New Year of Boldness

Rounding the curve

Have you ever been there … in my shoes?

Have you ever been sure of a path and excited to find out where it leads but at the same time terrified of what lies around each bend?

That’s where I find myself at the outset of this New Year.

God used last year to make His call for my life abundantly clear. And I did gingerly move in that direction. But now it is time to be more forceful in my steps, to actually round the next curve.

2011 was for understanding His calling. 2012 is a year for more purposeful action, to be bold for Christ.

The problem is if left to my own preferences, I would travel a much different path to arrive at the destination. It would be one where I can remain hidden, out of sight, in the background. I do want to help others, to share what God has tempered me to understand; but one-on-one is good, face-to-face is fine (one face to one face, please), even small groups I can handle.

However, my Divine Travel Guide seems to be directing me to reach out to the masses. Something I am definitely not comfortable with.

You see, I am confident in my own mind but not in other peoples’. In other words, I know my abilities and understand my personality and heart but stew that others don’t. What if they misconceive my intentions or my writings? How will I hold up to being targeted for words taken out of context?  Will I curl up into a little ball of quivering good intentions when I hear criticism?

How can I be an effective spokesperson for the Lord? I agonize over every word, over every punctuation mark and style issue. I worry about what I do and wonder about what I don’t. I should know better. The Lord has taught me much through the entanglements of my life, to obey (Choosing Obedience Over the Fat of the Ram), to trust (Not My Will), to lay my burdens on Him (Lay Them Down—Again). He has repeatedly shown me His faithfulness, giving me no reason to doubt Him.
While considering the year that lie before me, I read the words of the Apostle Paul:

“But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” (1 Thessalonians 2:2, ESV).

That short phrase, “boldness in our God,” jumped out at me. I am not doing this alone. On my own strength I am doomed, but in God, I can do it all. He will embolden me.
Therefore, this year I am going to put those past lessons into action. I will obey, trust, and surrender.
This year, I am going to exchange fear for boldness in my Savior and step around those corners in confidence. I’m sure it will be the adventure of a lifetime!

“Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough in Him to speak as I should” (Ephesians 6:19-20, HCSB).

I have discovered my word for how I want to live this year: with Boldness. As you digest last year’s journey, is there a word or theme you feel drawn to meditate on this year? I would love for you to share it here or join me at Faith Barista’s Thursday Jam.