Now more than ever, we live in a world filled with anxiety. We are living in a time of war and pandemic, and these are just a couple of the collective troubles that we face. Beyond this, we all have our own matters to deal with, whether it’s loss, financial strife, threats to our health, family tensions, and the stress of everyday life. Many of us are just going through the motions because we have so much going on in the background. And all of this has a way of causing us to feel like we are ill-equipped mentally, to do what God has called us to do. Just the other day, as I was thinking about the things that I face in my own life, I felt the Spirit of God whisper…
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
And once He whispered that scripture in my ear, I felt like he was telling me to slow down and think about it. Because I know this scripture by heart…many of us do. But He told me that because I have this scripture memorized, and I am so accustomed to speaking it over my life, that I have not taken the time to really slow down and think about its meaning. I have always focused on the first half of that scripture, “For God has not give [me] the spirit of fear and timidity,…” but I’ve never sat and thought about what he has given me…a spirit of “…power, love and self-discipline.” Each of those are separate ways that God empowers us to do what He has called us to do, in the midst of everything that life throws our way. Because the presence of trouble does not excuse us from being who God has called us to be, and it does not excuse us from doing what He has called us to do. We must know that these things are the very reason that He equips us with His Spirit in the first place.
This encounter led me straight to scripture. I began to study this chapter in an effort to get context, so that I could gain a better understanding of what God was trying to show me. The books of Timothy were written by Paul to Timothy, his scribe. Paul was sort of a spiritual father to Timothy. And Paul wrote these letters to instruct and encourage Timothy in his journey of faith, to do what God had called him to do. We see evidence of this in 1 Timothy.
Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. (1 Timothy 1:18 NLT)
We can also see evidence of this in 2 Timothy.
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. (2 Timothy 1:6-8 NLT)
This small amount of context, alone, brought this scripture alive for me. When I saw that Timothy was in a similar position as you and me. He had a prophecy spoken over him, just like we had a prophecy (the word of God) spoken over us. And Timothy needed encouragement; he needed someone to remind him that regardless of what is going on around him, his job—his responsibility—was to “…fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave to [him]…” And I realized that this, too, is our responsibility. And how did Paul suggest that Timothy do this? How did he suggest that we do this? By remembering that…
…God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)
This context changed everything for me. It made this scripture so much more personal, and relevant to my journey of faith.
God has not given us a spirit of fear or timidity.
I want to take a moment and talk about this, because this scripture is talking about the spirit of fear, which is something completely different from the type of fear that comes from being in real danger. There is a fear that comes from being in situations that pose a real and present threat to our well-being—this is not what Paul is talking about. When he says “spirit of fear,” he is talking about a spirit that seeks to prevent us from doing what God has called us to do. And the way that this spirit works is in our thoughts. Have you ever been in a mind state where you thought of everything that could possibly go wrong in a situation? A place where, instead of being optimistic, you were afraid because of what could happen? This is a spirit of fear—it is being afraid, not because you are actually in danger, but because you perceive that you might be in danger in the future. And this spirit, produces timidity. Timidity is a lack of confidence. It is a lack of courage to do what God has called us to do.
The spirit of fear causes us to be afraid of the future, and when we agree with this spirit, we walk with a lack of confidence to do what God has called us to do.
This, is what Paul says God has not given us. He has not given us a spirit that makes us afraid of what could happen. He has not given us a spirit that causes us to walk with a lack of confidence. Instead, He has given us His Spirit. And because of His Spirit, we can be confident in our ability to do what He has called us to do.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)
The above scripture was also written by Paul…a man that knew his weaknesses…a man that had experienced its truth. So, when he wrote to Timothy, encouraging him, it was from a place of knowing. Paul knew what Timothy’s struggles would be, and his goal was to empower Timothy to walk boldly into the purpose that God had given him.
The Spirit of God gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
Paul’s instructions are the keys to beginning and continuing in our journeys of faith. Because along the way, we will experience the spirit of fear. There will be times when we rehearse everything that could possibly go wrong. There will be days when we fear that we aren’t good enough, or capable enough. There will be times when that spirit of fear creeps up on us so strong, that we might even contemplate throwing in the towel. And when these times come, the only thing that will keep us rooted in faith, is remembering that the Spirit of God is with us.
Because of His Spirit, we can walk with His power.
I have to admit that I’ve battle with the spirit of fear throughout my journey of faith. But what I have come to realize, is that there is always a strong correlation between this spirit and forgetting where my strength comes from. Any time that I am fearful of walking in faith, it is because I have begun to think that the outcome rests on me. But when I refocus myself, and remember who called me, I am reminded that my God will always empower me to do what He has called me to do.
