S) "3 On the day I called, You answered me;
You made me bold with strength in my soul."
Psalm 138:3 (NASB)
O) This is a psalm of thanksgiving, by David, for the LORD's favor. The whole thing is encouraging, but this verse stood out especially. David's boldness for praise and worship is pretty well known, and it borders on notorious (see 2 Samuel 6:12-23). But, this verse sheds light on why he was so bold. On the day he called, the LORD answered him! King David was not a theologian. He was not trying to defend his God with rationale or debate. His faith in God, his boldness, was based on one simple fact: his own experience. His life showed this pattern: he called, God answered; he called, God answered; he called, God answered. He was bold and his soul was strong because he learned by experience that when he called, God answered.
A) Lately, I've been feeling a particular call to be bold in my witness for my Lord. Honestly, it makes me a little bit anxious to think of becoming more confrontational about my faith - at least with certain people. I want more boldness. So, what is my solution? There is a model here, but there is also a foundation. The foundational understanding, is that the strength David had was still given to him. He said "You made me bold..." not, "I made myself bold..." or even, "So I became bold..." There is still an important, unmistakable element of grace here. From that foundation, how do I obtain a model of call/answer that David saw? Well, I have to start calling. My faith cannot grow without being tested. I cannot expect Him to answer, if I am not calling. David put himself in harms way, first as a shepherd, then as a young warrior, then as a king. He started with the foundational understanding that the LORD is powerful, sovereign, and good. Then, he progressively got more and more bold with strength in his soul. Relative to my call to witness, maybe this means I start small, as a shepherd, being bold in my witness toward lesser opponents, before I take on my Goliath, or even a king.
P) Father, I want to develop this kind of relationship with You, God. I have already seen Your faithfulness to me in countless areas in my life. I believe You are faithful to answer me when I call out to You in my need, relative to being a bold witness to Your glory. So, embolden me, to give You opportunities to prove Your words as truth. Help me to grow in my faith, by testing it. Help me to grow in my boldness as a witness, and strengthen my soul, as I step out in that faith to call upon You. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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