Go Forth in Boldness

My husband and I just celebrated our anniversary. As I think of our relationship, I realize that in the two years of marriage, we have changed. We have changed in a lot of ways but one way that stands out to me is that we have both grown in boldness within our relationship.

At the beginning of our relationship, we minded our manners and were always on our best behavior. Two years later this is not always the case. The thing is that as we get to know each other we grow in boldness. We share our thoughts and feelings with a sense of security knowing the other is not going to leave the relationship because of something the other said or did within reason. Our relationship with Jesus can be like this as well.

Boldness defined.

Boldness is having the confidence and courage to act without fear. We are talking about anxious worried fear, not respect and awe fear. Boldness in Christ is to have the confidence to approach God. To ask Him for what we need without fear of punishment, or judgment (Romans 8:1). It is knowing that God has forgiven and saved you (Psalms 103:1-4, John 1:12-13). Knowing without doubt that God loves you, and wants to do good for you (Romans 8:28).

When we have confident assurance in what God has promised, we have faith. To be bold you must have faith. Another wonderful example of this faith and boldness coming together to produce miraculous results is when the friends lowered their friend through a roof to get him to Jesus. They had the faith that Jesus could heal, and they had the boldness to try to get their friend to him no matter what because it was important (Mark 2:2-11).

Growing in Boldness in Christ.

As we understand and get to know Jesus, we can grow bold. When I think about this I think about James and John of Zebedee asking to be seated at Jesus’ right and left, they were even so bold to enlist their mother to plead their case to Christ (Mark 10:35-45, Matthew 20:20-28).

Boldness can both be a good thing, but it can also lead to arrogance if we do not remember who we are talking to and hold the proper amount of respect and reverence for God. Today I want to focus on the positive aspect of boldness and how we too can “boldly approach the throne of God” (Hebrew 4:16).

How to curate boldness

The disciples walked daily with Jesus for three years. How much more confident would you be in your relationship with Jesus if you walked with Him to and from places for three years? My guess is that you would be confident.

Just as I am much more confident that my husband and I will be together regardless of what comes now than I was when we first met, so too would we be more confident of who Jesus is and his love for us if we walked with him for three years constantly.

The good news is that even though Jesus has ascended to heaven we can still walk daily with him. A little over a year ago I was not walking with Jesus, not even a little bit. After having two encounters, one with an evil spirit and one with Jesus, I began walking daily with Christ. The changes that have occurred since that time are absolutely nothing short of a miracle.

I tell you this not to brag about what I have achieved because I have achieved nothing. I tell this story to testify to what walking with Jesus can and will do if you are willing. He took a heart that was broken and filled with hurt and resentment and gave me a heart full of love. He broke down my selfish ways and gave me a heart that was willing and ready to serve Him and others.

Because of the change Jesus created in me, I have grown in boldness every day. In my life, one way this has manifested is through my prayers. When I first encountered an evil spirit I was shaken up, terrified, and had no confidence. I cried out to Jesus in fear, and He rescued me.

A year later I found myself in a hotel with an upset friend something not of God stirring up trouble. In an instant, the Holy Spirit took hold of me, and I prayed with a boldness and strength that silenced the chaos of the moment.

Afterward, I found myself shaking and out of sorts, but I know that because of my boldness (given to me by the holy spirit), I was able to be a tool for peace in a moment of calamity. This was a stark different from the doubtful, and timid woman from a year ago. I know that without having a daily walk with Jesus, that moment would have overwhelmed me, and I may have even added to the chaos, but because of the boldness the spirit had developed in me I was able to be an instrument of peace instead. I am humbled and amazed.

I want to see other Christians grow in boldness in their relationship with God. At times people have seen this boldness as irreverent, but Hebrews 4 tells us that we can boldly approach the throne of God. He wants us to ask Him for what we need (Matthew 7:7) and to wait expectantly on Him knowing He will follow through (Psalms 33:20-22)

ways we can grow in boldness:

• Have daily time with God. To know God, we must spend time with Him. The disciples spent most of their time for three years with Jesus. Just think what would happen in your life if you spent time every day with Jesus.
• Ask God for boldness. Jesus tells us to ask, and we receive, look for and we will find. God wants us to ask him and all it takes is a mustard seed of faith to see mountains move. So, get your mustard seed out, go to God, and ask for more boldness in your life.
• Memorize God’s word so we can confidently ask for God’s will. We know that if we pray within God’s We will see things change.

Conclusion

Boldness in our faith will not only help us but those around us. As in my personal story, I was able to help bring peace to a friend’s situation just by praying a bold prayer in earnest and expecting my God to hear me from heaven, and the confidence to know that He would act.

Being bold means being courageous. To grow in boldness, we must become familiar with Jesus. We must know him personally. Knowing God’s love for us will help us to approach Him with boldness and to ask with confidence for the things we need.

In the comments below let us know about a time when you had boldness in your faith. I pray that as you grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ Jesus, you will also grow in boldness. That you may approach the throne of the living God and have the confidence that he will hear your prayers and act.