#65 – Three Things that Overcome Fear

Welcome to season seven of Presently Engaged with Mandy Pallock. Here you will find short, friendly, Jesus-focused encouragement to live intentionally right where you are. In this episode, we will have a devotional thought source from life, and then we’ll end the podcast with the scripture reading. I’ll be reading from the English Standard Version of a passage, and this will give us the opportunity to center our minds on Jesus and our hearts on his word, because lives will change as we engage with God’s word.

Would you be willing to share this podcast with a friend or with someone that you’re mentoring? Listen in and then join me at presentlyengaged.com. I’m so grateful for your time and glad that you are here, because you, friend, are making a difference. Any chance you’re afraid sometimes?

Any chance you’ve had a wave of fear wash over you this morning or this week? Any chance you’ve been thinking about the at-risk or the disenfranchised, the minority, the disadvantaged a bit more than usual? Any chance that you listen in on the current news cycle and you’re just tired of it all? Or is there a chance that you’re afraid all of our freedoms are being taken away?

Are you afraid that there are less than wholesome motivations behind rules and restrictions that you bump into? Or is there a chance that you found something else to be afraid of? Something like a sickness or a disease or a relationship or a responsibility? Aaron Burns, a wise filmmaker friend of mine, defines fear this way.

He says, fear is looking into the future, assuming the worst, and believing that God won’t be there with me in it. As always, God shares peace and wisdom in his word. Join me in looking at 2nd Timothy 1-7. It says, for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control.

These life-giving words are worth reading in several different versions or adaptations. Here are three more. King James declares, for God had not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. The NIV says, for the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

And the message puts it this way, God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. So here are three of God’s gifts wrapped up for you in 2nd Timothy 1-7, all of which overcome fear. Bold power to do what is right. Persistent love to share with those God brings into your life today.

Sensible self-control to choose what is best over what is immediate or selfish. And if you happen to bump into fearful or anxious thoughts today or this week, you can give your heart the truth of God’s word. He has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Pray yourself into freedom by praying the words that God wrote for you and for me in 2nd Timothy 1-7.

God has not given you fear for this day. He has given you power. He has given you love. He has given you self-control.

In Christ, these three things are yours. What does that look like for you today? This season, we’re reading what I call the Apostle Paul’s Power Prayers. So join me in reading 1st Corinthians 1-26-31 and 2nd Timothy 1-2b-4 and 6-14.

This is the word of the Lord. For consider your calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards. Not many were powerful.

Not many were of noble birth. But God shows what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. God shows what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God shows what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who be game to us the wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that as it is written, let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. Grace, mercy, and peace from God, the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as did my ancestors with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.

Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus, by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Amen. So by now you’ve probably heard that I’ve written a book, right? You’ve actually heard that. The question habit is all about building relationships with God and others one question at a time, because asking questions and listening well can take every relationship deeper.

So maybe you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, because life is really busy these days. Well, you, friend, are officially invited to our book club, where we’ll go through the book in four sessions via Zoom. We’re going to work our way through the question habit, have amazing conversations, and make application to your own life and your own relationships. This is a free book club, and all you need is your own copy of the book.

We’re going to kick it off on Monday, September 23rd. So drop me an email at mandy at presentlyengaged.com to register. It won’t be the same without you.