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If I could think of one word that I would use to describe myself the last word I'd pick would probably be BOLD. I'm not a bold person. I'm quiet, I'm reserved, and I've never been the person to step out and have courage in any situation. I struggle when I'm in large crowds or even small groups, I feel as if I might faint when I start to speak in front of people, and I go to the bathroom or pretend to be on my phone to avoid some social situations. So often I feel insecure. When I try to share my faith I feel ineffective. I'm not bold. I'm not. Which is why it is so fitting for me to pick BOLD as my word for 2019. It would've been easy for me to pick any other word. In fact, I tried to settle with a different word. But I knew that this was something that I needed to work on personally, and something that God was calling me to do.
In this case, boldness isn't a personality trait. It's an action. To me, being bold means a few things.
1. Being bold means stepping out and sharing my faith with others.
Our call in life, our purpose, our mission is to share God's Word. It can be scary. It can be awkward. It can be difficult. But that's what we are called to do. Being bold is sharing your faith. It's sharing your story even when it's terrifying. It's telling your friend who is lost about the wonderful Savior you have. I pray that the Lord instills BOLDNESS in me. Boldness to share my story, share my faith, and make Him known to those who are lost.
2. Being bold means believing in God's strength.
Originally I wanted to write "Being bold means believing in yourself". However, those words just didn't seem right. I alone am flawed, sinful, and broken. Why would I believe in myself? It is when we are saved that God takes our brokenness and makes us whole, He takes our sins and says "I forgive you". He takes our flaws and says "When I look at you I see Jesus". If I place my belief or my faith in myself and my abilities, I will fail over and over again. I do however believe in the all-powerful God that lives in me. I believe that through Him I can do great things, and through Him, I can be BOLD and strong and courageous.
3. Being bold means having the courage to do what others won't.
Boldness stems from the call that we have from Christ. That call is to share His love and His word with others. However, not everyone will answer this call. I pray that I am bold enough in my faith to do what some won't. To love those who are hard to love, to help those who can't help themselves, to share the Word when it's hard or dangerous to do. I pray the Lord gives me a servants heart, and that He helps me be BOLD in helping others so that others can see Him.
4. Being bold means looking trials right in the face and saying "Bring it on"
Alone, I could never do this. I see struggle and trials and storms and my immediate reaction is to curl under a blanket and pray it passes quickly. However, when we have the Lord (the all knowing, all powerful Lord) on our side, we can BOLDLY look that storm right in the face and say "bring it on". Not because of the power that we have, but because of the power that our God has.
Being bold isn't easy. It's much easier to live hesitant and timid. Not sharing your faith eliminates the possibility of being rejected. Going with the flow and blending into the crowd removes the possibility of being "weird" or "an outcast" or even "that Jesus freak". But living that way also goes directly against how God wants us to live as Christians. When we live in fear and in hesitation, we aren't fully experiencing all that God has to offer. So many people think that God is "holding out on them", that God isn't giving them everything they need. But sometimes all it takes is a small step, a step towards boldness and towards obedience to the mission He has called you to do, to see what God can really do in your life. Jesus gives us this mission, not to accomplish salvation, but to announce our salvation. We are called to be the light in a dark world, to be bold for Him and for His name. Think of it this way... someones eternal destiny depends on your response to the Gospel.
Boldness isn't necessarily a personality trait. It's simply acting by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the key to unlocking boldness? It's taking your eyes off yourself and setting them on Christ. It's to humble yourself and to say "I know I can't do it, but I know God can!" So this is a year that I live boldly. A year where I will not let fear keep me from stepping out in my faith. A year where I will not be afraid to speak about God and to tell my story. This is the time I stop letting fear, hesitation, and worry keep me from doing God's will for my life. Because His plan is wonderful.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion
Psalm 138:3 On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul.
Ephesians 6:19 - And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,