We've Got Spirit

Striving to live a Christian life isn't always easy. Part of that struggle is trying to keep your focus on Christ so that the decisions we make reflect our commitment to Him. It is the constant tension of who God is calling us to be and who we actually are. It can sometimes be discouraging, but I attribute the majority of that to our disappointment at the results of efforts powered by us. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." This is a verse that is often quoted to remind us that we don't need to live in fear, but that as Christians we have a confident spirit of power that fuels us. As I read it this morning, I see that it encapsulates our calling as followers. We are called to be bold witnesses for Christ and we can leap forward in faith with the understanding that the power comes from God. Our capacity for loving other people also doesn't rely on our ability, but is from the King as He enlarges our hearts to have compassion for those around us. The self-control that we need to exhibit doesn't come from our ability to regulate ourselves, but from the power of the Holy Spirit that transforms us from the inside out.

While it is not often used in this context, this verse perfectly embodies what a Christ follower should be and the recognition that all of the power that we might have in our life comes directly from God. If we were to pray, witness, and act in the authority of this verse we would start to see a transforming revival in our community that even the schemes of satan couldn't stand against.