A Holy Pep Talk In 2 Timothy 1:7

Want to know the details of HOW to tap into God's power, love and self-discipline while dispelling fear? 2 Timothy 1:7 is just the holy pep talk we need!

March 21

~ Today’s Scripture Art and 2 Timothy 1:7 devotion were designed to help you write God’s Word on your heart. ~

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I think many people have mixed feelings about today’s verse. Even so, it’s apparently a reader favorite because it has been requested several times.

So where do you stand?

Do you view it as a holy guilt trip – or a holy pep talk?

You can do it, you can do it, you can!

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT): For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 Devotion

Let’s be glass-half-full people today and notice first of all that we have God’s power at work within us.

Don’t breeze by that.

God’s power … in us.

Is there a better option out there?

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV): Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

2 Timothy 1:7 devotion and printable Scripture art — *Shop this printable HERE.*

And let’s not miss the fact that we can’t do it, can’t do it, we can’t.

It’s His power. All Him.

This is extremely good news, right?

But what if His power hasn’t shown up for us in the past?

What went wrong?

Priscilla Shirer sums it up nicely in her highly-recommended-by-me book, God Is Able, which studies in detail Ephesians 3:20-21. (If you came here for the pep talk, this quick-read is just the ticket!)

“I think we’re sometimes in the habit of seeing only thimblefuls of God’s activity occurring in our lives – and considering that to be normal. We think small things are all that God is capable of doing because that’s all we’ve ever seen Him do. So we walk down the shoreline of His ability, carrying our little cups and containers, dipping our little thimbles of expectation into the ocean of His vast greatness. We think that’s all we can expect, so that’s all we bring. Then we’re disappointed and discouraged when we experience only a thimble’s worth of God’s activity in our circumstances. That’s usually when we accuse and blame Him. But honestly, we got exactly what we came expecting. He doesn’t give us more than the capacity we bring Him will allow.”

Shall we trade in our thimble?

Let’s invest in a dump truck!

But how, exactly?

How can we develop bigger faith than our thimble?

Back to today’s verse for the answers.

And by the way, this verse will be included in our 365 Fear Project.

Ok, for Team Guilt-Trip, let me get one concerning thing out of the way. When you look up the “fear and timidity” phrase in a Bible dictionary (Strong’s G1167), you will find that it means “cowardice.”

I wonder if this verse would have the same level of popularity if all Bible versions had picked the word cowardice instead of timidity. {grin}

And when we add the context to the verse, Paul is not talking about any old everyday cowardice …

2 Timothy 1:6-8 (ESV): For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

There it is.

The timidity he speaks of is not fear of spiders, or being left out, or roller coasters.

He’s talking about suffering for the gospel.

A 2 Timothy 1:7 devotion is just the holy pep talk we need!

Were these verses for Timothy alone or for all of us?

Was this holy pep talk meant for missionaries and preachers, or office workers and stay-at-home moms?

To find the answer, just read a little further …

2 Timothy 3:12 (CSB): In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Okee dokee. Doesn’t get much clearer than that.

Since I fall into the category of those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus, I guess I better pay attention to this holy pep talk.

You too. Because evidently, we’re all gonna need it!

And as we’re paying attention, it strikes me that the key word in this verse is probably: IN.

In Christ Jesus.

He does not expect – or want – us to muster up courage on our own.

He wants to do it.

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV): Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

By His Spirit.

Again I will ask: what does that look like in real life?

This 2 Timothy 1:7 devotion gives us just the holy pep talk we need!

Will His power come to us automatically when we need it?

Is there anything we need to do to activate it?

I’m thinking there must be, since there have been times that I have failed miserably because of fear and cowardice.

And then {hello} God highlighted the verse right before today’s key verse.

2 Timothy 1:6 (CSB): Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you …

Keep ablaze.

The ESV says to fan into flame.

And just a few verses down …

2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NASB): Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

Retain.

Guard.

I think we’re on to something here.

What’s the best way to keep ablaze, retain, and guard what has been entrusted to us?

Bingo.

Spend more time with God in His Word.

2 Peter 1:3 (ESV): His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

The more time we spend in God’s Word, the more we’ll get to know Him, and in turn, the more we’ll trust Him.

Bigger trust = less fear.

Bigger trust is a byproduct of quality time in God’s Word.

Not just reading it – but abiding and dwelling and writing it on our hearts.

Bringing it in.

Yes.

We can do this!

Everybody on three! 1 … 2 … 3 … Go Team Abide!

Pull up your newly acquired dump truck, park it in front of the Word, and don’t be the least bit surprised when God’s power is ablaze at the very moment you need it, in a bigger way than you would have ever imagined!

All by simply spending quality time in God’s Word.

Romans 16:25-27 (ESV): Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.