“ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7

When Paul was instructing Timothy to not be afraid, he was speaking of the gift Timothy was carrying but was timid in using it. Just like Timothy, we carry spiritual gifts that have been given to us but are sometimes too timid to use them.  Gifts of prayer and intercession, healing, evangelism, speaking, teaching, writing, etc. 

When I was young and being homeschooled by my mom, writing was my weakest subject. I’d cry anytime I was told to write a paragraph or even a sentence. I had no confidence in my ability to write creatively, so if there was no structure, I would freak out. My mom would instruct that if I would just calm down and start with the first sentence, the rest would come to me. She’d say, “ Just write THE!”  After many tears, I would write the word THE and begin my assignment. I had to force myself to do it. 

Sometimes we have to force our way through the fear and timidity to do what we have been gifted and anointed to do. Whatever it is that God has put on your heart that you seem to always go back to but you’re afraid or you’re waiting until you feel confident, will actually be activated by faith and self-discipline. It just takes a step of faith. 

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can’t see.” Hebrews 11:1

I’m a very visual person. I need to see to learn, see to understand. But Hebrews 11 explains that we will see it when we believe it. I was told by others that I carry an anointing for certain gifts. Those words didn’t make sense to me because I couldn’t see! It takes a lot of faith to walk those out when you’ve never done them before. Many times we know of the gifts we carry, the calling on our life, but maybe we have yet to see it. We won’t accidentally intercede in prayer for someone or accidentally write a book. We must make the decision, discipline ourselves and put action to our faith. James 2:6 says that faith without action is dead. James 2:22 explains that faith and actions work together and that actions make faith complete. Our faith and our action will turn our assurance in what we don’t see into what we can see.

“And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” Revelation 12:11

Doubt and fear can get the best of us at times. Spiritual victory comes from declaring and believing in the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. A testimony is boldly speaking an account of something witnessed. Victory over fear and timidity comes from boldly giving a testimony of the things God has done in the past, knowing by faith that He will do it again. Recall times that God has moved on your behalf, how He saved you, how He has comforted you, how He has counseled you, redeemed you, healed you, and by your testimony you will overcome fear. Put your faith to action and watch what God will do in and through you. 

“ This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.”

Fan into flame the gift He has given you. Don’t let it sit as a dying ember any longer. Boldly put to action your gifts knowing that God is faithful and He will do what He says He will do and He will enable you to do what He has anointed you to do.
Crystal