God’s Lifetime Warranties
You Can Win Over Fear – Part II
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Key Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Yesterday’s devotional was a reminder that God has not given us a spirit of fear.
The NIV and NLT adds the word “timidity” to this promise. The dictionary says the definition of “timidity” is the “lack of courage or confidence”. Synonyms include “shyness, a feeling of fear of embarrassment, self-distrust, and self-doubt”.
God wants His children to not live their lives as timid people, including all these negative definitions of being timid. A person who has a timid personality in general can still claim God’s promises and overcome their lack of confidence, self-distrust, and any feelings of fear!
Fear and timidity have a couple of perspectives. The first perspective is how we see God and His view of those who trust in Jesus as their savior. The second perspective is how we view the evil one and the evil one’s view of us as Christ-followers.
Let’s look at the second perspective first. What does the evil one see when looking at Christ-followers? The evil one sees our faults and failures and loves to use these to shame and condemn us.
Most of us see our faults and failures far more easily than we see our strengths and victories. This can lead us to believe that the evil one as well as God only sees our faults and failures. However, the Bible tells us that the devil sees the same thing that God sees: a person who is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19a NLT)
Because God and the devil see us as a temple of His Holy Spirit, we should see ourselves that way as well. And if we can keep this in our minds, that can change how we react to fear when it comes knocking.
Most of us do not need a reminder that we are weak and prone to failure. Instead, we need a reminder about what God says:
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)
Make a note and post it where you can see it every day: “I am a temple of the Holy Spirit, and the devil knows it. God’s power works best in my weakness!”
Father, please remind me often, I am more powerful than the evil one because of Your Holy Spirit that lives in me. I will be victorious today. In Jesus’s Name, amen.