Then Paul warned Timothy in verse 14. “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.” When we go back to the first of the chapter, verse 3 says to endure hardship as a good soldier.

Then Paul used three analogies. A soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Each spoke of diligence to remain focused, and not get caught up in distractions. 

Verse 16-17 says, “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.” The root to this is in verse 18. It says, “Who have strayed concerning the truth…and they overthrow the faith of some.”

As we read God’s word for understanding, the Holy Spirit will highlight the errors of our ways. He will bring to our mind areas where we have strayed from the truth. His aim is to get us back on target through course correction.

2 Timothy is so instructive to us, as it was for Timothy. These were Paul’s last words. I imagine Timothy cherished them. I memorized chapter 2 when I was 12. Now I am memorizing it in another translation. I could write a book on that chapter. There are so many truths to mine out.

2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” The Greek word for ‘be’ in the Strong’s means to exert oneself, make every effort, give diligence, make haste, be zealous, strain every nerve, and further the cause assiduously. 

Note from my Bible. It sees a need and promptly does something about it. The word covers inception, action, and followthrough. 

In verse 13 it says, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” I love this verse. It anchors me.

Here is a new song called I Praise You

I praise You for Your mighty love. I praise You for Your grace. Without You I am nothing. With You I am emboldened in Your power.

I face each foe with Your sword in my hand. I whack the lies to pieces. In faith I confidently stand. Having done all to stand I remain standing.

My strength is found in You. You are the Rock in which I hide. You fight my battles as Your peace within abides. My joy is Your sustaining gift that will not be taken away.

It remains so I can rejoice in You no matter what may come to be. In You I am secure. You are the anchor of my soul. I rest in You steadfast and immovable.

The tempestuous waves may crash against me. In You I am safe from harm. In You I live and move and have my being. Dwelling in You I am sealed for eternity.

Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness…” Our heart is our belief center. It stands to reason then why we need to anchor it with truth. A ship’s anchor keeps it from drifting off course. 

What we believe sets the foundation for our motives, thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Of course the enemy of our soul wants to get us off course. One way I pray for myself everyday is to ask the Lord to keep my feet on His pathway, so I don’t get derailed or distracted.

I love 1 Corinthians 15:58. It says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

In 2 Peter 1:5-7 are the inward graces that we are to add to our faith. Verse 8 says, “For if these things are in you and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I have verses that anchor me. Think of them like the rock a barnacle clings to in a tumultuous storm. Nothing can shake that little creature. Here is one of my anchor verses. Psalm 63:8 Amplified says, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Isaiah 59:19 says, “…when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” The Holy Spirit uses God’s word that we have hidden in our hearts. He brings them into our mind so that we can fight effectively.

First we have to hide them. James 1:21 says that the implanted word will save our soul. There are times when negative thoughts come into our mind. If we entertain those thoughts they will become a barrage against our faith. One thought of doubt can have a domino effect of thoughts that throw us off kilter.

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Though Paul faced his upcoming execution, his confidence was in the Lord.

Are you that persuaded? 2 Timothy 1:12 says, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

We must counter every fiery dart with our shield of faith. Ephesians 6:16. We stand by continually strengthening our faith. The Lord orchestrates trials that cause us to center on Him and not our circumstances. Mark 11:22 says, “…Have faith in God.”

When you are tempted to doubt, give into fear, or waver in what you believe, recognize you are under attack. Hold fast to your hope, like Paul did, which is the anchor of our soul. Hebrews 6:19.

Peter revealed another truth about this battle. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” What is his weapon? Deception. 

Verse 9 says, ‘Resist him, steadfast in the faith…” 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Back to Paul. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” When we memorize and meditate in God’s word, it becomes our hidden weapon against the enemy’s lies. Truth embedded rises up to whack the suggestions to sin into pieces, rendering them impotent.

Paul’s last letter to Timothy held instruction as well as encouragement. 2 Timothy 1:13 says, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 3:13-14 says, “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them.”

His words ‘hold fast’ reminded me of Ephesians 6:13. It followed Paul’s instruction to the folks in Ephesus about the warfare from the spiritual hosts of wickedness. It says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” 

Then he listed the powerful armor of God that we are to daily put on. Our battles are not against flesh and blood. Therefore we must hold fast to the gospel and not waver.

1 Peter 1:10 says, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.” Verse 11 says that they searched what manner of time the Spirit within was indicating. 

Verse 12 says, “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven…”

I’m reading Isaiah now. Isaiah 42:6 says of the Lord, “…I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”

Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…” We were bound in sin, held captive in satan’s prison—until His light penetrated our hearts.