By Debbie Presson
Last night our youngest came to us and said she couldn’t get to sleep. Of course, as a parent, you wonder if she has had too much caffeine or sugary food. But, tonight was different. We went to tuck her in and give all the anecdotal suggestions to help her get to sleep; when she began to share that she was afraid of having a bad dream. We talked to her about God’s protection and asked what we should do when we are scared, to which she answered, “Pray”. After praying with her, she asked if I would hold her hand. In those tender moments of holding her hand and explaining that this was fear and that God wants us to trust in Him for peace, I was reminded of 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I let her know she could memorize that verse and repeat it over and over any time she is fearful. I began to do that until I thought she might have slipped off to sleep, but then she whispered, “Mom, say it again…say it until I get to sleep.”
What an incredible peace scripture gives when we remind the enemy that “…God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” When our thoughts take over and seem to be relentless, we are able to turn to a God, in prayer, who has the power to help us take our thoughts captive and hand them over to Him in order to achieve a sound mind. He will cover us with a peace that is beyond our comprehension and supply us with power over the thoughts that want to steal our peace through fear. It might take saying scripture over and over, but what a peaceful way to fall asleep as our daughter realized. Today, she has the scripture written on her marker board frame and told me, “I have that verse memorized.”
If fear has you bound today and your thoughts seem to be overtaking you…turn to the Lord. I like to think of our thoughts as a ball being thrown at us. Catch the ball before it hits you and throw it straight to Him. Pray that He will give you the peace you need, know that He loves you and is waiting with arms wide open to rescue you. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7