As I continue to explore what “bold” is and what inhibits each of us from pursuing it, I know that the last word you would use to describe me is “bold”. However, God doesn’t believe that and continues to pursue me relentlessly to push aside my fears and instead walk in boldness with Him.
In reviewing reader responses to my other posts on boldness, I see a pattern developing that points to fear as one of the biggest factors that tends to silence us and causes us to freeze in fear.
Fear of not being worthy
Fear of not being accepted in that new role
Fear of feeling safe in our choices
Fear of the unknown factors that might be present
Fear stifles our willingness and ability to step out boldly for Christ.
Fear causes us to shut down and close the door to possibilities.
Fear is consuming and becomes bigger than us when we forget to call on God in all times and for all things!
But God tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7 – I did not give you a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. God speaks these words into my heart – “I am capable of shutting down all the voices in your head that tell you over and over words that are not true – words that are not MY truth”.
The NIV Life Application Study Bible explains the passage from 2 Timothy by sharing how Paul urges Timothy to be bold. Since Paul is in prison, Timothy is left to carry on the work of spreading the message of Jesus to all. A daunting task, but Paul’s reassurance and encouraging words provide the boost Timothy needs to move forward. “When we allow people to intimidate us, we neutralize our effectiveness for God. The power of the Holy Spirit can help us overcome our fear of what some might say or do to us, so that we continue to do God’s work.” Perfect words to live by and to hold onto when fear threatens to overtake us.
Open the door to God and allow the Holy Spirit to squash your fears with His Mighty Hand. Close the door to fear and the screaming voices that tear you down with untruths. God reminds us that being bold is being blessed by His grace and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Finally…
Being bold is being chosen by God specifically to complete the task He has laid out before you.
Being bold is opening the door to possibilities God has dreamed for you even before you were born.
Being bold is closing the door to fear and the unnamed voices that threaten to consume you with their lies.
Boldness is taking a step toward allowing God to make a difference in you and using the results as a way to honor Him.
When writing this post today, my inspiration for showing boldness in real life would be my brother Matt and his wife Maha. They both stepped out a year ago at the urging of God to join a non-profit ministry called Crescent Project. Click here to learn more. They moved from their home in Columbia, SC to San Antonio, Texas and left the familiar for the unfamiliar. A year later they are struggling in this new journey but they are still holding fast to God’s truth and His calling for them. Please pray for Matt and Maha as they work hard to move forward in this ministry. Thank you all! I’m praying for a boldness for each of us today to step out when God calls and to trust Him to provide the rest!
Mary
What will it take for you to open the door to God in boldness? What holds you back from this and how do you combat the voices of fear?
Linking up this year with Ann Voskamp’s 2014 Joy Dare. Find the link up at A Holy Experience. Counting blessings daily will bless you immeasurably! JoyDare #227-245
- Unexpected writing love, beautiful new blog design-so fun, walking outside- praise music playing in my ears
- A difficult day changed by one wink from a 3rd grader, time with a friend to talk life, encouragement to strengthen me
- A celebration of happy on happiness day, sunshine lighting up the first day of spring, one more day till spring break
- Spring Break bliss-10 days to refresh, coffee with a friend to celebrate a week off, a weekend of promised hope and fun
- Making head way on my taxes,relaxing and baking cookies to share with family,church & pondering the question “what if”
- A stress-free Sunday due to a week off work, homemade dinner for my son and girlfriend, uninterrupted reading time
Linking with these wonderful blogs:
Love your beautiful new space!! Thank you for an encouraging post- I pinned it to my Inspiring board for a reminder of when I need to face my fears.
Thank you, friend and thank you for sharing my post on your Pinterest Board. Praying we all remember to be bold when fear threatens to overwhelm us.
I am learning to quiet the voices in my head (sounds kind of creepy doesn’t it) – until only His remain. It’s kind of like cleaning out the attic – and leaving only the valuable stuff! Thanks for sharing your heart – I kind of needed to be reminded right now!
I love your analogy of cleaning out the attic and leaving only the valuable stuff-God’s truths! I don’t think your voices are creepy-I actually can relate so I hope that doesn’t make us both creepy! 🙂 Thank you so much for stopping by!
I love your pretty new page!
Figuring out the fears that are in there hiding behind my excuses and then facing them down is my challenge. Sometimes I don’t honestly see the fear in my heart till I examine it with my Father.
Many ah-ha moments then.
Keep on writing and encouraging girl.
You are braver than you think.
You have encouraged me by stopping by and reminding me that it is Our Father who we can be most honest with in all moments. His truths are all we need. May we both be brave together, my friend!
I love that verse from II Timothy 1 — fear is a paralyzing tool of the enemy that seeks to rob us of the abundant life God has for us.
One of my favorite verses especially recently. God’s truths far outweigh our fears if we just let them. Blessings and thank you for stopping by!
There’s an area in my life where fear has taken hold, Mary. And like you’ve pointed out here, when we let fear in, we let other discouraging and destructive feelings and thoughts in as well. I so admire your brother and his wife for facing discouragement in this new ministry. I’ve been there–my husband and I started a church 23 years ago and ended up burying it 5 years later. Those were some of the hardest days of our ministry career. My prayers are being lifted for them, that they would persevere and succeed. I’m also continuing to pray for you. I hope you’re finding new “boldness” in this season of grief, my friend!
Thank you for keeping my brother and sister-in-law in your prayers. I am learning that the reason I have been writing about boldness is because God is actually trying to teach me. God’s words written through my words for my lesson! Whew! I love that our gracious God is working on me and calling me to lean into Him and His truths. Thank you for your encouragement, continued prayers and bloggy friendship. Blessings!
LOVED this post. I have struggled so with these concepts and I love the door image. I am after you on Debi Strangland’s get to know you post. Blessings!
Glad you stopped by to get a chance to check out my blog! Praying that we continue to get to know each other through the community at Better Blogs.
Closing the door to fear my friend! Thank you for sharing these words today.
Blessed you stopped by! Love that we are in community together in several places. Love seeing familiar faces everywhere I go!!!