Being Fearful and Timid

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Ryan&Amber2013

Puritan Board Senior
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

In light of this verse, how does one attain a state of not giving in to fear and being timid? The verse seems to be saying this is a gift as fruit of the Spirit (if we have the Spirit, we have not fear). But, I know I have battled over and over, fear and being timid. If I have the Spirit, why such a fight if that is a blessing of the Spirit? If the work depends on me, then why such focus on the Spirit wroughting it? I know this fearlessness is lacking in my life, and I can't help but think this is something I can do in my own strength, though I battle it in every way I know how.
 
Why do you think you are fearful or timid?

My advice would be to figure out what duty entails and then do your duty, no matter how you feel about it. Emotions are fickle, but duties are pretty fixed.
 
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

In light of this verse, how does one attain a state of not giving in to fear and being timid? The verse seems to be saying this is a gift as fruit of the Spirit (if we have the Spirit, we have not fear). But, I know I have battled over and over, fear and being timid. If I have the Spirit, why such a fight if that is a blessing of the Spirit? If the work depends on me, then why such focus on the Spirit wroughting it? I know this fearlessness is lacking in my life, and I can't help but think this is something I can do in my own strength, though I battle it in every way I know how.
....” Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God “

Sounds like encouragement for the good fight of faith.

You are probably not as fearful & timid as you think. Don’t tag yourself with such hard labels. Don’t be so absolute about it. It may exist but it doesn’t have to define you. I’m thinking Jesus fills those holes
 
Why do you think you are fearful or timid?

My advice would be to figure out what duty entails and then do your duty, no matter how you feel about it. Emotions are fickle, but duties are pretty fixed.
I have always been afraid of public speaking, for one. Whenever I speak in front of crowds, I tend to get very nervous and anxious, which causes heart palpitations, and used to cause panic. I was raised in a very unstable environment, with a lot of worry, fear, and anxiety. Sadly that doesn't just easily go away when it becomes a part of someone's nature. Spiritual fighting always takes place, and I do my duties no matter what, but the reality of being weird in that area still remains.
 
I have always been afraid of public speaking, for one. Whenever I speak in front of crowds, I tend to get very nervous and anxious, which causes heart palpitations, and used to cause panic. I was raised in a very unstable environment, with a lot of worry, fear, and anxiety. Sadly that doesn't just easily go away when it becomes a part of someone's nature. Spiritual fighting always takes place, and I do my duties no matter what, but the reality of being weird in that area still remains.

Have you tried practice runs out loud in front of your wife? That helps. Or even ask to practice in the church on a day nobody is there. Stand in the pulpit and practice throwing your voice.

Hitler was not always a great orator either. He used to pose in mirrors as he practiced his speeches and perfected his movements. He was sort of short and kind of ugly and a little awkward in social occasions it is said. So it Hitler can do it, so can you! If he worked so hard to perfect a skill to be used for dubious purposes, you can work much harder to refine your skills for good.
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-hitler-was-such-a-successful-orator-2015-5/?IR=T
 
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

In light of this verse, how does one attain a state of not giving in to fear and being timid? The verse seems to be saying this is a gift as fruit of the Spirit (if we have the Spirit, we have not fear). But, I know I have battled over and over, fear and being timid. If I have the Spirit, why such a fight if that is a blessing of the Spirit? If the work depends on me, then why such focus on the Spirit wroughting it? I know this fearlessness is lacking in my life, and I can't help but think this is something I can do in my own strength, though I battle it in every way I know how.

Brother, DM me your address. I will send you a little book by John Flavel that should be a blessing to you. Fear is a great thief of our joy. Our fear is no match for God's right hand.
 
Part of it takes practice. Another part just the time-honored principle of maturity. The following might not sound spiritual, but it works. When JP Moreland, that mighty hero of the faith, discipled young students, before he would take them out on evangelism, he would make them practice sharing the gospel in front of a mirror for 50-100 times so that they would get used to it.

It takes some of the fearful edge off. I've done it.
 
Have you tried practice runs out loud in front of your wife? That helps. Or even ask to practice in the church on a day nobody is there. Stand in the pulpit and practice throwing your voice.

