Embracing Boldness in 2024: My Word of the Year

For the past few years, I've taken time at the start of each year to pray and seek the Lord for a "word of the year"—a theme that I focus on in my walk of faith. In 2024, my word is "bold." Previous years have been about themes like discipline, trust, faith, and stewardship, but this year, I feel called to a new kind of courage.

When I think of being bold, I’m drawn to the example set by the first disciples and the early church in the Book of Acts. These men and women risked everything to share the message of Jesus—a message of resurrection, grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, and life transformation. They went against the grain of their culture, putting their lives on the line to build God's Kingdom. They did it all with a courage that inspires me today.

The Jewish leaders at that time opposed the spreading of Jesus’ message. Yet, despite opposition, the message spread like wildfire. Why? Because the early believers had a boldness that could not be contained.

Boldness in Action: Learning from Peter and John

One scripture that speaks to me about boldness is Acts 4:13:

"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus."

Peter and John were ordinary men—no degrees, no specialized training—but they were fearless. They were confronted by the religious leaders of their day, yet they stood firm in their faith, speaking truth without hesitation. They didn’t cave to pressure or shrink back; instead, they leaned into their convictions, emboldened by their relationship with Jesus.

How Can We Be Bold Today?

This story leads me to ask: How can we be bold like Peter and John? How can we be fearless in sharing our faith, standing for truth, and living out our convictions, even when it's uncomfortable or unpopular?

The key lies in the end of that verse: Peter and John were recognized as men who had been with Jesus.

They spent time with Jesus. They knew Him deeply, and even after His ascension, they remained connected to Him through the power of the Holy Spirit. That same connection is available to us today.

A Personal Challenge: Living Each Day With Jesus

I want to be known as someone who has been with Jesus—someone whose life radiates His love, power, and truth. I want to be a woman filled with the Holy Spirit, living boldly for Christ every day, not for my own glory, but for His.

The Holy Spirit lives in each of us who follow Christ. It is He who empowers us to be bold witnesses for the gospel.

Overcoming Our Limitations

Often, our own doubts hold us back. Thoughts like, "I don’t know enough scripture," or "I’m not a pastor," or "I don’t have a theology degree." But the truth is, Peter and John were “ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.” God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.

While Peter and John were preaching to thousands, it was the boldness of other ordinary people who spread the word, inviting others to hear their message. They played a crucial role in the movement, even if they weren’t the ones in the spotlight.

Questions for Reflection

So I’ll leave you with a challenge: How can we be bold in our own walks of faith through the power of the Holy Spirit? How can we share the gospel with those around us? Maybe it’s telling a friend about what Jesus has done in your life. Maybe it’s taking a step of faith in obedience to God’s call, or inviting someone to join you at church.

Whatever it is, our seemingly ordinary actions can have extraordinary impact when we surrender ourselves to God’s purpose. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit—God’s presence within us—that enables us to live boldly.

A Prayer for Boldness

If you continue reading Acts 4, you’ll see that after their confrontation with the council, Peter and John returned to the community of believers. Together, they prayed for even more courage to share the gospel. And what happened next?

Acts 4:31 tells us:

"After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness."

My prayer is that our local churches would experience a similar awakening—that our communities would be shaken by the power of the Holy Spirit, and that we, as ordinary men and women, would rise to live boldly for Christ.

Let’s make the rest of 2024 a year of courage, conviction, and bold faith, for the glory of God.