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IBS 59 - Acts 28:31

IBS 59
Acts 28:31
“He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ — with all boldness and with out hinderance!”

What a wonderful thing it would be if someone said this about me. “Anna proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about Christ with all boldness!” To have people say that about me though, I must actually do and have faith. I can’t do the ministry God has called me to do without faith and acting upon that faith. When people tell me they love me but don’t act as thought they love me, I don’t believe that they love me. Just as that, if I say I have faith but don’t act on my faith, do I really have faith? “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).
It is a big challenge to act upon the faith. It’s scary to put trust in the unknown. But when I test that trust and let my faith lead me, I see how faithful God is and how much He truly comes through. I’ve been afraid for so long to fall completely on faith, allowing God to fully reign in me. I’ve wanted to stay holding the reigns, but Christ has called me to lay my burdens down at His feet and hand the reigns over to Him. Once that happens, I no longer have to be weighed down, but I can rest and trust that the Lord will carry me. 
Once the fear of trusting God is gone, and my faith is completely in Him, I will have gained boldness. I will have boldness in knowing that Christ is leading me. I’ll have boldly put my trust in God knowing that He brought me to Costa Rica for a reason, no matter how hard it may be. I’ll have boldness in speaking and confidence in Him. I won’t be afraid to say “yes” to the Lord anymore. I’ve seen how faithful He’s come through and how I have no reason to fear. 

Why would I ever be afraid to proclaim the kingdom of God with all boldness? After all, He has overcome. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

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