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The Special Power of Boldness
Acts 4:29 'Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.' (NIV)
 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once wrote the following verse: 'Then indecision brings its own delays, And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days. Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute; What you can do, or dream you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.' There is a time to wait, the time of soul searching and heavy prayer. But there is also a time for action -- for bold, courageous and determined steps into the unknown. What Goethe called the 'genius, power and magic' within boldness, the Bible calls faith! Boldness unlocks the power of God in our lives like nothing else, because boldness works to release the true power of our inner faith. Without faith we cannot find the favour of God; but without boldness we can never exercise our faith. Without boldness, favour is like a muscle that is never flexed. Without boldness, nobody will ever see the depth and the power of our faith in God -- not even us. Faith demands more than giving mental assent to a course of action -- it means more than simply saying, 'Yes God, that seems like a good idea to me…' Faith must have an outlet in action. Eventually, my faith in a word from God requires that I seize the opportunity he has put before me, without delay. Sometimes, doors of opportunity are open for only a short space of time. If we fail to make use of them at the right time, they disappear. God is a gracious God and will often give us a second or even a third chance, but he wants us to learn the power of grasping God-given opportunities when they are first given. He wants us to learn the power of decisiveness, because it strips away all insecurity and double-mindedness. The boldness of faith breeds a mind of single focus, and a heart of gritty determination to succeed. There is a special magic about that kind of faith living.
Prayer: 'Lord, help me to learn how to act at the right time, with boldness. Help me not to delay when you have prepared a path before me. I want to learn single-minded boldness so that I make your name great.'
© 2003-2004 Mal Fletcher
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Dear Mal, I saw you some years ago in Lisbon. I was deeply blessed by your prophetic spirit for the nations. I'm especially moved by your messages that speak about being an influence in our world...
Paulo Batista, Portugal
Rocknations went to another level this year: it was rocking. The bands were awesome, the messages were life-changing, challenging me to live God loud. It's amazing when God shows up at a place.
PHUMZILE, United Kingdom
Great to hear those 80s songs (that blessed so many back then). 'To share God's love in music and word' is a great calling. I guess there's no time for a new album?!
Ann, Australia
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