We all have different personalities. Some people are timid by nature, allowing others to walk all over them, while others, seem to have been born with a bold personality, never shy about voicing their views on things, and even confronting others when there is a disagreement. Most of us probably fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

There are times, no matter what our natural personality is, when we must act boldly. Let me give you a few examples.

• We must boldly proclaim the Word of God

New Testament preachers are a great example of this. Peter and John spoke boldly to the Jewish Sanhedrin.

Acts 4:13 (ESV)
¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

The boldness of Peter and John was so evident that even their enemies recognized it. They did not attempt to tickle the ears of these important members of the Jewish community. They preached the truth, even though they knew it would be offensive to the hearers. Today, we must follow in their steps. When it comes to the gospel of Christ, we can in no way water it down in an attempt to make it more pleasing to the ones we are trying to convert. Truth is what people need, and they need it taught to them boldly.

• We must be bold in our attempts to correct those in error

Paul once said to the brethren at Corinth, “I am acting with great boldness toward you…” (2 Corinthians 7:4). The church at Corinth was a mess. The brethren there were carnal, selfish, unloving, and tended to tolerate sin. When we read the book of 1 Corinthians, we find Paul dealing with all these problems head-on. He boldly told the brethren that they were carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). Paul was not being unloving toward these brethren; he was telling them what they needed to hear. That is how love behaves. Paul loved them enough not to sugarcoat the message. He was exactly what these brethren needed—someone with the courage to tell them the truth. That is what brethren, who are not living right, need today. Let us pray that we have the boldness to give them what they need.

• We must be bold in our prayers to God

Let us not mistake boldness for recklessness or arrogance. Every time we pray, it must be done with a great deal of humility. But, we must be confident in our prayers as well. We must be sure in our belief that God is listening to us, and that He will respond to our petitions.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Let us not forget to pray, and when we do, let us have the confidence in God to do so boldly.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.