2 Timothy 1:7, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
The fear of failure is the apprehension of living for God because you think you will fail and not live up to what God wants. The fear of failure is closely related to the sin of rebellion and pride. When a person has this fear they generally refuse to be obedient to God’s commands because they view their weaknesses as stronger than God’s power.
Fear is the exact opposite of faith. Faith is a trust in what God said and fear is a trust in what you think. Faith makes a person stronger and enables them to do things they never would be able to do. Fear paralyzes people and keeps them from doing what God said they could do. Faith conquers fear and fear nullifies faith. You can only live with one at a time.
You will either choose to live by your thoughts that produce fear or by the Word of God, which produces faith; but you can’t do both at the same time.
In today’s passage, Paul boldly taught that when you were born again you received the Spirit of God- not a spirit of timidity (fear). As a result, by the indwelling of the person of the Holy Spirit you have been given all the power, love and self-discipline you will ever need. Paul also wrote in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” If Paul could do all that God wanted him to do by the Holy Spirit, you can do everything God commanded you to do.
Consider the three main ways the Holy Spirit will empower you to do God’s will for your life; first, the Holy Spirit will give you the power to overcome sin, human limitations and all your inner fears by renewing your mind with the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2). Second, the Holy Spirit will give you a deep and personal assurance that God loves you and that He’ll never leave you nor forsake you. You can be assured you’re never facing life’s challenges alone. Third, self-discipline, along with a sound mind, is given by the Holy Spirit to conquer all your bad habits and “stinking thinking” to be all that God called you to be! That means, even if you fail at something, you’re not going to believe you’re a failure and give up. My Dad always said, “Failure is an event, not a person.” When you fail get back up and believe you are who God said you are and you can do what He said you can do!
Don’t let your fears of failure keep you from serving God, instead be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive His power, love and self-discipline. Pray this out loud with me if you want to quit your quits, “Father, I ask you in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit to remove all my fears of failure and fill me with your power, love and self-discipline. I believe I can do what you said I can you do! Amen.”
Reflection
Have you ever been disobedient to God because of the fear of failure?
Action
- Repent of the times you have had the fear of failure.
- Ask God to fill you with His power, love and self-discipline.
- Believe what God said in His Word, do what He commanded and live free from fear!
