26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER F
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on to read the previous post on the letter E.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER F
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)
What do you expect of God?
Certainly we don’t expect an all-powerful God to shroud us in fear. I like the way the Contemporary English Version of this verse says it: God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. We anticipate God’s Spirit to be present and to empower us, to fill us with love, and to help us live respecting and honoring our God.
Large segments of our society wallow in fear. Businesses flourish by convincing us that their product will save us from some hazard that we should fear. Television ads use scare tactics.
The award-winning movie, Bowling for Columbine, did a masterful job of painting a picture of fear at work in our society.
This F verse is important in our Bible verse arsenal because of the cloud of fear surrounding us—mostly of human making.
What does God expect of us?
God expects us to receive God’s spiritual gifts—power, love, and self-control.
- POWER: God doesn’t empower us with mighty muscles to lift up the side of our cars. God empowers us to weather the storms of life—its illnesses, financial setbacks, strife with others, and grief of loss.
- LOVE: God fills our lives with light. We see God in all God’s glory as the provider, sustainer, and comforter in life. We see God in God’s very nature—love. Since God is love overflowing to us, we return that love to God, we pass it on to any that we meet, and we absorb it into our very being.
- SELF-CONTROL: God regulates our thermostats. God gives us wisdom and discernment to examine every circumstance and to trust the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit to lead us through every crisis with restraint and confidence. We anticipate that God will prevail.
I like to listen to the words of the great 18th century commentator, Matthew Henry. On this verse he said God hath delivered us from the spirit of fear, and hath given us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The spirit of power, or of courage and resolution; the spirit of love to God which will set us above the fear of man, and the spirit of a sound mind, or quietness of mind, for we are oftentimes discouraged in our work by the creatures of our own imagination, which a sober, thinking mind would obviate.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said We have nothing to fear but fear itself. God moves us beyond fear to a new spirit of confidence, love, and living because we have the Spirit of God at our side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER G, click on: 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter G
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
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(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
in the e-mail you will receive from wordpress.com.
Your e-mail address will not be published. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
A CHURCH EXPERIENCE: SPEAKING IN TONGUES
ARE YOU LIVING IMPAIRED?
Kudzu in Pennsylvania? OH, NO!
GUNMAN AT STOCKTON SPRINGS ELEM. SCHOOL: School Threat Ends Peacefully
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26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter F
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26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET:
THE LETTER F
Monte Holland
Several persons have expressed an interest in having my husband, the Rev. Monte W. Holland, post an online series of devotions. Through their encouragement, Monte will post a weekly devotion on CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS. To read the introduction click on 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction. Click on to read the previous post on the letter E.
Return to this site each Saturday to read his devotions. Carolyn C. Holland
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALPHABET OF THE BIBLE – THE LETTER F
What do you expect of God?
Certainly we don’t expect an all-powerful God to shroud us in fear. I like the way the Contemporary English Version of this verse says it: God’s Spirit doesn’t make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control. We anticipate God’s Spirit to be present and to empower us, to fill us with love, and to help us live respecting and honoring our God.
Large segments of our society wallow in fear. Businesses flourish by convincing us that their product will save us from some hazard that we should fear. Television ads use scare tactics.
The award-winning movie, Bowling for Columbine, did a masterful job of painting a picture of fear at work in our society.
This F verse is important in our Bible verse arsenal because of the cloud of fear surrounding us—mostly of human making.
What does God expect of us?
God expects us to receive God’s spiritual gifts—power, love, and self-control.
I like to listen to the words of the great 18th century commentator, Matthew Henry. On this verse he said God hath delivered us from the spirit of fear, and hath given us the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The spirit of power, or of courage and resolution; the spirit of love to God which will set us above the fear of man, and the spirit of a sound mind, or quietness of mind, for we are oftentimes discouraged in our work by the creatures of our own imagination, which a sober, thinking mind would obviate.
Franklin D. Roosevelt said We have nothing to fear but fear itself. God moves us beyond fear to a new spirit of confidence, love, and living because we have the Spirit of God at our side.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To read 26 DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE ALPHABET: THE LETTER G, click on: 26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: The Letter G
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t miss Monte’s devotions.
Subscribe to CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS today
TO RECEIVE E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
OF NEW POSTS
(to subscribe see upper right hand post on this site—
Notification will begin after you confirm your subscription
in the e-mail you will receive from wordpress.com.
Your e-mail address will not be published. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~
ADDITIONAL READING:
26 Devotions Based on the Alphabet: Introduction
A CHURCH EXPERIENCE: SPEAKING IN TONGUES
ARE YOU LIVING IMPAIRED?
Kudzu in Pennsylvania? OH, NO!
GUNMAN AT STOCKTON SPRINGS ELEM. SCHOOL: School Threat Ends Peacefully
Like this: