It is so hard to believe that we are nearing Revelations. Word Wednesday, in this incarnation, has been amazing for me. It has given me a chance to look back at the verses that touch me, the chance to remember that God has something to say to me on every single page of His word. This week is one that is intensely personal to me. If something spoke to you in II Timothy, why don’t you drop into the comments and tell us about it?
II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)–For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
I don’t necessarily remember the day I accepted Christ. I did when I was young, and I did again when I was older. In a way, for me, publicly saying he is my savior was a formality. He has always, always been in my life, has always, always been the one I trust. (Admittedly, some days I trust only through sheer gritted teeth and determination…) He has always been the One I knew could save me.
What I do remember, with extreme clarity, is the day God delivered me from fear. For ten years, I battled the worst sort of fear, the kind that, for several months, had me trapped in my house. It kept me out of my first semester of college. It cost me friends. It beat me into a quivering mass that could only cry and beg God to make me “normal” again. Ten years. Ten years of complications, intricate planning, and loss of control. Ten years of walking in terror. Unless you’ve been there, you can’t imagine, and I pray with all of my heart you never have to know.
I grabbed II Timothy 1:7 and held on like it was the vine to my quicksand. There were days I practically wore my vocal cords out saying it. I carried it in my pocket, wore it on a bracelet, breathed hope out of it. Somewhere there was freedom. Somewhere God had something different for me. I suffered, but He brought me through. He gave me lights along the tunnel. He lifted up my head, even as I wanted to crawl in a hole. At no point was I alone, even though there were days I wondered if He heard me cry.
He did. On my 28th birthday, He healed me. He delivered me. God literally wiped away that fear. Let me tell you what… God is the deliverer. By the work of Christ on the Cross, He heals body, soul, and spirit. That’s no joke, and it’s not just pretty words to print on a coffee mug. It’s every word true.
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
2 Timothy holds some amazing scripture and truth (well, I know all the books in the bible do, but this one spoke to me more than most).
As has been much of a theme in my posts throughout the year, I am going with 2 Timothy 2:23-24 – Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
This one is so strong and clear. It’s one of those things I know, but don’t always follow. It’s like when you are a kid and you are just told to walk away. Well, I am a talker and as I’ve mentioned a million times, I have huge mouth issues. I speak without thinking, I don’t hold my tongue when I should, and I can really use my words to cut deeply. I am the one that needs the last word, or at least need to always be right.
I love that God breaks it all down to simple terms and makes things so ridiculously clear for those of us who just don’t listen. He says not to even be in those arguments that you know are dumb because no good will come of them.
This is something I must continually work on and pay attention to. I am not overly deep (most of the time), so this verse really spoke to me because there is no misinterpreting what God wants.
Jodie says
I ALMOST picked that one. I have the worst time with my mouth getting ahead of my brain. Sometimes, I even have the vague hint I shouldn’t say it, and then I say it anyway and wish I hadn’t. Urgh. Totally sympathize with the not having to win all of the arguments. I’ll fight just to win, even when I stop halfway through and realize I’m already wrong. WHY don’t I just shut up? Ugh.