18 Jul “Stir it Up” by Jeanne Ware
Paul warns Timothy of the pitfalls that might be ahead of him (the ones Paul stumbled on and by the grace of God got out of). Secondly, Paul reminds Timothy of his Godly heritage both biologically and spiritually. And, then Paul gives Timothy foresighted vision for the years ahead of him, and Paul tells Timothy of the things to avoid and the things to focus on.
And, even though Paul sets a Godly example for Timothy to follow, it is Timothy’s responsibility to “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, love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV
There is SO much strength in what Paul tells Timothy here. First, the gift IS IN YOU! Whatever the gift is that God has given to you, be grateful, thankful, and appreciative of it. Never lay it to the side. If it has just become embers and a distant memory – it is YOU who must fan it in to a flame! Stir it up! Don’t allow the devil and all his mental tactics to rob you of what God has placed in you. Stir it up and allow oxygen to get to it – the very breath of God can renew it to where it once was in your heart.
Second, walk in the authority that God has given to you – it’s a spirit of power, it’s a spirit of love, and it’s a spirit of self-control! We can have self-control over our thought life, self-control over our actions, self-control over our body language, and self-control over our speech if we walk in His power and love. Ladies, don’t ever forget that God has given us the power to cast down (destroy, demolish, shatter, blow-up, spoil, ruin, put a stop to, and quash) the imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5) and fear that we’re not good enough, we’re not holy enough, not pretty enough, or not talented enough.
Stir up His power. Stir up His love. And Stir up His self-control.
It is in you, daughter of God – STIR IT UP!