2 Timothy 1:7

My daughter has had this loose tooth for months now. She would NOT let me pull it out (even when she was dead asleep; I would try, and she would wake up instantly, saying, “Don’t touch it!”) because she was scared. Scared of the pain, of the blood, and of the way she thought she would look without that tooth. 2 Timothy 1:7 came to mind as I was trying to comfort her. I told her it is okay to be nervous, but God did not give us a Spirit of fear; He gave us a Spirit of Power. We can do the scary things because God is with us. She still would not let me touch it, but as she was sound asleep, the Lord nudged me, saying, "The time is now." So, I got up, got a tissue, opened her mouth, and pulled the tooth out. I felt so much relief for her because it was finally out. She had a hard time eating with this loose tooth, and she was so scared it was going to fall out because she was mostly scared of the pain. When she woke up and realized her tooth was out, she was so excited. So glad that it was over and she did not have to go through the “pain” she thought she was going to feel.

As I am sitting here with the Lord, I am brought back to 2 Timothy 1:7. The NKJV says, “For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” While the NIV says, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”  And the CSB says, “For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” God has given all of us who love Him a Spirit of power against the evil one, a Spirit of love as Jesus loves, and a Spirit of a sound mind and self-discipline, and sound judgment. When I am trying to understand what God is speaking to me, I like to read different versions of the verses to get a different perspective and a better understanding. I liked the words used in these three verses because they speak of sound mind, sound judgment, and self-discipline. Even when things look scary, or we are nervous about the pain we are going to go through, God has given us a sound mind, sound judgment, and self-discipline to act. Even if we do experience pain, we have God. So do not fear, for God is with us always. The fear is not from God, and truly understanding that gives us power. Power to stand firm on His word, His truth. Power to know that I have a sound mind, that the fear has no hold on me.

This is all a part of transforming our minds. Taking every thought captive, the fearful ones as well as the negative ones. Even the happy ones, making sure they align with the Word of God. Having a sound mind, aware of deception and false prophecy, gives us discernment. Trusting fully that God is always with us, for He created us to be in relationship with Him. Stepping out in faith, knowing that God is guiding our path, establishing our plans. Doing all of this with daily obedience to God. Picking up our cross each and every day to follow Him. Build a space for Him to fill each day, and He will fill it. Trust Him with every step you take because His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts are our thoughts. We have power in Christ Jesus! Stand on that to be transformed.

Anchored in the Truth of God,

Amanda, Daughter of the King