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:16-19 NLT)
We don’t have the ability to accomplish the will of God in our own strength. But because of His Spirit, we are empowered to do all things that He calls us to do. And we receive this power when we place our trust in Him. I just want to pause here for a moment, and emphasize the faith that is required for us to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. According to the above scripture, Jesus makes his home in our hearts only after we choose to trust Him. And as we continue to trust Him, our understanding of His love grows, and then, we will be “made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” This is not an event. This is a progression…a process, that begins when we place our trust in Jesus. And as we make a daily decision to trust in Jesus, we will continue to grow in our understanding of Him, and the power that is available to us.
The power of God works through us.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)
God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ask or think or imagine, but according to scripture, His power works in us. This means that we have to be active participants. This means that in order for God to work in our lives, we have to make ourselves available to Him. God will never make us trust Him. But when we do, when we step out of the boat, and say yes to Him, everything changes. With our availability and participation, God can do anything for us and through us.
Because of His Spirit, we can walk in His love.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18 NIV)
When we remember how much our heavenly Father loves us, it drives the fear out of our lives. The depths of His love where expressed when He gave up His one and only Son, for you and me. His track record proves that He will move heaven and earth to ensure that His word comes to pass. He promises to go before us. He promises to protect us…that He will never leave our side. Because He is for us, who can ever be against us? Because He is with us, who can stop us from doing what He has called us to do?
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (Romans 8:31-32 NLT)
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God…the love that surrounds us…the love that protects us, and provides for us…the loves that sends favor ahead of us. His love has no boundaries. Because of His love, we can be certain that we will arrive at the place that He’s prepared for us.
Because of His Spirit, we can live with self-discipline.
As I studied the scripture from 2 Timothy, self-discipline was the one that stood out to me the most. And, if I can be transparent, I think it’s because this is where I am currently struggling the most. So I wanted to dive a little deeper into this subject, and I looked up what the term self-discipline means.
According to Oxford Languages, the term self-discipline means, “the ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.”
This definition hit me hard. It honestly gave me a deeper revelation of how much the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. Because honestly, there are days when I want to give in to my feelings of fear. There are days when I don’t want to do what God’s asked me to do. But, to find out that the Holy Spirit will give me the ability to be strong in my weakness…that He will enable me to push past the fear, and do what He has called me to do, even on the days that I don’t feel like it, that encouraged me…that reminded me of how much I need Him. It reminded me that I must use His help, in every aspect of my life.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
If your journey of faith has been anything like mine, I know that you have dealt with the spirit of fear. I know that there have been days when you have gone to bed, wondering if you should continue on your faith journey. I know there have been days where you’ve been afraid, wondering if everything will work out. Have you wondered if you have the ability to do what God has called you to do? Have there been days when you just haven’t felt like walking by faith another day? If so, I want to encourage you today, in the way that God has encouraged me…
His Spirit is with you right now, and He will give you the power to do everything that He has called you to do. It doesn’t matter what it is. It doesn’t matter if God has called you to do something that seems impossible. If He called you to it, He will empower you to do it. And as you continue to place your trust in Him, your confidence of this truth will grow.
Remember how much your heavenly Father loves you. His love is endless. And because of that love, you are protected everywhere you go. He will make sure that you have everything that you need. He will send His favor ahead of you…He will unlock the doors that He wants you to walk through. Remembering this love, is the key to pushing back every spirit of fear that seeks to come between you and the promise that God has for you.
And finally, remember that His Spirit will give you the desire and the ability to do what pleases Him. So, if there are days when you just want to quit, if there are days when you want to give into fear, call on the name of Jesus, and sit in His presence. As you spend time with Him, He will strengthen you. He will encourage you, and He will empower you to get up and fight another day. Remember that because of His Spirit, you aren’t limited by your weaknesses. He is your strength. Be strong in Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me that you have not given me the spirit of fear. But you have given me your Holy Spirit, and He gives me power, love and the ability to have self-discipline. Thank you for reminding me that because of your Spirit, I have the power to do everything that you have called me to do. It doesn’t matter what my weaknesses are, because you will be strong where ever I am weak. You are always with me, and you will never leave my side, because of your endless love for me. You love me so much, that you saw my flaws and mistakes, and still, you sent your Son to die on a cross for me. Because you are for me, no one can be against. You are my helper. You are my protector. And I know that you will make sure that all of my needs are provided for. And thank you Father, for reminding me that you are with me every step of the way. When I am discouraged, when I am tired, or I want to give up, all I have to do is lean into your Holy Spirit. And He will equip me. I pray, Father, that when the spirit of fear creeps into my life, that you will remind me of what you have shown me today…that through your Spirit, I can be victorious. And I choose today to walk in victory. I love you Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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