PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
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“But what if I do or say the wrong thing?
I feel trapped by fear and uncertainty.
I feel lost and confused all the time.
I just don’t know where to start or what to do.”
Fear and uncertainty are some of the most common emotions experienced by every human being on the planet. It seems that more and more good Christian people seem to be struggling to cope with the tsunami of decisions that come with trying to serve the Lord in our work, in our families, in our churches, and in the wider world around us.
Left unchecked, fear and uncertainty lead us into some terrible places. In today’s devotional passage we are going to come face to face with the fact that the Lord does not want his children to live in fear and uncertainty.
Read the following passage and ask the Lord to help you experience the strength and self-discipline that accompany the work of His Spirit in our lives.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
(2 Timothy 1:6-10 NIV11)
Support
Inn verse 6 we hear Paul reminding Timothy that he is supported by lots of people who want him to find success in his walk with the Lord.
Prior to this passage, Timothy was reminded of the fact that his grandmother and mother taught him the faith and here we see Paul’s support being impressed onto Timothy.
We all have more support around us than we are typically aware. If you are a committed part of a Christian church then you are a part of the Body of Christ. If you have believing friends and family members, then you have a great support system.
Do not forget about these gifts when you are in times of doubt, fear, and uncertainty. Open your heart to those God places into your life and allow the Lord to support you through his people.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Timidity, uncertainty, doubt, hesitation, fear, and equivocating are not from the Lord. The Lord is a good leader, a great shepherd. He will not be one way with you today and then the complete opposite tomorrow.
Power
The Spirit of God brings us power. What does this mean? When we are listening to the Lord, allowing the Spirit to guide, we find that we have the will needed to act.
The power given by the Spirit does not turn us into superheroes who face every situation with wild courage, instead, as we say yes to the leadership of the Lord, the Spirit strengthens our feeble minds, weak knees, and trembling hands.
Love / Self-discipline
The Lord tempers the gift of his power with love and self-discipline.
Love keeps our newly strengthened will from becoming arrogant and prideful. The Spirit enables us to act in ways that seek the benefit of others and the glory of God.
Self-discipline is another gift of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we have a measure of our own internal strength and it is important that we exercise our will in ways that help us control our impulses and lusts but there are times (too many to count) when our will can be overrun.
When we face temptations, trials, challenges and decisions that are too big, too scary for our infantile self-control, the Lord moves in us and gives us the strength we need to say no to sin and yes to increasing godliness.
Invited
In verses 8-10, we hear more about the reasons why we need to embrace the strengthening power, love, and self-discipline of the Holy Spirit. As those who have been made whole through the sacrifice and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been invited to be a part of God’s great mission and purpose.
If we are willing to say yes to the call of Christ, we will need to daily say yes to the leadership of the Spirit of God.
We cannot serve Jesus Christ as God intends if we try to face the fears and challenges of this life in our own strength. Thank God for this amazing gift.
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
Worked at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
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