A prayer for boldness in believers
Author: Kelly Eichberger
Bible reading:
No matter what happens, behave in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. That way, when I come to see you, or even just hear about you in my absence, I will know that you are standing firm in one Spirit, striving as one for the faith of the gospel. (Philippians 1:27)
Listen or read below:
There is someone in my family who leaves me with this indelible feeling of guilt for a long time every time I leave her presence. Because again, I didn’t share Jesus with her. Not only was she not close to the Lord, she didn’t even know that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact, I don’t even know if she believed in God. And the sad truth is, I think it’s still her story. It’s painful for me, as it has been for a while. And I’m sure you know this feeling too. There is probably someone in your life who longs to know the Lord. You see someone, probably many people, wandering through life hurt, lost and empty. You want them to know this Jesus who has become your living hope. Because you know that the truth of God’s ever-present love, grace, goodness, and forgiveness will fill their days with more fulfillment. You know they will find the peace their souls are starving for. You know they want to be together forever in heaven. You know you have to do something, but you don’t know what or how. And for me, the guilt stems from what I seem to lack. Boldness.
what about you? When it comes to a loved one who has passed away in your life, do you think, “If only I could be bolder, maybe I could save some souls?” For example, if you have a strong enough mindset that you don’t care what anyone thinks, you can muster up the courage to shout out the truth of the gospel to each person God puts before you. You know some brave people, right? Well, that doesn’t apply to me. It’s not natural anyway. I’m working on it, but my strides seem small. And I don’t think I’m alone. I’m sure you too sometimes feel like your influences don’t change much.
But I am learning about being bold for the sake of the gospel. Yes, we are called to make disciples of all people. Yes, we are called to be bold. And we should continue to pray for boldness, direction, and strength to move forward to continue sharing. But what we should not do is hide what we have by seemingly “small” gestures. Boldness doesn’t just mean shouting “We all need Jesus” from the street corner or into every family gathering. But if you feel called to these things, go for it. But we can be bold simply by living a life that reflects the light of Jesus. By going against the flow of the world. To keep the peace when people want to argue, to say kind things to those at the center of gossip, to say prayers to those who don’t ask for it, to make holy choices in environments that don’t look or feel that holy, and to be the first to turn the other cheek and say sorry when you think the other person was in the wrong. By boldly taking action, moving, and saying things that Jesus would say. Would you like to think about it? What does that mean for you?
In Philippians 1:27, Paul says, “No matter what happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” That way, when I come to see you, or even just hear about you in my absence, I will know that you are standing firm in one Spirit, striving as one for the faith of the gospel. This reminds us that our actions are a bold testimony of our faith. Just as you openly tell someone who Jesus is, God can use your Christlike example. Because you’re showing them who Jesus is. You are showing him love. And love is what everyone wants. It is a language that every lost soul can recognize and understand.
So ask God what steps you can take. Ask God for help and strength. And be bold. Be bold and obedient. Be bold and share the love of Jesus. Be bold and be like Jesus. Remember that God has used and continues to use bold step-by-step actions to reach all the people He continues to place in your path.
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, you are the Lord of love. And I praise you and your love within me. You have placed people in my path who long for me to know you and this abundant love. I long for the hope of experiencing the blessed life you have to offer and to be with you forever in paradise. I want to be more bold and share the truth, your truth. Please help me do so. Show us the steps to take, give us confidence in your direction, and give us the boldness to reflect you.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in saving the lives of the lost and each of my loved ones. Thank you for what you have done for me. Thank you for what you are doing through my obedience. Thank you for touching the lives of those I love.
In your precious name, amen.
If you liked what you read, you might also like my latest book, Conquering Worries: Conquering What Shakes You and Soaring with Those Who Overcome. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it brings you blessings!
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Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/juanestey
Kelly Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and they have five children. After years of writing for online audiences, Keri was ordained through Southeast Christian Church and dedicated her life to full-time ministry. She is the author of Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through devotional writing. Connect with Keri at KeriEichberger.com or on Instagram.
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