Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Devotion
This verse follows directly after yesterday’s verse about fanning into flame the gift of God that is in us. Often doing what God has gifted us to do requires some sort of risk. Stepping out for God often feels more like a leap of faith than a step of obedience. 

What step of obedience is God putting before you? It can be in the moment—a prompting of the Spirit to pray for someone, invite someone to church, or share your faith with someone. Or it can be more deliberate—volunteering for a ministry team, serving at an outreach, or even starting your own ministry endeavor.

Here’s my encouragement to you today. The fear or intimidation you may feel in any of those situations—that’s not from God. He doesn’t give you a Spirit of fear and timidity. His Spirit gives you power to do what seems too big for you. His Spirit gives you love for others as a motivation that overcoming your fear is worth it because it means others will be blessed and know God. His Spirit gives you self discipline, that gift of controlling the thoughts and emotions that might keep us from doing what God is calling us to do.

Using your gifts for God won’t be easy. It will stretch you. It will challenge you. But it will also bring you joy and life. There’s nothing quite like being used by God. A famous pastor once said, “I’m a tool in God’s tool belt, he can use me however he wants to.” May that be our prayer today and every day. Don’t let fear keep you from experiencing the joy of God working through you!

Author: Christian Dunn