The Spirit of Fear – Stepping in the Light

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” II Timothy 1:7

Fear is an unavoidable part of the human experience. In some ways fear actually helps us in life. The anticipation of a negative outcome can help us avoid mistakes and poor choices. You don’t walk out in front of an oncoming truck because you are afraid of being run over. This kind of fear is actually healthy. Each time we make good decisions because of a clear understanding of consequences it prolongs our lives and helps us to enjoy a happier existence. However, most of the things that we are afraid of hold us back and keep us from achieving our goals and fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives. Any time fear paralyzes us and prevents us from performing a task that God has given us to do, we fail to realize our full potential and we leave something undone that could have made a difference for someone else. God does not give us those kinds of fears. They come from within, and the flames of doubt and fear are fanned by the devil. How can we fight against our fears? Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Faith is the opposite of fear. Our faith must be in God. God gives us the spirit of power, the spirit of love, and a sound mind. Within the framework of a sound mind, we can exercise faith in an omnipotent God Who gives us the power to love others and serve Him. Through faith in God, we can quench the spirit of fear and overcome the attacks of the evil one.

Morning: Jeremiah 12-14

Evening: II Timothy 1

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“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105

If you were to find yourself walking down a path in the dark of night with only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, you wouldn’t be able to see very far ahead. You would be able to see just enough of the pathway to know which direction to take your next step and enough of the ground to choose the best place for your feet. When it comes to our daily lives, God’s Word is a lot like that lantern. It will not show us the whole path at once, but it is exactly what we need to help us decide how to take the next step.

The Bible is our source of spiritual light, and if we consistently seek God’s direction as we read from its pages, we will always have enough light for our next step along the pathway of life. It is then that we are, in the words of an old gospel song, “stepping in the light.”

The goal of this devotional guide is to encourage you to spend time in the Word of God each day. Reading the passages listed at the bottom of the page will take you all the way through the Bible in one year. The devotional thought for each day is taken from a text within that day’s reading, so even that small daily portion of reading will take you on a journey through God’s Word. It is my prayer that this guide would help you to walk closer to the Lord and that you will find yourself taking each step in the light of His Word.

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