offers some insight. (Click on these — Study 1, Study 2 — to see other studies which talk about fearing God.) It says the fear of the Lord is clean, and it endures forever. Fearing God, that is, recognizing that He is the sovereign creator and keeper of the universe, perfect (clean), infallible, and with all power, is something that can be enduring in your life. Where you fail yourself He won't fail you. Because of who He is, he can't fail you. Does that mean when you fear God you'll never succumb to porn again. No. Does that mean when you fear God and still slip that it's His fault. No! It does mean that if you fear Him because you've trusted Him (click here, if you're not sure) then He's forgiven you once for all — past, present and future. It does mean that He now lives in you and has promised to change you; you are now in a condition that endures. Like the fear of the Lord itself, you're clean. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2001 by eXXit *"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."