Power of 10 - Day 22
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
The POWER of 10
Day 22 | THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
The POWER of 10
Day 22 | THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear.”
One of the most familiar verses in the Bible is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Another familiar verse – to Christians and others – is that “God is love.” (1 John 4.8)
So, think about this: if these verses are true statements about our Almighty Heavenly Father, isn’t it logical to believe that God will NOT give us the “spirit of fear”? I think so.
But then, don’t we read in Proverbs that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”? Yes, we do. Then, how do we understand it all?
Here’s the short answer – there are two kinds of fear in the Bible. Godly fear (the good kind) and ungodly fear (the bad kind). And guess where each comes from?
Psychologists have labeled over 100 different types of fear. Those include acrophobia (fear of heights), agoraphobia – fear of the outdoors and open spaces (affects 2 million Americans), dentophobia – fear of dentists, cynophobia – fear of dogs, anablephobia – fear of looking up… and many more.
“Good fear” should be something we feel if, as Christians, we find our walk with the Lord slipping or perhaps completely derailed. The Lord disciplines His children and will try to get them back on track.
“Bad fear” is when we have an evil spirit directing our sinful steps and we just block out the Holy Spirit trying to lead us to safety.
Today, we live in a world obsessed with FEAR. You can’t read a news article without feeling apprehension (or fear). (I prefer to read my news briefings rather than listen… more facts, fewer emotional rantings).
The bottom line is that God – our loving, Heavenly Father – will never infect us with “a spirit of fear.” But pay attention to the gentle tugging and leading of the Holy Spirit. He’s our Guide to a better life.
Prayer: LORD God, thank You for all you do for me. Help me to stay tuned to You. Amen.
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear.”
One of the most familiar verses in the Bible is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Another familiar verse – to Christians and others – is that “God is love.” (1 John 4.8)
So, think about this: if these verses are true statements about our Almighty Heavenly Father, isn’t it logical to believe that God will NOT give us the “spirit of fear”? I think so.
But then, don’t we read in Proverbs that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”? Yes, we do. Then, how do we understand it all?
Here’s the short answer – there are two kinds of fear in the Bible. Godly fear (the good kind) and ungodly fear (the bad kind). And guess where each comes from?
Psychologists have labeled over 100 different types of fear. Those include acrophobia (fear of heights), agoraphobia – fear of the outdoors and open spaces (affects 2 million Americans), dentophobia – fear of dentists, cynophobia – fear of dogs, anablephobia – fear of looking up… and many more.
“Good fear” should be something we feel if, as Christians, we find our walk with the Lord slipping or perhaps completely derailed. The Lord disciplines His children and will try to get them back on track.
“Bad fear” is when we have an evil spirit directing our sinful steps and we just block out the Holy Spirit trying to lead us to safety.
Today, we live in a world obsessed with FEAR. You can’t read a news article without feeling apprehension (or fear). (I prefer to read my news briefings rather than listen… more facts, fewer emotional rantings).
The bottom line is that God – our loving, Heavenly Father – will never infect us with “a spirit of fear.” But pay attention to the gentle tugging and leading of the Holy Spirit. He’s our Guide to a better life.
Prayer: LORD God, thank You for all you do for me. Help me to stay tuned to You. Amen.
Posted in Power of 10