OzThoughts. Tuesday 13th May 2008 Each Monday morning one of the prayers, we (a group of chaplains from various churches working together in a large private hospital) read from the Anglican Church in Australia Prayer Book, is taken from 2 Timothy 1: 6 and 7. We pray: For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. May we rekindle the gift of God within us. Amen. As I read this prayer yesterday, I thought how St Paul had captured the essence of the Holy Spirit gifts given to the early church at Pentecost. Paul writes to his spiritual son, Timothy, and reminds him of a negative and three positives that we need in Christian life and witness. Various translations do not use the word ‘cowardice’ but use ‘timidity’, ‘shyness’, ‘cringing’, or ‘fear’. Now, I can identify with those feelings. I will admit I am not quick “to gird on the armour and rush to the field”. I am still a work in progress. God has worked miracles in that I was a shy hesitant speaker but now with prayerful preparation, I have no hesitation in addressing a crowd of many hundreds. However, when it comes to initial one to one conversations, there are still fears to be overcome. I find comfort in the fact that God does not call us to work he has not equipped us to do. I need Pauls’s reminder that the Amplified Bible puts so well: 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. (2 Timothy 1:7 Amplified Bible). Who is it tells me what to doAnd helps me to obey?Who is it plans the route for meAnd will not let me stray?Who is it tells me when to speak And what I ought to say? ChorusThat's the Spirit! Holy Spirit!That's the Spirit of the Lord in me! Who is it gives me heavy loadsAnd helps me take the strain?Who is it calls to sacrificeAnd helps me bear the pain?Who is it sees me when I fallAnd lifts me up again? Who is it shows me what to beAnd leads me to that goal?Who is it claims the heart of meAnd wants to take control?Who is it calls to holiness Of body, mind and soul? Author: John Gowans The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 204 ````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` You can also receive OzThoughts from the following groups (which you are welcome to join): SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/ Poems from the Lord by Ailsa Yates: http://groups.msn.com/PoemsfromtheLordbyAilsaYates Please forward this to your friends. Thank you and God bless you with love, peace and joy. |
back to top
