Babette Black

2 Timothy 1:7 

Gifts from God 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 

Nowadays, it appears that we are living through perilous times – the domestic and international recessionary economy, warfare in our inner city and suburban communities and abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many desperate uncertainties about our physical future.  Through all of this, our faith in God can oftentimes fall far short of the miraculous plans God has in store for us as individuals and as a collective faith community.  Many times, God’s plans remain hidden from our physical eyes.  However, if one uses the words of Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy, we learn that we should be encouraged and not allow the physical pressures of doom and gloom to rule over our relationship and our belief in an Omnipotent God, the creator of all things.  In fact, Apostle Paul decisively points us toward what God HAS NOT and HAS given to us.  God has not given us the spirit of FEAR, which some have translated as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real.

Quite to the contrary, God has given us the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind (some translations like the NIV and the NRSV substitute the words “self-discipline” for “sound mind”).  In tough times, God builds strong people to step up and to do the purpose for which God has called them.  The question is:  Will you rise to God’s call in your life, or will you allow your physical and mental infirmities and current circumstances to dictate a perpetual downfall that never again rises? 

Prayer

Almighty Father and Mother God of our great and ancient African ancestors, we come boldly before you, and we ask you to continually remind us that you did not create us with a spirit of cowardice, timidity, or fear.  You gifted us with the spirit of power, of love, and of self discipline and self control.  Renew our strength and courage to act according to your mighty and gracious gifts.  Allow your gifts in us to resonate toward others in our spiritual walk within the physical places of our neighborhoods and residences, our churches and other holy gathering places, on our jobs, and in our businesses.  We ask this in the name of Jesus, whom you sent and who was and is a living example of the gracious gifts of courage, power, love, a divinely sane mind, and self control.  Amen!

Thought for the Day

Give an emphatic “YES!” to God’s calling in your life.