"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 Life can feel overwhelming, and sometimes anxious thoughts seem to take control. But we don't have to live in constant stress or mental chaos. God has given us a “spirit of a sound mind." A sound mind is calm, steady, and anchored in truth. The spirit of a sound mind is linked to self-control (we reject sin and pursue godliness). We don’t become self-controlled in our own power. T

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 Why does love follow power in this verse? Because love balances power. The love of God keeps power in its right place. This kind of love is agape love = self-sacrificial. The power that God gives you is not to benefit you, it's often to bring Him glory and it's usually at your own expense (dying to self). Jesus is the epitome and perfect example of power harnessed by love and sacr

In John 4, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and offers her something she never expected: living water. She had spent years searching for fulfillment in all the wrong places. She had been married five times and lived with a man who wasn’t her husband. Maybe she was looking for security, love, or identity in those relationships. But nothing satisfied her soul until she encountered Christ. Every one of us carries a longing deep in our soul: a thirst for peace, love, purp

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 This letter from Paul to Timothy was meant to encourage Timothy to step up to the plate, take his ministry seriously, and realize that the Holy Spirit provides divine resources for him to apply his gift. Timothy needs encouragement as he is about to step into a leadership role to: -appoint qualified leaders (elders, deacons) -defend the gospel against heresy -set an example for ot

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." -2 Timothy 1:7 In 2 Timothy 1:7, Paul encourages Timothy to be bold using the gifts God has given him: because God has given him a spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind...not fear. Paul saw the timidity in Timothy and wanted him to know that this fear wasn't from God. Fear shows up in different ways for all of us. For some, it shows up when we have to speak in front of others, lead o

Verse of the Month: 2 Timothy 1:6-7 Before we step into the truth of 2 Timothy 1:7, we have to begin with the invitation found just one verse before it. In verse 6, Paul reminds Timothy there is already a gift inside of him. He urges Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God." This is a call to action. It's a call to: Stir what feels dormant Rekindle what feels weak Step into what God has already placed within you A God-given gift can grow quiet if it's neglected...just like

Pride vs. Humility Romans 12:1-2, James 4:6 In Romans 12, Paul encourages us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God . That sounds beautiful...but in reality, surrender can be hard. One of the biggest reasons we can't fully surrender ourselves to God is pride. Pride is the opposite of humility. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." A proud person puts confidence in their own wisdom, rather than seeking it from Go

Guarding Your Heart in a World Full of Advice Romans 12:1-2, Proverbs 4:23 Motherhood places you in a constant stream of advice: what you should eat, how you should exercise, how quickly you should bounce back, what your body should look like, and so on. The world is full of loud opinions, and if we're not careful those voices can begin to shape how we see ourselves and what we believe we should pursue. But Romans 12:1-2 tells us to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice and

This month's theme: Identity in Christ This month's verse: "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2 Offered, Not Obsessed Your body is a