Day 39: Power over fear
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Throughout the last 7 weeks we have looked at many of the powerful promises, found in God’s word. Each promise is something that God has given to us, like a gift.
Imagine a gift that is given at Christmas or for a Birthday.
If you are the gift giver, then you have invested time, effort & finance into the gift (at least I hope you have!) You’ve played your part and now you want it to be opened and enjoyed by your friend or relative.
If you are the gift receiver, your part is not just to receive, but to access the gift.
To unwrap it, open it and benefit from it, in whatever way is suitable (wear it, smell it, play with it).
Its purpose was not to stay in the wrapping, but to be put to use.
That’s what God desires for us, not just to read these promises, but to receive them.
To benefit from them by living them out in our everyday lives.
As we come towards the end of this UNSHAKABLE HOPE series, this verse helps us to remember the authority that Gods word can have in our lives.
In this chapter, we see the Apostle Paul writing his second letter to Timothy.
He’s encouraging him to continue to grow in his faith and his relationship with God.
Early in this letter, Paul reminds Timothy of the gift that God has given.
V7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Firstly Paul reminds us what God has not given – a spirit of fear.
This doesn’t mean that a spirt of fear doesn’t exist. Everyone of us will recognise that a spirit of fear has been present in many people over the past 11 months.
We’ve seen it on our TV screens and our social media feeds, maybe you’ve sensed it or seen it in others. But fear never comes from God.
Paul reminds us that just because a spirit of fear exists, it does not have to exist inside us!
That we can be surrounded by fear, but be protected against it.
That protection comes from what God has given to us, power, love and sound-mind.
The Passion Translation says it this way:
“For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”
God is with us through the presence of his Holy Spirit, and it’s through Gods presence that we are assured of our authority over fear.
We have power over the fear, panic and the uncertainty that is often present in our world.
We are surrounded by Gods love, which casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
We have a sound-mind (or self-control) which means we can take captive our negative, or fearful thoughts, and make them obedient to Christs promises (2 Cor 10:5).
Prayer
Lord help me today to not be effected by the world around me.
Thank you that I don’t have to take on the fear, or worry, or stress that might be present in my home, or family or work place.
Thank you that with you, and through your promises, I can with power in my everyday life.
Power to overcome, peace to guide my heart and your presence to give me strength.
Ben Dowding
Senior Pastor