Theme: Fear and Anger
Fear is one of the things that can make us angry. When we feel threatened or attacked fear is a natural response. The threat or attack can be from ourselves or others.
Sometimes we think thoughts that just are not true. If we wait until the evening to read the truth we allow an entire day for thoughts from ourselves or the adversary to attack us. This is one reason I am a big advocate of reading the truth in the morning and not waiting until night.
Sometimes other people or things can attack us. We can get a nasty email or Facebook comment, become ill, or get some bad news that threatens us or the people we love. So what do we do when fear comes?
We need to reflect before we react. Is the anger from being afraid worth the cost? In one study, Harvard University scientists found that in healthy people, simply recalling an angry experience from their past caused a six-hour dip in levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, the cells' first line of defense against infection. Maybe this is why Paul reminds us in today's Scripture that the spirit God gave us has no fear.
When I feel afraid, I have to remind myself of this verse because the fear is not from God. And fear is not good for me, my family, friends, or church. Who wants the "cowardly lion" as a leader, right? When I think about being timid as some translations express it, I remind myself to be bold like a real lion leader should be. Because the spirit of God in us has supernatural power, love, and thoughts. Just like we have our parents DNA, we have God's DNA in us. We all face fears, but we cannot let fear get the best of us.
Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Prayer:
“Father, I am so comforted by the fact that You will never leave me. You are always with me, and I am safe with You. As I go through my life and take on each new situation, I’m comforted by knowing I’m not alone because You are by my side. Help me feel Your presence. When I feel uncertain or afraid, I pray You will comfort me through Your Holy Spirit and remind me that I am never alone because You, the Almighty God, have promised to always be with me and fill me with power, love, and a sound mind. In Jesus' name, Amen.”