"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7).

God quickens us with:

1) Power: equal proportions of poise and passion to make life stimulating. God gives an ample measure of courage to meet life's challenges, too. "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded" (Hebrews 10:35). It isn't so much self-confidence as it is God-confidence. The conditions are persistence and consistence. We apply and God supplies.

2) Love: the stamp of a Christian life that certifies us as His epistles and apostles. Jesus in love came to save sinners, not to condemn and punish us, and this gives us great hope. "All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:35). Dryden said: "Love is a passion which kindles honor into noble acts." "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment" (1 John 4:18). Fear is replaced with a steadfast love that becomes our motivation for everything we do in life. We would also do well to remember that a healthy self-love is taught by our Teacher: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Our Friend died for us, too.

3) Self-discipline: that gift from the Holy Spirit that enables us to be reasonable and willing, and which disables us from sin and its leaches that sap our spirit and senses. "It is better to be slow-tempered than famous; it is better to have self-control than to control an army" (Proverbs 16:32 TLB). Self-control implies self-denial and self-examination. When we have these, we can then have self-respect, as well.