Bold

The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1

Are you Bold?

The Israelites were bold when they left Egypt. 

…the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of the Egyptians.
Numbers 33:3

Days later, they were hedged in between Pharaoh's army and the Red Sea and were very afraid (Exodus 14:10).

I’ve been on this earth long enough to see patterns in myself.

As an artist, I will have a bold idea and feel a surge of confidence to move forward. I talk of it, dream of it, and create supply lists. But by day three, the initial self-confidence has vanished, and I am bereft.  I want nothing more than to pull the covers over my head and hope that I haven’t made too much of a spectacle of myself.

In personality types, there is Introvert, Extrovert and Ambivert.  I’m probably an Ambivert.  I can be outgoing like an Extrovert for a few days, then need to recharge like an Introvert.  When I’m in the Introvert phase, I feel like hiding because I am depleted.  Then I hear the lie that I am unable or insufficient to do the thing I started with such vigor just days ago.

Yes, Satan, I am insufficient.  That is the truth on Earth.  But I have this spoken as an overcoming promise from Heaven,

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

My confidence rests in my never-changing Yahweh: His character, His strength, His Word, His love, His constant indwelling. He doesn’t need time off from anything, including me.

The Lord keeps saying to me this week that I don’t know the end of a thing.  I don’t know what the Kingdom's purpose is for the thing I hold dear.  When He says this, I see an Egyptian bracelet on the arm of a Hebrew slave leaving Egypt that, once melted in fire, becomes a gold ring for the heavy curtain that hangs around the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of God. 

I don’t fully know my Kingdom's purpose on Earth, but He does.  I don’t know what He will do with the books, artwork or speaking opportunities, but He does.

Gently, so very tenderly, He is nudging me into position for fulfilling His strategies and victories in invisible spiritual battles that open doors to shine His light in human hearts.

All I need to know is how to love God and people.  He tells me not to focus on the final product since I cannot see it, but to focus on the daily process and the people I meet along the way.  He will take care of the rest. 

Being confident of this very thing,
that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it
until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

Let’s be Bold in Him with whatever He has put in your hand.