Bold Faith

Yesterday, my family and I just got back from our summer vacation to North Carolina. That meant, for a few days, I got to spend a little time with my grandfather. Now you don’t know him, but he’s kind of a living legend in my eyes. He is a man close to God — and he’s been that kind of man as long as I’ve known him. He has served as a Sunday School teacher and leader at his local church for over 64 years. 

And the other day he was telling me about all the different kinds of seasons his local church has been through over the past six decades — seasons of feast and famine, of blessing and struggle. But one thing that stood out to me is his (and their) bold faith. 

Facing impossible situations, they would pray. They would rely on the character of Jesus Christ, risen and reigning and willing and able to do more than we could ask or think. Bold faith is biblical faith, and we need it. So let’s get it.

Prayer of Confession

Father in heaven, we confess that so often we settle for a brand of Christianity that requires the minimum amount of faith. We often prefer to not need your promises or the realness of your Son, but we’ve surrendered our hearts to the most familiar forms of religious life and we find comfort not in knowing you, but in knowing that our practices please others and nothing unpredictable will happen. 

We seldom do (or stop doing) a single thing simply because we love Jesus, or because he’s worthy, but seek ease. We choose spiritual cushions and low risks over the living fellowship of your Son on mission. So we are weak in faith and reluctant to serve. We are self-protective and ingrown, and therefore, we are desperate for your mercy — desperate for your renewing grace. Would you give us, Father, a radical commitment to embrace all that you are for us in Christ and to choose your mission at all costs? This is a miracle you must work in us, and so we ask that you would, even now as we confess our sins to you in silence …