God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power . . .

2 Timothy 1:7

Confident and Bold

Sometimes there’s a fine line between good manners and bold behavior. Our culture often conditions us to be polite, deferential, reserved, and conciliatory to those around us. On the other hand, we learn quickly that we’ll get run over if our priority is having others think that we’re “nice.”

Jesus told us that we are to be as innocent as doves and as shrewd as serpents. As Christians, we often practice the former but struggle to practice the latter. But even as we’re told to turn the other cheek, it’s clear that we’re not supposed to be passive doormats. We can only go the extra mile and turn the other cheek if our strength allows us to maintain our confidence and faith.

When we rely on God’s strength as our power source, we don’t have to be shy about it. We can be confident, bold, and secure in knowing that we can indeed do all things through Christ.

Pray: “Lord, help me discern how to be both innocent and shrewd, compassionate and courageous, tenderhearted and strong-minded for your purposes.”