Power, Love, and a Sound Mind - 'The Fear Killers'
Most of us have heard 2 Timothy 1:7 quoted a thousand times: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
But have you ever noticed that Paul doesn’t just say “don’t be afraid”?
He actually gives us the antidote to fear.
Paul knew that fear isn’t something you can simply will away. It’s not just an emotion but it’s it’s a spiritual weight that drains courage, clouds judgment, and isolates us from others. That’s why God doesn’t just remove fear; He replaces it with something stronger. Each gift listed in that verse.. .power, love, and a sound mind, cancels out a specific tactic fear tries to use against us.
Power — The strength to move forward
Fear makes you feel weak and stuck. It whispers that you’re not enough, that you’ll fail if you try, that it’s safer to stay small. But the Spirit of God says otherwise. When we walk in His power, we’re reminded that we’re not relying on our own strength. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us. That’s not weakness—that’s divine power fueling boldness, confidence, and resilience.
Love — The courage to look outward
Fear turns us inward. It makes us self-protective, cautious, and hesitant to engage. But love drives fear out because love focuses on others. When the Holy Spirit fills you with God’s love, you stop asking, “What if I get hurt?” and start asking, “How can I serve?” Love frees you to give, forgive, and take holy risks because it’s no longer about preserving yourself—it’s about reflecting Christ.
A Sound Mind — The peace to stay steady.
Fear thrives in confusion. It makes you panic, doubt, and lose perspective. But the Holy Spirit gives you a sound mind—clarity, wisdom, and peace even when life feels chaotic. A sound mind doesn’t mean you never feel afraid; it means fear doesn’t control your decisions.
So the next time fear tries to creep in, don’t just say, “I’m not afraid.”
Say this instead: “I have power. I have love. I have a sound mind.”
That’s the Spirit God gave you and fear doesn’t stand a chance against it.