The Power of Boldness

Power Verse:  Acts 4:31

“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Sometimes I think we hear things so many times that we stop listening because we think we know it already. Let me explain, how many times have you heard that Jesus died on the cross for you? If it’s anywhere near the amount of times that I have heard it, it’s probably somewhere close to a million. However, how many of those million times have you actually stopped and thought about it? Have you ever thought about the fact that if no other person was on the face of the earth God would have still sent His son to die just for you? Or have you considered what actually took place on the day Jesus was raised from the dead, how much grace and love He had for us? I couldn’t imagine how the lives we live everyday would change if we could really just get a hold of that fact.

I believe that if we really understood what happened that day on the cross we would walk with such boldness and we would speak with such power. It wouldn’t be the type of faking-it boldness or power that we have a lot of the time but, the type of power and boldness that says “Look out! No one is messing with me.” It would be a “God has my back” kind of boldness and power. It would be just what was needed to perform miracles and change the people’s lives in your school and in your neighborhood. The bible says in Matthew 19: 26 “…with God all things are possible.” Imagine what would happen if we didn’t just hear that statement but we actually listened to it. Let me just say that again…NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. So that means walking up to someone on the street and talking to them about Jesus isn’t impossible or praying for someone who is sick and them getting healed isn’t impossible.

We need to stop just hearing things and start listening. It is about time that we realize what Jesus did for us and know what we need to do in return. We need to realize that He has given us boldness and power and that NOTHING is impossible. If we really want to change the situations we are in or the people’s lives around us we need to get hold of the word of God. Dare to believe it. Then preach it in faith with all boldness and power.

Living boldly for Him,

Jaci

Save Nothing for the Swim Back

POWER VERSE: Psalm 16:11

About a month ago I was watching a movie titled Gattaca which is about a “genetically inferior man assuming the identity of a superior one in order to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.”  Kind of an older movie, but for some reason I wanted to see it for the longest time and since it was on TV I decided “let’s make it happen”J. Well, as I was watching Gattaca, the movie came to a climax which pitted brother against brother, genetically inferior (Vincent) vs. superior (Antonio) in a game of chicken. This game of chicken involved swimming as far as one can until one of the brothers decided to stop or quit. Well, as you may have guessed, Antonio owned Vincent in this game of chicken for the longest time until one day Vincent ousted his genetically superior brother Antonio. It was at this moment that Vincent said something that has stuck with me since. When Antonio questioned Vincent on how he beat him, Vincent said with all his being and with every ounce of passion he had, that he “saved nothing for the swim back!” 

Now you may be saying that this is just a movie or an insignificant moment in time, but I think it is much more than that. This is a statement about how we Christians should live out our Christian lives by saving nothing for the swim back. I’m reminded as I write this devo of Pastor Halsted’s sermon on Sunday when he so eloquently described our calling, and purpose on this earth as men and women of God. And through this devo, I second and amen everything Pastor Halsted but said with an emphasis; its imperative we walk out our purpose, with saving nothing for the swim back! Now with all honesty I can say that I have not walked out my purpose with this same mind set or conviction, but it’s time that I did. There’s something intriguing, and unique about someone giving they’re all for a cause they believe in. Going all out, pouring every ounce of being into something other than sheer complacency, apathy, and lethargy which is so rampant among America’s youth (Say that’s me.) You’re the youth of today’s world (Selah). Will you be one of those who does not follow God’s calling on your life (don’t doubt you have a calling because you do), or are you going to be one that gives everything they got and can say at the end of their time, you saved nothing for the swim back?

As it is written in Psalm 16 that in the LORD’S presence there is fullness of joy I urge you today, for you to become the man or woman of God you’re called to be. It will take you spending time in the LORD’S presence. I can say with all sincerity that it is there where you will find your identity, sufficiency, direction, and every tool you will need to run hard on this journey. Let’s be those like Vincent who are so passionate, determined, and willing to lay it all on the line for God. Lets run and not look back knowing that we have a finish line and regardless what comes our way, before God we can say, WE SAVED NOTHING FOR THE SWIM BACK!

God bless, 

Travis