Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)

 

It is not easy to stay faithful to God's purpose for your life, especially when nothing seems to go in the right way. If you feel the same, you are not alone. As a young pastor, Timothy was facing lots of fear and challenges in his church. He became discouraged and conflicted about how he should act and who he should be.

The Apostle Paul gave Timothy a much-needed word.

He reminded Timothy of a personal prophecy about his life and ministry, and if Timothy wanted to fulfil God's purpose, he needed to "stir up" the spiritual gift that was imparted to him by Paul through the laying on of hands.

The Greek word for "stir up" is anazōpyreō which means "to kindle up" (Strong's G329). It is a compound word: ana means "up or again", zoon means "to make alive" and pyr means "fire or flame". As such, Paul was calling Timothy to re-ignite the passion of his purpose and not let it die.

Paul furthermore revealed to Timothy that when he "kindle and rekindle the fire" within his heart, he would not only overcome his vulnerability to fear and disappointments, but he would also become a person "of power, of love and of sound mind".

I am sure many of us have had the experience of someone laying hands and prophesy over us. The question is: have those prophetic words you received been fulfilled yet? If they have not yet come to pass in your life, don't stay disappointed but keep stirring yourself up to the truth of who you are and what you have in Christ.

Do not see what you do not have now. See beyond your limitations and learn to see how God sees you. Keep in mind, every prophetic word is an invitation from God to you to grow increasingly like His Son. If you rest on His love, then you are free to be the person God wants to be in Christ.