Trust Meಮಾದರಿ

Beloved and Bold

Read: “Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God” (1 John 3:18-22).

Think: “Be bold; Be strong,” rang out in the small country church accompanied by drums and guitar. The effect in the vaulted room with all hard surfaces was bold indeed. Images of boldness may conjure up images of rough and tough or bright and brilliant, but perhaps not the kind of boldness John was talking about. The boldness we have before God is born of love. We are often boldest with the people whom we are closest. When we feel understood and loved, it is safe to say what is in our hearts. We are God’s beloved, understood deeply and loved eternally. Our boldness is safe in our beloved-ness. It is not how God sees us that hinders our boldness, but the distance between the words of our prayers and the contents of our hearts. We pray “Your will be done,” with our expectations in tow. We pray for the Lord’s timing, but we have our internal timer set. Closing the gap between our words and our expectations requires awareness of ourselves and the heart of God toward us and others. Our boldness comes from loving God and trusting God’s love for us. Such love frees our hearts to release both our desires and our fears. To live in to and out of our beloved status, gives us the boldness to pray out of a heart of love.

Apply: What difference does it make in how you pray to know that you are beloved? How does loving others through our actions keep the motives of our prayers pure?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, your love reminds me that I am safe to pour out my heart to you. Fill me with your love that I may pour out compassion and kindness to others. In your name, Amen

(Audrey Kanagy is a pastor at Ridgeview Mennonite Church  along with her husband, Robert. They are the parents of three boys. She also has a degree in Elementary Education and a background in camping ministry both in Pennsylvania and Mississippi.)