6 Ways our Boldness May Be Warped by our Culture

God created us for boldness. Recently I began noticing areas our view of boldness has been slightly warped by culture.  

God wants us to be bold in our witness and to have a lifestyle that runs against the tide of society. God’s idea of boldness is when we choose to honor God instead of placating our flesh.

Here are 6 ways our idea of boldness may be warped by our culture:

 1.    Worldly Boldness: “I'm going to stand up for my rights!”


Godly Boldness: I'm going to lay down my rights & be more consumed with His Glory.


2.    Worldly Boldness: If I want it I will do whatever it takes to get it (or) make it happen.


Godly Boldness: Lord, my wants, my dreams, my plans they are yours.  Place within me the desires of your heart.  I trust that you know not only what I want but what I was created for and that I need that will fulfill me.


3.    Worldly Boldness:  "Oh, I'm not afraid to say it. If I think it, it's true and it deserves to be said." 


Godly Boldness: Lord, my eyes, my emotions and my thoughts deceive me. Place a seal over my tongue. Place a Holy seal over my thoughts, protect my heart. I pray that your wisdom will guide my actions.


4.    Worldly Boldness: If I'm not happy, nobody's happy and somebody deserves to pay.


Godly Boldness: My happiness cannot be found in others or based upon my circumstances. When I am following God absolutely nothing happens by accident. I choose to take this situation, no matter how painful & pray that God will show me a deeper side of his character during this as I patiently walk with Him through it.


5.    Worldly Boldness: If I want it this badly it can't be wrong, so I'm going to take it (or) do it.


Godly Boldness:  My natural desires are filled with lies that leave me chasing after things that will harm myself and others.  God remove these desires from me. Give me the strength to run in the opposite direction. Don't allow anything in my life that could take me away from the shadow of your wings where I find my peace.


6.    Worldly Boldness: “I don’t care about what other people think of me!”

Godly Boldness:  “Lord, I pray that every aspect of my life honors you.  I pray that my life is a reflection of your Holy Spirit building Your character in me.  Help me to be more concerned with how you view me and not to become consumed with how others perceive me.” 

There is a stark contrast in each of these views.  I pray that as we continue throughout our day the Holy Spirit will continue to shape our world views to become more like His own and not as a reflection of the culture that surrounds us.   

About Melissa

Melissa Bradley is married with two small children. She is a co-founder of a City-Wide Women’s Ministry, The Well. She currently serves and assists in various churches around her community. The burden of her heart is to see the churches in her city come together to be the hands and feet of Christ. She is passionate to live every day missionally. You can also find Melissa at www.Melissa-Bradley.com.

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