HANDS OFF THE PANIC BUTTON PLEASE!
2 Timothy 1:7”…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and sound mind.”
When problems arise, the knee-jerk reaction of people is panic! Take your hands off the panic button please! Listen!
‘What if’ is a dangerous phrase that triggers fear, instead say ‘God would’, Amen! Keep your ‘thought zone’ healthy and clean, are you listening? That’s exactly why, the Bible says, God has not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love, power and sound mind. Come on, say ‘sound mind’! The daughter-in-law holds on to her husband and kids aggressively and obsessively fearing that the mother-in-law might take them away from her. This is fear that arises out of destructive thoughts in the mind. The book of Job states thus: Job 42:2 “I know that you can do anything. No one can keep you from doing what you plan to do.” (NIV Reader’s version) Are you listening? When you meditate on the Word of God regularly, through prayer and strength from God, when you love and forgive people who have wronged and offended you, then Living water flows in and out of you! Are you listening? Let me tell you, love flows freely, you cannot forcefully take it or clog it. The Bible says, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’ (Psalm 23:6) Did you read that? Goodness will follow you when you follow God and His commandments! Stop manipulating and begin surrendering to God and His ways! Your husband/wife and children will cosset, mollycoddle and cherish you if you embrace God and His Word as your treasure! This is called favor of God! Favor cannot be bought or earned, it is a lovely gift of God for His beloved children.
Parents are mindlessly pampering children with goodies and luxuries, thinking that they could win their affection and keep them to themselves. Pathetic thinking! I have watched young boys grow up to becoming a smart 22 year old young men and just when it is time for him to support and take care of his parents, he elopes away with his new girl friend, whom he had befriended just three months back. Isn’t this crazy? Don’t panic, this is common in this computer era where there are plethora of opportunities for men and women to work together during the night and day. Are you listening? Some other versions of the Bible, mentions ‘self- control’ instead of sound mind. Yes, you got to have the power to control your mind when temptations blast you left, right and center. Are you listening? Many times, marriages are decided based on lust, compassion and infatuation rather than true, honest love. If you are deciding on marriage within the first year of dating, then take it from me, this relationship is bound to hit troubled waters. Grow up please!
A sound mind is not wishy-washy or spineless but makes bold decisions based on strength received from God. It was just after a major operation in my life, in the month of February, 2013, the doctor commanded that I take complete bed rest for 6 months. What??? I had a major three days camp upcoming in the month of May in a different city that involved travlling, heavy preparation and heavy preaching as well. Many thought I could never ever make it. Around the month of April, one particular morning I heard the voice of God say, ‘Bala, fold your bed and arise!’ On that very day, we fixed the dates of the meeting for the next month, booked our tickets and had glorious meetings! “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and sound mind.”
