What God Gives
Someone truly dear to me, reminded me this week of a very special time in my life. A period when I was happier than I ever had been before, or since, that time. Several factors, all relating to God, went into the happiness, joy, and freedom I felt during the time period, I now write of fondly. Here I will share with you only one of those factors.
I had experienced trouble most of my life in one form or another, much of which was brought to my door not invited, and then there was that portion which was my welcomed guest as well. I had tried sex, alcohol, and therapy, none of which seemed to change the endless struggle, which I knew as life. Then I began to study God’s Word.
One day I sat on my little blue coach. I had cried myself to sleep the night before, something that I regularly did. I just did not understand….so many variables of my life, I cannot even get into it here. Then I sensed the Lord leading me to read a particular portion of Scripture, I read it and bomb the lights went on. Then I sensed Him leading me to really delve deep into the meaning of the words in that verse of Scripture. I did so and it transformed me in one afternoon. Now let me stop here and express something… When we come across a transforming truth, like I experienced that day, we must guard our hearts and protect that truth come what may or we might find ourselves right back in our mess. Back to my story… When I saw that Scripture and came to understand what those words truly mean in their Greek Language I was immediately changed. Over the next year I would stop smoking, eating poorly, drinking alcohol, being bitter, angry, scared, intimidated, lose about 50 pounds and for the first time in my life feel free and happy.
I want to thank the person; they know who they are, for reminding me of that day and the transforming power, which is actually alive, available and ever-present via the Holy Spirit of God and the Truth of His Word. I think I just needed someone else to acknowledge the realness of that period in life in order to make it new again.
Below you will find the Scripture that had such an impact on me and the meaning of all those words, which seem so simple but are so very rich with depth and meaning. May God use it afresh in my life, as well as using it in each of yours.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
“the spirit” =
4151. a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by anal. or fig. a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by impl.) vital principle, ment. disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy Spirit:— ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind.
“of fear” =
1167. from 1169; timidity:— fear.
1169. (dread); timid, i.e. (by impl.) faithless:— fearful.
tim·id [tÃmmid] = unassertive: demonstrating a lack of courage or self-assurance
nervousness, shyness, fearfulness, timorousness, diffidence[hesitancy], coyness[ wariness and introversion], bashfulness, reticence[uncommunicativeness], faint-heartedness, cowardice, tentativeness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, hesitancy
“of power” =
1411. from 1410; force (lit. or fig.); spec. miraculous power (usually by impl. a miracle itself):— ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
1410. to be able or possible:— be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power.
“of love” =
26. from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; spec. (plur.) a love-feast:— (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.
25. to love (in a social or moral sense):— (be-) love (-ed).
benevolence =
1. kind: showing kindness or goodwill
2. charitable: performing good or charitable acts and not seeking to make a profit
kind, caring, compassionate, generous, giving, kindly, benign[gentle], munificent, altruistic[unselfish]
“of a sound mind” =
4995. from 4994; discipline, i.e. self-control:— sound mind.
4994. from 4998; to make of sound mind, i.e. (fig.) to discipline or correct:— teach to be sober.
4998. from the base of 4982 and that of 5424; safe (sound) in mind, i.e. self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion):— discreet, sober, temperate.
4982. “safe”); to save, i.e. deliver or protect (lit. or fig.):— heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
5424. (to rein in or curb; comp. 5420); the midrif (as a partition of the body), i.e. (fig. and by impl. of sympathy) the feelings (or sensitive nature; by extens. [also in the plur.] the mind or cognitive faculties):— understanding.
5420. apparently a strengthening form of the base of 5424; to fence or inclose, i.e. (spec.) to block up (fig. to silence):— stop.
sober =
abstemious[self-denying], clear-headed, temperate[pleasant], teetotal, moderate, restrained, serious, somber, solemn, thoughtful, calm, grave, unexcited, unruffled, subdued, restrained, severe, sedate, staid[demure]
temperate =
restrained, self-controlled, controlled, moderate, reasonable, mild, measured, reserved, muted, clement[soft], pleasant, comfortable
