Ever feel like you don't have the courage? This attribute of the Spirit will help with that.
The Holy Spirit Gives Us Boldness - An exclusive excerpt from my new 10-day devotional, now on YouVersion
In Day 4 of my new 10-day devotional “The Holy Spirit Is Greater than AI”, we explore how the Holy Spirit gives boldness in a world where there’s a lot to fear.
Ever feel like you’re not up for it? That’s okay. It may even be true! But you don’t have to muster the courage on your own. You can receive it.
The 10-day plan which is part of Unveil’s growing library of content of resources, is now on YouVersion, the Bible App. Read it there or download it free below!
Bible Verse for this day of the plan:
One of the greatest fears people have is public speaking. Studies show that about 75% of people around the world fear talking in front of people. In our digital age, it’s affecting young people more and more, as they spend more time watching and scrolling than engaging in human interaction.
But talking in front of others is an important part of life for relationships, careers, and especially for sharing our faith with others.
The encouraging news for us is that we’re not alone. The Holy Spirit gives us boldness.
Peter and John’s boldness is an example for us
They were just two guys from a small town who expected to fish for the rest of their lives. But then Jesus disrupted everything and called them to be fishers of men.
Peter and John, by the time we read about them in Acts 4, are completely transformed. The great thinkers and people of influence in their day noticed. Luke, in his gospel, shows us how:
“Now when [the rulers, elders, and scribes] saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus” (Acts 4:13, NRSV).
If you read this passage in Acts 4 the word boldness stands out. It’s repeated over and over, and it’s clear where it comes from: the Holy Spirit Himself. The rulers saw boldness in Peter and John. The apostles asked God for it. Then they went and spoke God’s word with boldness. And people’s lives changed for eternity.
The gospel needs to be shared with boldness and God grants it through the Holy Spirit. What’s so exciting about this passage is that as Peter and John boldly shared the truth of the gospel, God poured out His Spirit and His power in the situation and there was healing, signs and wonders (like a lame man who was healed as they boldly went to preach, see Acts 3).
Here we see that our responsibility is to speak the truth, and we can ask for boldness to speak it to others. God will give it to us. And thankfully, there is no pressure on us as believers to perform wonders ourselves, because God does that as we receive boldness from Him when we simply respond.
It doesn’t depend on our own intelligence or skill. God works and accomplishes what needs to be done!
Peter and John faced something many of us haven’t: they were arrested, put on trial for their faith and asked to be quiet. The Holy Spirit helped them navigate that situation too. All they did was continue to stand firm in the boldness God gave them. And we’re still talking about it to this day.
Reflection
Are there people or situations that you avoid bringing your voice to because you’re afraid to speak up? Ask God today for boldness in one area where you can speak His word of truth.
Key Takeaways – The Holy Spirit Gives Us Boldness
The Holy Spirit gives boldness to share our faith and live out the truth, we don’t need to summon it up by ourselves.
There is no pressure on us as believers to produce results from sharing faith in boldness. God does that as we receive boldness from Him when we simply respond.
Practical step: Pause today and invite the Holy Spirit to be present in your life today to speak with boldness about your faith.
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