Read His Words Before Ours!
2 Timothy 1
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
John 14:25-27
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame
the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
for God gave us a spirit, not of fear,
but of power and love and self-control.” verses 6-7
Every time I see a ‘but’ written in Scripture, I tend to lean in a little closer. When a ‘but’ is referenced, look for the contrast so we can uncover more depth in the truth God is revealing to us.
Take this verse for example. God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear and timidity, BUT of power, love, and self-discipline. The interjection shows us that the first part of the verse isn’t the absolute truth (no matter how we might feel sometimes); rather what God has given us is solid!
I’ve found myself reciting that verse quite frequently the last few months as I’ve been walking through a difficult season in my marriage. My husband and I have had some very hard, raw, and vulnerable conversations with one another and that is only by the grace of God. I’m not sure we would be here today if it weren’t for stepping out in His spirit and not holding onto the fear that could cripple our growth individually, and as a couple.
Memorizing Scripture to combat the enemy when he tries to weave his way into my life has been vital! I have verses taped all over my apartment, and it has made such a difference as I’ve been able to guard the truth in my heart, meditate on it, and then speak it aloud!
Never forget the power that is unleashed
when you speak things out of the dark into light.
Being afraid of something is a struggle we all face at various points in our lives. Whether it’s infertility, financial strain, job loss or failure, dying, marital strain, not being accepted into college, you name it, we’ve all had them. Those places in our hearts that are prone to fear is where the enemy tries to attack first, which is why we must learn to guard the truth that we’ve been given!
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
who saved us and called us to a holy calling,
not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace,
which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. verses 8-10
As a Christian, it can be really intimidating to tell others about the Good News. I was never ashamed of the Gospel per say, but I was nervous to share with my friends as I didn’t know what their response was going to be. It wasn’t cool to be a Christian growing up, so my “church life” and my “friend life” were very different.
With that being said, I do remember the first time I shared the Gospel message with someone as it completely changed my life forever. I was in Uganda, speaking through a local translator. I had no idea if what I was saying was translating well, but at the end of the conversation the sweet lady was crying, I was crying, and she desperately wanted Jesus in her heart.
I knew from that moment on,
I wasn’t going to stop telling those I came in contact with about the Gospel.
It was my job, as a daughter of the Most High God to guard the Gospel, and to walk forward in the power and authority that He has given His children.
You see, God broke, shattered, completely destroyed, the power of death by His sacrifice and lit the pathway to life with Him for all of eternity through the Good News. And He has appointed us go and share, not hide behind our own shame and fear.
It should be our goal to get everyone we know, and then some, with us to Heaven.
“While evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse,
deceiving and being deceived. But as for you,
continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it.” verses 13-14
So, my sweet sister. may I urge you to cling tightly to His truth?
Guard it with all your might and let His truth wash over you,
breaking you free from lies and fears!
“God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.”
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