Boldness
…….. the righteous are bold as a lion.
(Proverbs 28:1, NKJV)
Watching a child explain their point to a grown up is always fascinating, more so when the child is seeking to validate his/her point in a discussion. Grown-ups wrongfully tend to dismiss the child’s point of view quickly yet there is a lot we can learn from the children too. In a conversation where a child feels that something did not go right and they have their facts to explain, they tend to keep pushing the matter till they are fully heard. This does not matter whether the person in the wrong according to the child is the parent or another grown-up, the child holds their ground firmly. As I reflected on this, I realized that despite the power dynamics in the conversation, the child is emboldened by the facts that they belief to be true. Here was a clue for me, that what we know about something or a situation, influences not only the position we take but also how we present ourselves. The child in our analogy knows that their chance of winning the ‘fight’ is minimal, but for the facts they hold as truth, they push the boundaries of their limitations with confidence.
Our reference verse tells us something about boldness using the lion which is arguably the symbol of courage and bravery. The lion is confident of its prowess as a hunter in the jungle and for this it fearlessly faces all others. Its courage comes from it skill and strength, and these influence it to stand as the king of the jungle. Brethren, our boldness will come from what we know about ourselves. Boldness in our faith and walk with God will come from the knowledge of who we are in Him, and who our God is. We read that God’s wisdom in our lives gives us light which in turn gives us boldness (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The wisdom we find in God’s word, lights our path giving us the courage to step forward. Beloved, we could be confronted by different challenges in our lives, yet we shall not give up when we know what God says about us in His word. Apostle John encourages us that though we are like children, we are of God and have overcome the world for greater is He who is in us than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Yes, we might seem like we are losing out, yet this is not true for greater is He whom we have believed in making us over-comers. When the Holy Spirit fell on the disciples in the upper room, He gave them the boldness to declare the gospel (Acts 4:31). These men were previously timid and worried now that their Master had left them, but by the Spirit of God, they rose up with courage to continue the binding of their Lord and Master. Beloved, our confidence arises from our relationship with the Lord of lords. It is no wonder then that we are invited to draw near to Him with confidence, boldness assured of His mercy and grace for us (Hebrews 4:16). Boldness in whom we have believed in, needs to infuse our character and positioning as believers. May we lean on the Holy Spirit so closely that we walk in the confidence of His presence each day.
Thoughts:
What is your reflection of this blog?
How bold are you in your walk of faith?
In which areas do you need to be more confident?