Sometimes fear comes quietly, as a restless feeling in the evening; sometimes loudly, with a racing heart and spinning thoughts. But fear has no right in your life. Paul wrote a sentence to his young co-worker Timothy that still sets people free today.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
Fear Does Not Come from God
Paul makes a clear distinction: God has not given you the spirit of fear. The fear that tells you everything will go wrong does not come from God. So you don’t have to accept it, put up with it or carry it around. You can resist it.
What God has given you is already yours: Power. Love. A sound mind. You don’t have to beg for it. You can take hold of it by faith, because God has already given it to you.
Resist Fear with the Word
Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written” (see Matthew 4:4–10). That is how you answer fear. When fear says, “It’s going to be bad,” you reply, “God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (see James 4:7).
Perfect love casteth out fear (see 1 John 4:18). The more you realize how much God loves you, the less room fear has. Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you (see 1 Peter 5:7)—and then don’t pick it back up again.
Paul also reminds Timothy to stir up the gift of God within him (see 2 Timothy 1:6). The Holy Spirit lives in you, too, with His power. Fear may be loud, but it is not stronger than the One who lives in you.
Faith in Action
- Name the fear that is pressing on you right now—and reject it in Jesus’ name.
- Declare out loud: “I have the spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind.”
- Think of someone who is struggling with fear right now, and send them this verse.
Do you know someone who is struggling with fear right now? Send them this devotional. You can also find it to share on Facebook.
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