2 Timothy 1:5-6 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

Just as the faith of a parent or grandparent shields a child, protecting them from attacks of the adversary, so too can that faith serve as a springboard, a bow if you will, to launch you into your own walk with the Lord. The power of the Holy Spirit would be totally ineffectual without the faith to believe in all he can do through you. Timothy had learned faith through the example of the women around whom he had grown up. It was undoubtedly this faith that inspired Paul to ‘lay hands on him’ and anoint him to lead the church at Ephesus. With a faith that has deep roots, there is much the Holy Spirit can accomplish!  Still, it is necessary for you at all times to ‘fan into flame’ the gift of God if you are to be the beacon God has called you to be. How do you do that? Through prayer, fasting, and immersion in the word of God. You have the irrefutable, indestructible and undeniable word of God to lead you, the faith of two millennia of Christians as your example, and the promise of victory before you. Not a promise for a season…but a promise for all generations!

Pray: “Heavenly Father, thank you for surrounding me with people of faith. Whether they are earthly family, friends, or my brothers and sisters in my kingdom family, they have given me the courage to take the baton and advance on. I do not wish to be the weak link in the chain that continues your great calling for the church. I wish to run my course with strength and perseverance. I wish to “leave it all on the field” so that when my time is through, I can face you with the certainty that I gave my all as your son did for me. It is for his glory and in his name that I pray – Amen.”