for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
As someone rather timid in some ways, I need the reminder that God is faithful and will help me do whatever work He has given me to do. I found that reminder in this beautiful hymn.
“God has not given us the spirit of fear
But has given us the strength to obey
With power and sound mind
With love the unfailing kind
O be not ashamed of His way.”
But are we ashamed of God’s way? Of His Word? Do we hesitate to admit that we are Christians out of fear of what people will say? Or do we keep our mouth shut around family members, because we know they won’t like what God says about their life choices? It’s easy to obey flesh and fear, instead of trusting and leaning on God. To doubt that He will keep us and sustain us as He has promised.
“May the Lord find us faithful
May His Word be our banner held high
May the Lord find us faithful
Ev’ry day though we live though we die.”
God is faithful and never forgets His own. We need to make the Bible our standard for living, our guide through this life. May we be faithful to God even unto death as our Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are being.
“No man that seeketh
After things of this life
Is a soldier who passes the test
Be faithful be working
Be running be serving
Be searching His word for His best”
We can’t get distracted. Beware falling in love with the world. It’s easy to do, but spiritually deadly. It’s passing away. Only what’s done for God will last. We need to focus on obeying God. We know God will be faithful to us, the question is will we be faithful to Him.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4
Keep yourself out of love with the world and in love and constant communication with God. The world offers lots of advice, never trust it. A little leven, leavens the whole lump.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
Stay faithful in reading and studying God’s Word, be consistent in prayer. Don’t get distracted! I know how easy it is to get distracted. But we are soldiers in the Lord’s army, life isn’t easy. Nothing worth having is easy.
“May the Lord find us faithful
May His Word be our banner held high
May the Lord find us faithful
Ev’ry day though we live though we die.”
The Christian Thinker 