“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

As our nation mourns the passing of two Civil Rights icons, Dr. Cordy Tindell (C.T.) Vivian and Congressman John Robert Lewis, I am reminded of the sacrifice of so many of our ancestors who paved the way to our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. I have long admired men and women who use their love for God, concern for humanity, and their God-given abilities to make the world a better place. I cannot imagine the difficult and horrific situations that these two men, and others faced as they fought for justice and equality, but I am sure that they had to trust in a power much higher than their own.

As we remember the legacy of Dr. Vivian and Congressman Lewis, I pray that we will also continue to trust that same power. These are unprecedented times but we do not sit back in fear as people with no hope, but we trust in the power of God at work within us. In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul reminds Timothy to not be overcome with fear, but to remember the gift of God’s spirit at work within him. God has given each of us a gift to discover, develop, and use for His glory and the transformation of the world. How are you utilizing your God-given gift? Are you using your sphere of influence to help bring about change in the world? As disciples of Jesus Christ, these are questions we should always ask ourselves, because we have a power within us that cannot be shaken by fear. In the words of Congressman Lewis, “You [We] must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way to get in the way.”

Trusting in His Power,

Pastor Cowser