Fear and Impatience

Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble,  So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (Gk. ‘sophronizo’) and to love their husbands and their children,  To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited). 

~ Titus 2:3-5 AMP

FEAR and IMPATIENCE are two main inhibitors that often keep us from a fulfilled life.  

FEAR imprisons and paralyzes us while IMPATIENCE drives us forward prematurely.  FEAR causes the Believer to fall far behind while IMPATIENCE can drive the same Believer too far ahead and out of the position and favor of God. 

These two are the antithesis of DISCIPLINE and DEVOTION.  Does that bring back memories of 2 Timothy 1:7?  

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control (Gk. ‘sophronismos’).  

Both words hail from the root word ‘sophron‘.  

Sozo – ‘to heal, deliver and make whole’ AND Phren – ‘the mind, feelings and understanding’  

2 Timothy 1:7 proclaims that our LORD has not given us a spirit of fear, but HE has given us the Spirit of Power and Love which ‘MAKES a sound and whole mind’!  That is such powerful wisdom for living!

Now, with that, comes our great responsibility and privilege of TEACHING and TRAINING the younger women of the church ‘making them of a sound mind’.  

Did you notice that the Teacher is a ‘teacher of good things’ both in word and deed?  That is where we really learn, isn’t it – through both a woman’s LIPS as well as her LIVING?  

Here are FIVE beautiful ways to G.R.A.C.E. one another so that the Word of God is not blasphemed, our lives are fruitful, we are completely satisfied, and a lost and perishing world can’t help but notice the difference!

G – GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD YESHUA – 2 Peter 3:18

R – REMOVE THE OLD – Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:20-23;Colossians 3:8-9

A – ACCEPT THE NEW – Galatians 5:22-23

C – CONTINUE IN STEADFAST PRAYER for one another – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; Philippians 1:18b-19; Acts 2:42

E – ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER to persevere and grow in the grace and knowledge of the LORD – Hebrews 10:24

 Father God, You are the One Who is able to bring ORDER and LIGHT from the chaos and darkness in our lives.  I thank You that You are faithful to do so and even now, Your Spirit is regenerating our lives from the inside out.  B’SHEM YESHUA ADONEINU!