Your Day Of Boldness

“Be bold and very courageous.” Joshua 1:7

“Be bold!” God told Joshua, four times, before he led Israel into their Promised Land.

All destiny requires a bold step at some point, and your future is no exception.

My problem is that I’m not naturally bold. I’m sure all our Church heroes find all this stuff easy. They probably glow in the dark, hear God audibly and awoken by angels singing (I’m joking by the way).

But not me, I’m normal. I get irritable, fearful, wonder whether I’m getting it right. I’m ordinary, even slightly dysfunctional at times!

Anyone else a little broken like me?

The good news is, our Church heroes don’t shine in the dark. All Christians are rehabilitating sinners. We’ve all got weaknesses, fears and doubts. Most get that feeling regularly, like everyone else in the room “gets it,” except you.

So, when God says He chooses the foolish, He was telling the truth. He empowers the ordinary, gives boldness to the broken. He gives dignity to the dysfunctional and LOVES the sinner.

But still, even in your brokenness, your destiny will have times when you have to be bold.

Maybe (as my family once experienced), it’s the boldness of leaving everything – job, country, home and church – to obey God. Overcoming homelessness and without any human surety, my family stepped out, to step in to a promised “mission land” destiny in God abroad.

Maybe it’s stepping out to trust God to buy something for God’s work that you can’t afford. Maybe it’s a job or career change, a church move, a mission opportunity, a new ministry area or even the high price of a well-deserved holiday to rest. All may require boldness.

But how do you know if it is God telling you to step out in boldness, and not just too much pizza the night before? Here’s a few hints:

First, let me note, the most common WRONG drive behind a bold move would be things like a mid-life “boredom crisis!” (I have endless of these!) But they are usually my insecurities at work, not God’s wisdom. Anything driven by boredom, pride, ego, (the source of most pain & sin!) envy and comparison to what others are doing or have, is going to get you in trouble and make you rush ahead of God. Always put that stuff at the feet of Jesus, and find a restful place. You need to hear God, not your inner self whining.

Use an inner crisis that asks, “am I doing enough with my life?” as a launch pad to go and hear God – don’t make mad, bold, inappropriate moves.

Here are the tests to see if it is God:

1. PEACE – James 3:17 shows us God’s wisdom is full of peace. Do you genuinely feel deeply at peace, that God is speaking to you. Get a note pad and pen and write down what you actually think God is saying. (Be careful to read what He actually says, not a desired interpretation of it. E.g. “You shall go out with joy” may not mean that you are to date a girl called Joy!)

2. PRESENCE – Sometimes we become doubtful, even if it’s God. But while we may worry and fret when we look at the facts, the risks and the possible errors, think more about what God says when you’re in His presence in prayer and worship. Wisdom is found in worship.

3. WORD – Remember God is never going to go against His word. So He’s not telling you to steal a car, or never go to Church. He won’t go against His own nature. So measure the issue at hand against the Bible.

4. COUNSEL OF MANY – “Victory is assured with the counsel of many” Proverbs 15:22. But only tell the right people. Mature people. People who have gone through a few “bold step” seasons themselves. Don’t tell jealous brothers, but do talk to experienced fathers.

5. TIMING – Knowing the “what” of God’s will is quite easy. Knowing the “when” is another matter. Most people are trying to run way ahead of God. So relax and just listen. When it’s right, it will come to fruition.

Your day of boldness will come, whether it’s this year, or another. So prepare for it in word, worship and relationships. You’re going to need all the help you can get!

Action Point: Get a note pad and a pen and write down what you feel God is saying to you right now.

An extract from the book STRONGER.

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