How do you live your life? Cautiously or boldly? Do you choose the most convenient way or the high road? I would like to think of being bold but, in reality, am I? I used to be bold and fearless, dreaming big and reaching for stars. And then came along the kids and cautiousness. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your kids, of course. But they can also be our excuses for not living boldly. What is your excuse?

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.³⁸ And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. (Matthew 10:37-39, AMP,*)

Enough of excuses for not living boldly

Yesterday, I tweeted a short prayer by Burk Parsons “May our passion for Christ always be greater than our passion for an easy life.” And I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Our passion for an easy life seems to be strong. And I do get it, believe me. Especially, when life is tough, an easy life does sound like a dream. [Just know that God does not send people out when they are weary. Then we are called to rest in him.]

However, our passion for Christ needs to be greater than our passion for anything else. That’s what the Bible tells us. We need to follow Jesus not comfort. Yet that’s exactly what most of us seem to be doing. We want to decide how our lives evolve. [Or, should I say, we want to pretend to be in control of our own lives.] Or, at least, we want to live in comfort.

Not enough of stepping out of our comfort-zones

But, let me tell you, if we want to follow Christ, there’s no room for excuses for not living boldly. We need to begin anew every morning. Remind our comfort-hungry minds that our lives belong to Jesus, not to ourselves. Ask Jesus what he wants us to do that day. And then go off following Christ wherever he leads.

This sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Why then isn’t it easy to live it out? Because this is no heaven, we are still in the middle of the battleground. Do not fear though. The battle is won. And grace is our power. We just need to stay close to the Victor and he will see us safely home.

Gracious God,
Forgive us choosing safety and comfort over you.
Help us not just to do what is convenient
but to do what is right.
Show us how to boldly follow you.
Because that’s what we want.
So we surrender to you our everything,
our excuses, our idols, our fears, and dreams.
May only your will happen in our lives.
Make us bold for you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are your excuses of not living boldly? Are you ready to get rid of them?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you dump your excuses for not living boldly at the foot of the cross.

*[As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses toBiblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.].

Photo by Daniel Jensen on Unsplash.Linking up today with Dance with Jesus, Five-minute Friday, Worth Beyond Rubies.