2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of fear..but of power, love and a sound mind"

2 Timothy 1:7 "For God did not give us a spirit of fear..but of power, love and a sound mind"
What is it that you fear? I have dealt with some fear in my life..on the surface, I fear tight enclosed places.. I hate elevators and have to force myself to get in one..but down deeper, maybe the fear is loss of control..I think many of us fear failure, rejection or even pain. At times I think we even fear speaking from the depth of our hearts, because we want to be accepted and loved..
Fear can trap us. It takes away our power..and the Lord said that He didn't give us fear, but power! Fear, as an emotion, will come at us from time to time, and try to stop us dead in our tracks. Fear will keep us tethered, like a ball tethered to a pole. It can only go in circles..it can't really fly...and the Lord wants us, as believers to soar!
In Paul's statement to Timothy, you might note that he doesn't say that God is referring to those "strong, courageous, powerful, or influential people"..He simply refers to "us"..The Lord did not give "us" a spirit of fear. He is speaking of you and me.
I believe that the Lord wants us to look fear straight in the eye and see it for what it is...and for what it isn't.. The spirit of fear is not something that has come from your Maker. It is something the devil uses to stop you in your tracks. It can literally put a roadblock in your life, as you find yourself tethered to it..going in circles. The Bible says 365 times, "Fear Not"..I always wonder if that was because God knew that every day we would need a reminder..that He is with us...that whatever we fear, He will walk through with us. When fear of any kind begins to try to invade your mind, and your life..it is not the time to succumb to it..it is the time to stand..to remind ourselves that F.E.A.R. is really just False Evidence Appearing Real. Most of the things we fear haven't even happened yet..we are dealing with false evidence. But, it can APPEAR to be real to us..Remember that fear is a spirit..and that it doesn't come from God.
What is it today that you fear? What holds you back? Today, bring it before His throne..and ask Him to give you healing strength..in spite of yourself...
And Remember... that your God created you to soar!