Maneuvers - No. 61
Free to
Be Bold
Can you remember the last time you did something bold for God, friend? The last time you stepped out in faith to do something you knew Holy Spirit was leading you to do?
There’s nothing like it. It’s terrifying but exhilarating. We might feel scared, but we step out anyway because we know Jesus is behind us and in front of us–leading, protecting, and equipping us.
But we have an enemy who hates it when we walk in that kind of surrender and obedience to Jesus. And that spiritual enemy will do whatever it takes to distract us and weigh us down.
How? Could it be by reminding us of just how brutal and cruel this world can be? With so much suffering and sickness and death and violence, it’s easy to find evil. And when those evil things happen to us or people we love, it’s even more devastating.
But what happens when we focus more on the fear and disappointment and less on Jesus and what he’s called us to do? What happens when we begin having thoughts like: “What can I possibly do? There’s no way I could make a difference in so much suffering. How can I move forward when there’s so much opposition?”
Have you ever felt that way, friend? We certainly have.
But there’s another perspective… another way to look at this world and the hurt we and others experience. Today, Holy Spirit wants to show us that new perspective. He wants to unlock within us the boldness he originally put there–so we can work with him to love and serve this broken world…
01.
The Message
“Things are not as bad as they seem to you. Truly. Things are not as bad as they seem–though the earth shakes with evil, and though the world is full of disappointment, sickness, and terror. Look up, child, look up. Yes, this world will always disappoint you. It will never fulfill you. It will never satisfy your deepest needs. That is okay. It is okay.
“Be quieted by me. Let me help you surrender what you don’t understand–why wars rage and all feels out of control. While there is much you cannot fix all on your own–and while there is much that I will not explain to you–remember that I am your God. Remember that I am the rock on which you can stand. Remember that I am the foundation that will never shatter. Remember that I am the calm in every storm.
“When I whisper to you to act, trust me and move. When I encourage you to be bold, do the thing you can never do on your own. Why do you hesitate? Do you believe you must be strong, you must be smart, you must be equipped, you must be the one who carries the qualities that just I possess? Do you not believe I give all good things–all you need–to you? All that is good and pure and whole–all that is filled with promise and goodness and hope–are available to you, through me. Access it, dear one. Access me.
“Bring forward to the world the gifts you are meant to carry. Bring forward to this world the faith I give you. Bring forward hope and help when I whisper to you to bring it. But to hear my voice clearly, you must wait on me–be still and remember it is not you who is the savior. Your Savior has already come. I am your God.
“Be with me, and I will bring you rest. Be with me, and I will embolden you to act. Be with me and you will get to know me. Be with me and you will trust me and follow me. Do you want to resist love? You are my own. You are my child. Be one with me. Then, you will be quieted. Then you will be satisfied. And the earth will watch you walk in my name. And you will be who I have always seen. Be with me. And see you, see you, see you. My own daughter. My own son.”
02.
Listen
Pause and reflect on those words… “Be still and remember it is not you who is the savior. Your Savior has already come. I am your God.”
How do you want to respond to the Lord after reading that and meditating on its truth? Let’s pull out our journals and write out a prayer.
03.
Think
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2, ESV).
1. When you look at the world around you, what do you see that weighs you down? What things are discouraging you or disappointing you?
2. Where is God calling you to be bold and courageous? Where has it been hard to step out in faith?
3. Where do you need God’s love to satisfy you? Where do you need his presence to embolden you?
04.
Trust
This world of ours is filled with bad news, disappointments, and suffering. And if our enemy can get us to fixate enough on those things, then it’s easier for him to accomplish his true goal–to turn our focus away from Jesus.
But the Bible tells us that “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4, NASB).
Jesus is stronger, wiser, more powerful, and more determined than anything the world throws at us. He is love. And he is in us.
If we want to be bold and bring forward the hope and help and healing that God has called us to (through his Spirit), then we need to practice seeing him for what he really is–in control.
So let’s practice doing that.
First, let’s read the apostle John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-18. Can you picture Jesus standing in front of you like this? Can you imagine John’s emotions at that moment?
Now, let’s tell the Lord out loud what is discouraging us. It could be what’s on the news or what’s going on in our very homes. We can bring it all to him.
As we tell the Lord each thing that’s weighing us down, let’s pause after each one to imagine Jesus in control over that particular situation. Imagine his eyes blazing, his royal robes reaching his feet, his voice like rushing waters–all his glory and strength.
How does this view of Jesus change how we feel about each discouragement we’re facing? How does it change how we pray about those circumstances? How does it affect our faith?
Now, let’s pause again and ask Jesus to show us how he wants us to respond to those various situations. What is he calling us to do? How is he calling us to pray? Who is he asking us to reach out to and serve?
Let’s respond to his guidance with prayer and gratitude…
05.
Pray
Jesus, thank you that you are so much more powerful than anything in this world. Nothing can change who you are; nothing can change the fact that you are in control.
Whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it. Where I was afraid to step out before, give me your courage to be bold–to be and do all that you call me to. What you have for me–and for this world–is so good.
I trust you, Jesus, with every discouraging situation I’m facing. Give me your love and hope and faith to respond to these circumstances the way you want me to.
Lead me, Lord, and I’ll follow.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Waving the banner with you,
