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Fear is a Stronghold
Andrea Lende • March 28, 2021
I Timothy 1:7
Fear is a Stronghold
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Fear-is-a-Stronghold-etn3a1
II Timothy 1:7
“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.”
This past year has certainly been the year of fear.
Fears that have crept up inside our inner beings and have become a stronghold.
Even when I think I have overcome these fears, my reactions and emotions tell a different story.
Looking back, I remember turning the corner at the grocery store and the person around that corner would walk out of their way to be sure to not brush past me.
We had become afraid of one another.
We started wearing masks into all public areas.
New signs were showing up everywhere directing us where to go, which way to walk, where to stand, and more.
The point is that all these new things put in place were new and different and therefore, scary.
Now they are sort of normal.
In some ways, we have normalized a new way of living under this pandemic.
But the underlying fears still exist for most of us even if we are unaware of it.
As much as I feel like I am not fearful, something new happens and I find myself afraid again.
Strangely, it takes very little to incite the fear that I thought no longer existed.
Fear has become a stronghold.
Our passage today reminded me that fear is not from God.
Paul talks about the “spirit of timidity”.
The Amplified Bible further translates timidity to mean cowardly fear and fear that makes us cringe.
I am both confronted and convicted by the Word today.
But I am thankful that the Word speaks truth to my heart.
It shows me ways I am being that are not aligned with God’s will.
Paul said, “[He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
These are the things I need to believe in: power, love, a calm mind, a well-balanced mind, discipline, and self-control.
These attributes from God have the power to break the stronghold of fear.
Today I choose to believe in God’s best for me and operate in His power, love, and peace while He helps me wrangle my fears into full submission.
May you find the Lord replaces your fear with courage and weakness with power through His Almighty strength.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me that fear does not come from You. Thank You for reminding me that a timid spirit does not come from You. Thank You for reminding me You have given me a spirit of power, love, peace, discipline, and self-control. Thank You, Father, for these wonderful gifts Your Holy Spirit imparts to me. Help me call upon You in times of weakness and fear. Help me call upon Your power as I face the trials in my life. There is nothing I cannot overcome with You lifting me up and strengthening my spirit. Help me remember Your Spirit is within me. Help me remember You are Creator and Almighty God, and You will sustain me in all things. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Great I AM, and My Spirit is within you My child, always working inside of you.
Response: Thank You Almighty God and King.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.