BOLD not timid!

Last evening I visited a friend in the hospital who had just experienced eight bypasses! I didn’t think that was possible, but that’s what she had. She was very fortunate the doctors caught the problem in time without her having a heart attack!

As I sat talking with her, I realized how powerful her testimony was. This is a lady who has no fear in witnessing. She’s the only person I know who has boarded an airplane, taken her seat, and waited until the plane was full, then stood to her feet and said, “I don’t know about the rest of you folks, but I think I need to pray before we take off!” Then she would proceed with a short but to-the-point prayer. Believe me, she has no fear of what others think.

She has always put me to shame when it comes to witnessing. Her inhibitions can be interpreted as brazen and uncouth, but they are powerful. She has seen God work in amazing ways because she witnesses boldly! When she finally gets to heaven I have no doubt that untold strangers will tell her she made a mighty impact on their lives and she didn’t even know it.

When I read in the book of Revelation about the brave souls who witnessed for God, I am again put to shame. Revelations 20:4, “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”

Losing my life for my faith has never been anything I’ve needed to consider. Maybe I should put myself out on the front lines more than I do. If that’s where God wants me, then that’s where I want and need to be. This month on the CBH Ministries web site we’re running a movie of a missionary who put her life in harm’s way so others would be saved. Take a few minutes to view the life story of Gladys Alward. I know you’ll be challenged by her unselfish life as a missionary. http://www.cbhministries.org/CBHTheater/Videos.aspx

“God, give me the courage to get up off my sorry, sedentary behind and run, not walk, to the front lines. Put me in places where I need to speak up, speak out, and stand! Give me bravery when I’m full of fear and boldness in place of timidity. Instill in me the joy of serving Jesus!”