For this reason I remind you

   to fan into flame

   the gift of God,

      which is in you...

for God gave us

  a spirit not of fear

but of power and love

         and self control.

           2 Timothy 1. 6-7

(What flame am I fanning?

The destructive fire of fear?

Or the nurturing flames

        of trusting in God?

Fear and trust

        are not emotions,

but a mindset

           and heartset.

God can be trusted.

No matter what we face.

And that is never the same journey,

always a different trajectory,

and an outcome

           beyond our lifetimes.

Circumstances do not have

               the last word.

God prevails.

God redeems.)

O LORD,

When we are challenged,

when things seem

       out of our control

       (which they are),

when fear comes

      barging in the door

      and taking over,

please LORD,

        change our triggers,

to not whimper before fear

    but to trust in You.

Help us to know that

   we have a choice in this:

to crumble under fear

   or to be fearless for You.

May the scary shadows

  trigger Your strength in us.

Help us to see differently

  and live as Yours.