Sometimes the questions God brings to my heart are simple ones. They are also the ones that make me stop and really think.
Lately, one of those questions has been:
Am I living what I say I believe?
It is easy for me to say that I trust God. It is another thing to trust Him when I don't know what He is doing.
It is easy to say that I want God to use me. It is another thing to step forward when He asks me to do something that feels uncomfortable.
And it is easy to say that Jesus is the most important part of my life. It is another thing to look at how I spend my time, what gets my attention, and whether I am willing to talk about Him when I have the opportunity.
This year, I have been thinking a lot about what it means to live more boldly for Jesus.
Not louder.
Not trying to have all the right words.
Simply being willing to say, "Yes, Lord. If You give me the opportunity, I will go. I will speak. I will obey."
Acts 28:31 has been especially meaningful to me:
"proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." — Acts 28:31 ESV
I don't want fear, comfort, distractions, or my own plans to keep me from doing what God is asking me to do.
And that brings me back to the question:
Am I living what I say I believe?
Maybe that's a question worth sitting with today.
Is there an area where you say you trust God, but you're still trying to maintain control?
Is there something you know God has been asking you to do, but you've been putting it off?
Is there someone in your life who needs to hear about Jesus, but fear has kept you quiet?
I don't ask these questions because I have mastered any of this. I ask them because these are the kinds of questions I have to ask myself too.
I am still learning.
Still surrendering.
Still growing.
And I think that's one reason I love creating Bible studies and devotionals so much. I am often writing from the very places where God has been working on my own heart.
So today, my prayer is simple:
Lord, help me live what I say I believe. Give me the courage to follow You when it is uncomfortable, trust You when I don't understand, and speak about You when You give me the opportunity. Help my life point others to Jesus. Amen.
What about you?
Is there one area of your life where God may be asking you to live a little more boldly?