Thursday, September 5th, 2024
Lately, I have been finding myself asking God for more boldness. When I was younger, I felt like a very confident person. I was confident in my grades, my athletic ability, my strength, my perfectionism. Yes, I was confident in all the wrong things. Slowly, God has been taking me through a humbling realization journey that all those things can (and have) failed. The only one that never fails is God. He is the only one from which we can truly live confidently and boldly. I want to be strong and bold, not because of me, but because of Him who is in me.
As I was reading in Acts recently, I came across a story that displays the boldness I am desiring. In Acts 4 let’s look at the following scriptures (13, 19-20, 29-31):
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Peter was the disciple who originally denied Jesus three times (before the rooster crowed) during Jesus’ crucifixion. But now look at him. Now he knows what he is seeing and hearing from God. He isn’t afraid to do what God says. He isn’t afraid of being judged for listening to God instead of man. And even after being threatened and told not to speak the name of Jesus, him and his companions chose to ask God for more boldness to continue to speak His name. That prayer was so powerful that it says the building where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. We would all love that in our church!
In too many places today we have allowed the threats of man or potential for rejection to keep us from being obedient to God. Many of our schools, governments, businesses, and even churches all follow the lure of people pleasing instead of obedience to God. I want more boldness to stand up in these places and declare the words that God puts on my heart. It’s good to pray for these places, but I think we have gotten to the point where we need to put works and words with our faith.
Final Thoughts…
Lord, we want to be bold as a lion (Psalm 28:1). We don’t want to let any human or any power of darkness keep us from trusting you, loving you or serving you. Teach us how to pray for more boldness like Peter did even when he was being persecuted. Show us the places in our lives and our thinking where we are listening to others above you. Teach us how to hear your voice clearly and obey without any indecision. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!