BoldSmakprov

Definition: Bold

Webster's Dictionary: Fearless before danger.

Oxford Dictionary: Showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.

As believers in Christ, we will experience persecution, disappointment, humiliation and tribulation. Yet, though these things may come to rattle our peace and break us down, our hope and our faith in God always brings a refreshing perspective and something to learn. Most times, it is either in hind-sight or while we are in the middle of our experiences, that we begin to develop an understanding of why its happening. Then, there are those moments when we are still scratching our heads because we haven't the slightest clue. Believe it or not, it's all part of the process. Would it be too far-fetched to state that some things we go through are for others and we are just simply part of the lesson/story that God is conveying to them? Well, this happens as well.

Living a life for Christ is a bold statement because it's very public. Let's examine the believers in the bible days. They suffered being socially rejected, threatened, jailed, beaten, tortured, and even killed for proclaiming and living out their Christian faith. They were some of the first recipients of documented harassment and retaliation. Nonetheless, they continued to be courageous in their walk, preaching and teaching Christianity to unbelievers which resulted in people being healed, set free and delivered.  These were legit risk-takers, filled with the confidence that was necessary to follow the path that God designed for their lives.

To use your life as a statement or proclamation that God's plan for your life is more important than anything else, is the epitome of boldness, and displays what it really means to be a vessel. 

A great example in the bible is Daniel. He was a just and professional man, meaning, he was a man of integrity and he operated in excellence. More importantly, his life demonstrated his commitment to God, even when he was challenged by his peers, due to their own jealousy at the fact that King Darius favored him. They went so far as to devise a plan to use his own faith in God against him (Daniel 6:3-5). Daniel remained consistent and prayed, despite the new decree from King Darius.  

Now, this was a bold thing to do, especially in these times because many acts of 'disobedience' were punishable by death. The rest of the story shows that his peers' plans didn't work because God was with him. He was literally in the den of lions, facing his fate of death. But God was with him and when the King found him unharmed, he publicly acknowledged just who God was through the life of this vessel, Daniel. And Daniel continued on, in prosperity (Daniel 6:25-28). 

Through Daniel's boldness, a multi-layered impact took place: King Darius and the public were introduced to God! Now that's reach! A story out of a chapter in Daniel's life was told to the world. 

This kind of walk is very public and others could truly be impacted by our steps.

The assurance that we have as believers in Christ as we go through trials is: God is with us. So as we journey along the paths that God has designed for us, we can be bold in our faith and perform the things he has willed for us to do because it is written that we will receive all that God has promised. So, let's walk in boldness!

Affirmation: I will walk in boldness!