PioneersSample

THE SPIRIT OF A PIONEER: BOLDNESS

‘Fortune favors the bold.’

This ancient Latin proverb that has been spoken for thousands of years still rings true today. From Hollywood movies to political campaigns, this saying has inspired bravery, courage, confidence, and boldness and has become more than a quote but a life ideology.

So, what exactly does it mean? It means that those who take risks are the ones likely to succeed. The truth is for anyone who wants to advance or anyone who wants to go forward; it will only come when we decide to live a life of boldness.

Facing our fears, standing against adversity, living with courage, and stepping out in faith is the blueprint of a believer's life. This kind of boldness is not just expected in our Christian faith, but this kind of boldness has been modeled to us in so many stories in the Bible.

Think of the boldness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who, at the expense of being thrown into the fire, chose not to bow down to the statue of a pagan king. How about the boldness of Stephen the First Martyr, who prayed for his persecutors while they were stoning him? Then there is the boldness of Joshua, who led the people of Israel to conquer the fortified city of Jericho with a shout. Think of the boldness of Gideon, who faced an army of 132,000 Midianites with just 300 men. Then there is the boldness of a young, untrained shepherd boy named David, who brought down a giant Philistine warrior. Or what about the boldness of Moses, who had to negotiate with the most powerful man on earth to let over a million slaves free? Story after story. Person after person. Each of them living a life full of boldness.

The truth is God does not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. The enemy uses fear to silence the people of God, but as believers we are not called to live by fear, we are called to live by faith. Fear immobilizes us from stepping into our purpose. Fear will remind us of all our failures because it is more concerned with protecting our reputation rather than reaching our reward.

But fear is not the language of the pioneer. We can be confident in the outcome because we are confident in our God. This supernatural confidence causes us to live bold lives and pray bold prayers despite the situation we are in.

Romans 8 reminds us that if God is for us, who can be against us? The maker of the universe, the God who breathed the planets and stars out of His mouth, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, the one who holds the universe is not just for you, He is with you, and in you. Fear not; fortune favors the bold.

QUESTIONS:

1. What are some of the biggest fears that have limited your calling?

2. In what areas can you increase in boldness?