As Christians, we face a world that can be quite scary. Fear can hold us back from taking action, leading to devastating results physically and spiritually. However, Jesus encourages us to overcome fear through the Christian faith to develop boldness in our lives. Matthew 10:28 urges us not to be afraid and to boldly share life’s message, even in the face of potential risks and dangers where Christian Character Counts.
The impact of fear on life can be alarming, and it is crucial to understand its impact and significance in our lives. Please understand fear is a natural human emotion, but it can be overwhelming and hinder our ability to move and take action. Again, this can lead to devastating consequences such as anxiety, depression, and even death. Different forms of fear exist, including the fear of dying, the fear of punishment, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of annihilation. These common fears are referred to as "The Fear of Man," which all humans must overcome to understand authentic living where boldness is a reality in one’s personality.
Boldness is about conquering "The Fear of Man" with "The Fear of the Lord." Jesus encourages us to boldly speak God's truths and align our actions, objectives, and goals with heavenly values, purpose, and vision. This process of developing wisdom and witnessing "The Fear of the Lord" begins with cultivating God the Son’s, Jesus’, faith and trust in God the Father's love and requirements to keep in step with God the Spirit’s reality. When Jesus tells his disciples not to fear, he is telling them not to worry or fear those who can kill them physically but to fear the things (circumstances, situations, and relationships) that can kill them spiritually. These things kill God's perception and perspectives in people’s lives. Here, Jesus encourages his followers to boldly speak God’s truths in the face of persecution and danger.
To apply boldness to our lives, we can start by cultivating faith and trust in God’s love and provision. I highly recommend the book “Trust” by Henry Cloud to gain an understanding of God’s trust in your life. We must pray for wisdom, guidance, and courage to overcome “The Fear of Man.” From there, we must align our actions with “The Fear of God.” We can also see support and accountability from fellow believers or safe and trusted friends and family who share our faith and can encourage us on our journey toward boldness and a life that truly matters.
Overcoming fear requires intentional effort on our part and a willingness to trust in God's plan personally and collectively. By embracing the divine trait of boldness, we can break free from the limitations of man's fear and pursue our calling and purpose of God. Let us obey the command "Fear not!" and boldly pursue a life that truly matters, where Christian Character Counts.
With boldness