30 Days to Confident FaithSample

Devotional:
Paul wrote this letter to Timothy, a young leader in the early church, to encourage him to be bold in his calling. Timothy was young, facing persecution, heavy responsibility, and spiritual warfare. Paul reminded him that fear doesn’t come from God. Instead, God’s Spirit fills us with power, love, and a sound mind—a steady mind anchored in peace.

This verse isn’t just a theological truth for me; it’s deeply personal. It became the very first Scripture I taught my son when he was just three years old. At that age, he struggled with intense separation anxiety. He didn’t want to leave my side, and fear seemed to grip his little heart every time we tried something new. So together, we began declaring this verse out loud:“God has not given me a spirit of fear!”

We spoke it when he went to his first day of kindergarten at five years old, tears in his eyes as he clung to me. We spoke it again when he rode his very first kiddie Ferris wheel, his tiny hands gripping the bar tightly while I whispered reminders of God’s power over fear. Each time, I watched his courage grow.

Now, at the age of eight, he speaks this verse boldly over himself. When fear tries to creep back in, he declares God’s truth out loud without any prompting from me. Watching my son choose faith over fear reminds me that this verse is more than encouragement—it’s a spiritual weapon.

Fear paralyzes, but God’s Spirit empowers. His power gives us courage, His love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), and His sound mind brings peace in chaos. Like Timothy, we need to be reminded of our spiritual inheritance: courage is already inside us because His Spirit lives in us. Fear is not our portion—power, love, and peace are.

Thought to Ponder:
Where do I need to start declaring God’s truth over fear in my life, the way I would declare it over someone I love?

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for filling me with Your Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Help me to walk in faith and teach others to do the same. Replace fear with boldness and remind me that I carry Your courage wherever I go. Amen.