Today’s Encouragement is 2 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. [7] For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Fan into flames-
The clear message is that 1) God has given each of us the Gift of His Holy Spirit, which we are to 2) fan into flames- that is, to allow, even help, to grow in His power within our lives.
This Spirit which God has given us as a gift (cannot be earned!) is His Holy Spirit of power, love and self-discipline!
Most of us don’t question God’s Power – but His power through the Holy Spirit – living within me?
Most of us don’t question God’s Love – but His love, through the Holy Spirit – living within me?
Most of us don’t question God’s Self Discipline – but His self-discipline, through the Holy Spirit – living within me?
We are told to fan this gift, God’s Holy Spirit, into flames. Is it still only smoldering within you? Is it being fed fuel and oxygen… the breath of God? Or is this gift lying dormant, unfed, covered with ashes of spiritual neglect…
Wherever you are spiritually, this Gift, whether you realize it or not… still glows within you… all we must do is to fan it into flames! We do so by opening our hearts to the oxygen of God’s love, grace and mercy… by renewing our minds with the fresh wind of His Word; by choosing daily, perhaps several times each day, to Trust Him with every need, every issue, every concern, so that we remain free of fear and worry.
Lord, help us to fan into flames the priceless spiritual Gift You have given to each of us, that we might live lives of spiritual power, love, and self-discipline rather than fear and timidity.
Light the Fire again
Brian Doerksen
Today’s Encouragement 