“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

Do you consider yourself to be bold?

Many people have different views on this quality. It can be seen as a good thing to be bold and stand up for what you believe in, but boldness is also often equated with being pushy or over-assertive.

So, what role does boldness play in the Christian life?

If you are naturally shy, you may have a hard time being bold. You may fear that if you are bold, you will come across as arrogant. However, it is important to realize that boldness has negative effects when we use it selfishly to get what we want. As Christians, though, we will face circumstances that require us to be bold in order to stand for Christ.

For example, Jesus’ disciples prayed and asked for boldness. They knew that in order to spread their message and make Jesus known, they could not rely on only their strength. They needed the gift of boldness to complete what they were called to do. Acts 4:31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

So, how can we be bold in our daily lives? Being bold may be as simple as talking to someone you normally would not or stepping out of your comfort zone by praying with a family member, friend or coworker.

At the end of the day, true boldness is centered on Christ. It requires humility rather than pride, as we realize that we cannot be bold on our own.

With this in mind, I encourage you to incorporate boldness into your daily life. When the Holy Spirit is inside of us, we can understand what it means to be bold for Christ. As a result, when opportunities come our way to share God’s love, we can ask for boldness to complete the task and bring honor to His name.

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