Where is your courage?

Fear.

Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?

The other day I ran into a girl that I knew from a long time ago and probably hadn't seen in over 7 years. Since I seen her last I've come to know the Lord and I actually ran into her at a bookstore. She was helping me find a book and it just so happened to be a Christian book. Of course the thought going through my head was, "I wonder is she thinks I'm a Christian?". I had the hope that she did and that at least one tiny speck of our conversation and situation could be a tunnel of light to Christ for her. But...BUT. There was still fear. That tiny speck of ruin set in. The fear of being shut out. The fear of not being received because I'm a Christian. Fear.

Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?

One of my deepest desires is to one day witness someone coming to Christ. Or to encourage someone to seek the Lord. I often pray for that and ask God to help me be a light and tool for Him.. Yet, how is it that I let fear overtake me at a given opportunity to stand out? To be a light? How seriously do I really take my desire? My prayers? How devoted am I? How can I expect to experience that desire when I let fear overtake me? And worse yet, how am I to work on overcoming a fear when I don't even cause an opportunity of fear to arise? An opportunity to share Christ.

Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?

God is light. And Jesus has come to be our light in a dark world. For He says in John 12:46, "I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." And because of Him we now have light. "For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord." (Ephesians 5:8). And because of that light, because of that goodness, He calls us to shine and stand out in a world full of darkness and evil. He calls us to be a light. For He tells us, "...Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." (Philippians 2:15)

So where is my courage? Where is my boldness? Where is my light?

He is light. I have Him. Therefore, I have the power and strength to be bold. To stand out. To be a light. Yet, do I?

I was having a conversation with a friend a couple weeks ago and we got to talking about the way we project ourselves. She was questioning if the conversations she had with others and the actions she used showed that she was a follower of Jesus. And it got me questioning and wondering the same of myself and my own life. Do others actually know I love Jesus? Do I act in such a way that shows the light of Jesus? Do I speak or shine in such a way that Christ's name is proclaimed? And if I do how often is it? Is it sometimes or all the time?

Every part of me is to be a light shining to God. An invitation to come to know Jesus. My movement, my words, my actions, my conversations, my silence, my all.

Yet, so often I fail. So often I let fear grip me and the world consume me.

Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?

Colossians 4:5-6
"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."

I have a changed and renewed life because of Jesus. I have a precious gift bestowed on me through Jesus. My life is made beautiful through Him. But I know through that, I am called to do great things. I am called to do things that may not always be easy and most the time require pain in this world. Through that, I'm called to conquer my fear. To live a life of boldness and courage. To live as though Jesus lives within me. To live as light. A light shining directly to Jesus. And if my life is such a gift because of Him, shouldn't it be easy to shout to the world for Him?

Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?

Just as Paul expressed in Philippians 1:20, I also expect the same of myself. "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ whether I live or die."

I fully admit, I hope to become much more bold in my future, because my past is full of fear and failure.

For a great man by the name of Charles Spurgeon once said, "He that is ashamed to speak the truth has to be ashamed of himself." What words to soak in.

God has called me to be bold. To speak the truth. To speak of His power, His love, His sacrifice. He has called me not only to speak it, but live it. To show it. He has called me to live a life of courage. A life that shines brightly. One in which lights the way to Him. I pray that the next time an opportunity arises, that this frail heart of mine would not be overcome by fear. But instead, may the power and boldness of God's Spirit shine through me. He has called me to live a life full of this. He has called not only me, but you.

Matthew 5:16
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

 Where is your courage? Where is your boldness? Where is your light?