Bold Faith Devotional 1

Boldness is NOT a character trait. We are often tricked into thinking that some people are born bolder than others because of their personality, or what kind of family they have, or who they are associated with. But the Bible says that boldness is a CHOICE.

Joshua tells the people of Israel, “…choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.”

Joshua gave the Israelites TWO CHOICES because in a battle there is no neutral ground. You either advance or retreat. Being the leader of the Israelites, he did not force them to go one way or another when it came to who they worshiped. It was their choice who they would serve.

We often think that we do not have a choice in our spiritual growth or spiritual decline. We look at our circumstances when it comes to our spiritual decline because we cannot attend Sunday service due to a job or difficult family situations. But in the Bible, we see that obstacles are what allows people’s resolve to become stronger and bolder despite the loss they would incur in the world.

You too have a choice.

“Boldness, in the biblical sense, is not a personality trait. A typically soft-spoken, introverted, calm person can be bold at a time when a typically driven, outspoken, brash person shrinks back. Boldness is acting, by the power of the Holy Spirit, on an urgent conviction in the face of some threat.” - Jon Bloom, “Lord Make Me More Bold”