Hitler was not always a great orator either. He used to pose in mirrors as he practiced his speeches and perfected his movements. He was sort of short and kind of ugly and a little awkward in social occasions it is said. So it Hitler can do it, so can you! If he worked so hard to perfect a skill to be used for dubious purposes, you can work much harder to refine your skills for good.
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-hitler-was-such-a-successful-orator-2015-5/?IR=T

I'm almost scared to admit, this is effective. But then again, we make a righteous use of unrighteous mammon. Whack the devil with his own switch!

I have always been afraid of public speaking, for one. Whenever I speak in front of crowds, I tend to get very nervous and anxious, which causes heart palpitations, and used to cause panic. I was raised in a very unstable environment, with a lot of worry, fear, and anxiety. Sadly that doesn't just easily go away when it becomes a part of someone's nature. Spiritual fighting always takes place, and I do my duties no matter what, but the reality of being weird in that area still remains.

Brother in the last month I've felt myself in turmoil. There has been a season of life a year ago where I felt like I was faced with an impossible practical difficulty, and I was standing on the shores of the Red Sea waiting for it to part. I deal with the same things that you do and even this morning was praying hard for an answer to some difficulties which have badly stressed me. Maybe things don't look that big to others who tend to be rather calm and collected, but worry and anxiety to some of us are like monsters with iron teeth. I blame no one but myself for fearing as much as I do. But the good thing about trials is that, when God has comforted you, you can share that comfort with others :)

Now, I freely admit that most of my thoughts here are from John Calvin on Exodus 4.

Now Moses does fear God, and does have faith. However, his faith is weak. All is against his mission. He is a runaway from the house of Pharaoh, a fugitive, a traitor, and a shepherd (remember Genesis, they are an abomination to the Egyptians). For all we know while in Pharaoh's house he was a revered leader and mighty influence, but decades in the desert had rubbed it all out of him. Ridiculous that such a one would dare confront the mighty Pharaoh who was as terrible as the man who ruled Egypt right before him! Moses isn't in need of faith itself--he needs stronger faith.

The first miracle is for Moses' rod to turn into a serpent. What does Moses do when the nature of the rod transforms? Moses flees from it. The might of the miracle and the presence of a serpent made Moses hide himself. It is as though God had said through this miracle, "Do you see how you feared when you saw the snake transform? That is the fear that I will put into Pharaoh." Lesson learned. And then, when God commands Moses to pick the serpent up by the tail--the very act which says, "Please, bite me and kill me"--Moses does not hesitate. The initial fear of the snake left him, and with confidence he grabs the snake by the tail. So Pharaoh would fear the power of God, and Moses would have might in the eyes of the serpent Pharaoh.

The next miracle concerning Moses' hand being made leprous and whole again is about Moses' reputation. At one time he had power and influence in Egypt, but it was gone. His reputation in the eyes of Pharaoh and Israel had become withered. Yet no matter. Moses was to believe God who "calls into existence the things that do not exist" Romans 4, just as his own father Abraham had done. So, this man whose reputation and name had become leprous and withered will come before Pharaoh and Israel and appear to them as whole and vigorous, but mighty.

And on top of all of this, it is likely that Moses did many more miracles than the ones explicitly named. God's might would be on Moses to prove his authority on many occasions, in Pharaoh's presence and in the presence of the Israelites. None would doubt his authority.

You and I should take great care to remember that these are not mere earthly battles they fight. I highly recommend Toastmasters, and it's a great help, and I've done it myself; though don't let the devil tell you the problem is small enough that this will do it for you. You know all that you deal with is a spiritual fight against the unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Remember who the serpent is, remember that by yourself you are leprous, and remember who it is that gives you authority to handle snakes and to be whole and sound.

Also, we live in the presence of God. We don't exercise ourselves enough in this, but God is more real in any time and place than anything we perceive, whether in our senses or in our minds. The God who was with Moses is with you and me. He's still the faithful covenant God--bound under solemn oath, confirmed by blood, to bless us--that He was to Abraham, to Moses, and only all the more in the New Covenant in Christ's blood.

Despite all these things I still end up saying at times, "Lord, send somebody else!" Thankfully God doesn't take me at my word there. In His grace and patience, He won't take you at your's either.
 
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