Beth Moore was teaching from 2 Timothy chapter one. She spent some time speaking on verse 7 (I think it's 7). It's the one that says, "For we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of Power, and Love, and a sound mind," (or 'self control', depending on your translation).
She stated the opposite of the verse, which I always find to be a very instructive means of wrapping my mind around a concept.
She taught that if we are operating in fear, we are Powerless, Lustful, and Crazy Control Freaks.
The opposite of "powerful" didn't seem that profound, but the opposite of "love" did. I learned that if I am full of fear, I am so self-protective that I can not love.
The alternative to loving others is to have a greedy quest for my own desires, or lust.
This really resonated in me because I can see how that kind of fear has been a factor in the way I relate to others.
I guess I usually think of "lust" as being something that dirty old men do, rather than a greedy, grasping way of getting what I want.
The opposite of self-control was interesting, too. If I have fear, I try really hard to control others. Which? Duh! Loving others without fear gives me a freedom to Not frantically try to control.
I have been thinking about these two things quite a bit. You see, if I would really Trust in the God Who Loves me, then I would be less self-protective, less controlling, and way more Powerful.
What am I so afraid of, anyway?
1 comment:
Read Phillippians 4:6
1) identify the fear
...ask yourself, what are the circumstances surrounding my feelings? what triggered them? what message am I telling myself?
2) turn to the Lord
...remember that God loves you and desires an intimate relationship with you. He is in sovereign control of your situation, so bring your fear to Him
3) rebuke the fear before God
...you have the authority and power in Jesus' name to reject what isn't from Him. meditate on passages such as Matt 10:31 and Prov 1:33. let God's truth replace any wrong thinking.
4) cling to your heavenly Father
...take your focus off your circumstances, and look to the One who promises His help. Scripture gives this assurance: "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10)
from May 29, 2008, In Touch by
Dr. Charles Stanley
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