Thursday 19 May 2022 – Transformed week 2

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Thinking about our physical wellbeing involves the things we do when our physical health is not going well but it also involves the things we do to make sure our physical wellbeing goes as well as possible. This verse tells us about what we can ask God for in relation to our physical wellbeing (and other life aspects). I must admit I have thought about this verse previously as a statement – something that is just true, however, thinking about this verse today reminds me that it is also an invitation from God to ask for help. The verse says He gives us power, love and self-discipline and that He doesn’t give us fear and timidity. One translation says he wants us to be bold, loving and sensible and not to be shy with His gifts.

When we think about our physical wellbeing, it is easy to be fearful when we get a diagnosis from the doctor and it’s easy to be fearful and timid when it comes to making changes in our lifestyle to help our wellbeing – like committing to do exercise or eating in a more healthy way. Here God tells us that living in fear is not His plan for us. He wants us to feel like we can change, like we can do hard things. We can ask for His help knowing that this is something He WANTS to help us with – there is no doubt about that – He states clearly here that this is what He wants for us. That word self-discipline still makes it sound like I have to do it on my own. I think God wants us to invite Him into the situation so we can form a team to get it done.

Lord, thank you that you walk beside us, that you want to give us power, love and self-discipline, that with you anything is possible. Help us to remember to ask you to be involved. Thank you for self-discipline but help us to remember that it is really about connecting with you to make better choices each day. Also help us to remember that self-discipline comes teamed up with power and love – its not just us struggling through. Lord I invite you to walk with me to help me make good choices in regard to my physical wellbeing. Amen

Written by Therese Manning