“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
We have a little Chihuahua-Terrier who spends much of her day in hiding. She is the epitome of the word "fearful", spending the day squeezed in the small, safe space behind the couch or peering out from under our bed. And when she does come out, she's always looking over her shoulder. Watching her behavior made me realize that fear and timidity (which is a lack of courage) go hand in hand. Of course all of us want to feel safe, but sometimes our need for security can become a self-made prison driven by fear. And if God didn’t hand us the spirit of fear and timidity, who did? I’m sure you can venture a guess. Fear allows us to believe that our safety lies in what we can control but when you’re fearful, you will not be courageous. If you are fearful, you will not fulfill His plans. Simply put, if you are fearful, you will not be faith-full. Fear keeps you from reaching your potential Instead of fear, God has given us a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. These qualities were deposited into our lives the minute we received the Holy Spirit. We have access to His power, His love, and a discipline that keeps us from being easily tossed by the waves of our feelings and circumstances. You can choose in each moment if you will allow fear and timidity to dominate you, or choose instead to embrace your God-given Spirit to boldly live in His power and provision. Let's choose wisely, and strive to reach His full potential for us.
Pastor Terence
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