For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 New International Version)
I homeschool my grandkids. We are using a great program based on "The Book of Virtues" by Bennet. One of their tasks is to memorize bible verses for each virtue presented. The first verse was 2 Timothy 1:7. It was difficult to explain the word timidity to them, so I went to the Amplified Bible to see if it could help explain what I was not able to. This is what I found:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
I began to wonder, just who needed this verse more - my grandchildren - or myself?
Sometimes my first response to challenges is fear. I'd like to couch it more gently with the word "timidity" as it does not seem as - well - bad, somehow. But "cowardice, craven and cringing and fawning fear"? Oh yes. I have been there.
Here, in God's Word, we are promised that those feelings did not come from Him. Now, I know there is a healthy fear. It can be protective. But those words?
And look at the spirit it says He does give to us: one of power, love, calm and a well-balanced mind, with discipline and self-control. If I honestly look at my life I don't always see a lot of calm. Especially not as a first response.
Yet here is His promise. I can go to Him and claim that spirit. I can rest assured that He has given me access to all that - and more - when I completely rely on Him.
As difficulties grow, so do my opportunities to take Him at His word. I do not have to stay in cringing fear. I can claim the power and love and self-discipline He has already supplied me with.
I find myself wanting to memorize more of His word - so I can have them readily at hand and in my heart. How I want to know all His promises for me. How about you?
Father God, I praise and thank You for the provisions you have made for those who come to You. I am grateful that in the fearful times, love and power are only a prayer away. Amen.
About the Author: deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness.
deni can be reached at denipath4change@ yahoo.com. Her website is http://www.pathways forchange. com .
I homeschool my grandkids. We are using a great program based on "The Book of Virtues" by Bennet. One of their tasks is to memorize bible verses for each virtue presented. The first verse was 2 Timothy 1:7. It was difficult to explain the word timidity to them, so I went to the Amplified Bible to see if it could help explain what I was not able to. This is what I found:
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.
I began to wonder, just who needed this verse more - my grandchildren - or myself?
Sometimes my first response to challenges is fear. I'd like to couch it more gently with the word "timidity" as it does not seem as - well - bad, somehow. But "cowardice, craven and cringing and fawning fear"? Oh yes. I have been there.
Here, in God's Word, we are promised that those feelings did not come from Him. Now, I know there is a healthy fear. It can be protective. But those words?
And look at the spirit it says He does give to us: one of power, love, calm and a well-balanced mind, with discipline and self-control. If I honestly look at my life I don't always see a lot of calm. Especially not as a first response.
Yet here is His promise. I can go to Him and claim that spirit. I can rest assured that He has given me access to all that - and more - when I completely rely on Him.
As difficulties grow, so do my opportunities to take Him at His word. I do not have to stay in cringing fear. I can claim the power and love and self-discipline He has already supplied me with.
I find myself wanting to memorize more of His word - so I can have them readily at hand and in my heart. How I want to know all His promises for me. How about you?
Father God, I praise and thank You for the provisions you have made for those who come to You. I am grateful that in the fearful times, love and power are only a prayer away. Amen.
About the Author: deni believes that the only true way to deal with chronic pain and chronic illness is to bring them to the feet of her Lord and Savior. Her multiple illnesses (Celiac Sprue, Atrial Fibrillation, Ankylosing Spondylitis, to name a few) have taught her many things about herself and her Christian walk. It is her fondest prayer that some of her lessons might be helpful to others as they walk the path of chronic illness.
deni can be reached at denipath4change@ yahoo.com. Her website is http://www.pathways forchange. com .
