Today we begin the second letter from Paul to Timothy. The letter was written to give final instructions and encouragement to Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus. In 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul says, For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of Power, of love and of self-discipline. This is sound advice and gives three characteristics of effective Christian leadership: power, love, and self-discipline. These characteristics are available to us because of the Holy Spirit living in us. By following the Holy Spirit’s leading in us, we grow to display these characteristics more each day.