Series: Flowers in the Desert
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Studies show that music is a great motivator for our mind and when words are set to music we are able to remember and even memorize the text quickly.
There is a song a few teenagers shared in youth group around 1987. The scriptural basis for the song was from 2 Timothy 1:7, and the words in scripture tell us, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Now, it’s not unusual for many humans to be able to remember new facts after hearing them one time when they are younger. It seems like teenagers are able to memorize massive amounts of information in a very short period of time (when they set their mind to it).
My teenage children learned a song based on 2 Timothy 1:7 and taught me,
God has not given us a Spirit of fear.
God has not given us a Spirit of fear.
God has not given us a Spirit of fear (ONE LOUD CLAP)
But of power and of love and a sound mind.
While we know the importance of remembering important information it seems like remembering scripture is not only important but rewarding all the days of our lives..
That’s because when we are in a “crunch” or just feeling down, remembering what scripture says can activate and elevate our brain in a positive way.
In other words, when we repeat scripture God is reminding us of the presence of the Spirit within and around us.
When we choose to make memorizing scripture (especially while we are young) a priority, those Holy words will continue to be a blessing all the days of our lives.
While I’m not sure why, I decided to memorize as many scriptures as I could over fifty years ago.
It became a game…a contest if you will.
No one else knew about the contest except God, but whenever I would come across a scripture that really blessed me, I memorized it.
I drew pictures with the words. At the time I was not aware that drawing and coloring (or painting) with various colors help us to remember what we created.
Even though I did not major in art in college, I’ve always loved different forms of art.
Especially today, art has taken on endless forms and formats. Fifty years ago when I played with clay I don’t remember thinking it was a form of art.
Today there are endless mediums we can use to create different kinds of art.
I love it that the industry has exploded with creativity!
For my part, when I started writing consistently again after I retired from my hum drum day job I thought it was time for me to have a website. I’ve been a writer all my life but my last art class was in junior high school. I’ve been a newspaper photographer and have worked as a portrait photographer so I thought I would use photographs to post with stories.
Eventually I wanted to practice drawing illustrations.
I would pray before I started and I knew God was helping me to create.
That blossomed into using online tools more to do illustrations.
What I discovered is that I love love love it!
I thank God everyday for help, and I ask that I will learn new ways to create.
As I said, I found and memorized 2 Timothy 1:7 years ago.
Without even realizing it, I was asking God to take away my fear of not being able to create “good” illustrations and I asked for courage and power and that I would see steady growth as I learn to illustrate. I asked God to let everything, every picture to be through and for His love.
I was praying 2 Timothy 1:7.
I will continue to pray for God’s help as I learn new ways to express “words” in pictures.
As always, God is good to answer, teach, help, and encourage.
If you are struggling to learn a new skill, I would encourage you to pray into 2 Timothy 1:7 when you ask God for help.
Today’s desert plant and illustration is the beehive cactus.
Isn’t is just like God to put such a lovely colorful plant in the middle of a very hot dry desert?
I think that’s exactly what God does in our lives.
Spiritual Practice: Gift
What gift has God given you that makes you smile?
In God, Deborah
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