Shrinking Back
by Gail Rodgers
Are you facing a situation where you need boldness today? Let us pray with you.
http://christianwomentoday.com/chat/share.html
We met in Starbucks. She was just passing through town and it was a treat to get together in person. As usual, we jumped in at the deep end and wanted to share what God was teaching us these days. As she raised requests I suggested we pray. Quietly, with open eyes, I asked God to meet the needs of her life.
We talked more and then she said she wanted to pray for me. With not so quiet a voice and with eyes pressed closed and hands grasping mine she lifted her heart to our Heavenly Father.
And I felt my heart shrink back. Could she pray a little quieter or a little less intensely? I am ashamed to say I felt a twinge of embarrassment enter my heart.
Very shortly after that God put a book in my pathway that challenged just this very thing in my life. In essence I was denying Christ. I thought of Peter and how easy it was for him to deny Jesus on that night of Jesus’ death. Then in my own devotions I read these words,
“For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back I will not be pleased with him.
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews 10: 38-39
It took me by surprise that I could find myself in that same position as Peter found himself in ….. only I was in Starbucks where there was no threat at all to my faith or my life.
How good God is to reveal the very nature of our hearts to us when we feel we are being “faithful” followers. What a challenge it is to grow in our boldness in following our Lord and Savior.
Today, whether you are a quiet Christian, a bold witness, or somewhere in between why not join me in asking God to fill you with a greater boldness and more courage to stand in persevering faith… one never knows when in this world we will be called upon to stand firm. We need to be determined not to shrink back. God will help us as we ask Him to.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for shrinking back when You call me to boldness. May my heart be ever more courageous to stand for You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions:
Have you ever felt your heart shrink back from standing boldly for Jesus?
Are you willing to ask Him today for a courageous and bold heart to stand for Him always?
About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/gail-rodgers/
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JUST THIS WEEK A FRIEND OF MINE PRAYED WITH ME IN A STORE WE STOOD AND HELD EACH OTHER AND PRAYED PEOPLE WERE STAREING BUT WE DID NOT CARE I NEEDED PRAYER AND SHE SHE WAS THERE RIGHT THEN TO GIVE IT TOME AND FOR ME THE LORD SAYS IF YOU ARE ASHAMED OF ME I WILL BE ASHAMED OF YOU
SHARONB
Thank you for this devotional. It really spoke to my heart. I believe that I have been “shrinking back” for the past year and it bothers me to think that I have been acting the same as Peter did.
The timing of this devotional is actually perfect because yesterday, I spent my lunch hour running errands. As I popped in and out of different stores, I saw quite a few people walking around with smudges on their foreheads. The first person I saw shocked me because it had not occured to me what the smudge was. After seeing the second person, it came to me that the smudge was ash and so it must be Ash Wednesday.
At that point, I had mixed thoughts. I thought ‘how BOLD they must be to walk around with ash on their foreheads all day.’ I felt a slight embarrassment for them. However, the last two people I saw with ash on their foreheads were two little girls no older than 3 yrs old (twins, I believe). Suddenly, I felt a sense of relief; satisfaction that I have brothers and sisters (of all ages) in Christ who are not ashamed to let the entire city know that they are Christians. My heart sank when I remembered that I had previously questioned those who were BOLD and were not willing to ‘shrink back’.
Now that I know I was “shrinking back” I pray to never do that again, to believe in the Lord with my whole heart and praise Him to the fullest at all times. Lord, I thank You and praise You for this day. A new day and new opportunity to worship and praise You. Forgive me for shrinking back and judging those who do not shrink back. Show me how to be a bold child of God at all times and to boldly speak of your mercy, love and kindness to those around me. Thank You for conviction, Lord, that I am corrected in my wrong-doings and growing in Your word so that I may lead the life that You have called me to lead. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Wow. I hate it when I am convicted about things. Every morning, I get to work a little early because it is quiet not much is going on and I do my quiet time. I read a few passages in the Bible and pray. I can’t seem to go on with my day until I do my QT and I can’t seem to “find the time” or be diligent about doing it unless I get to work a little early. This morning was a little more boisterous than normal and I kept picking up my bible and putting away because I was afraid I’d get caught. I also pray in such a way that it doesn’t look like I’m praying. It’s not that I’m ashamed, but I’m afraid that if someone sees me reading my bible or reading anyhting not related to my work-they’ll think I”m goofing off and NOT working. Which, in essence, I should be working. At the same time, it makes me wonder if there are other reasons as to why I feel I need to “hide” this from my coworkers. I wonder what the repercussions would be…I could be a witness or an encouragement to someone else-should I really care about what my boss or supervisor think? This morning I really struggled if I should do my QT because it was busier this morning and more people were around and popping in and out. I just want to say I feel convicted this morning and that this devotional really spoke to me this morning. Thank you!
know I have missed many opportunities because I lacked boldness. I have missed opportunities to praise Him and sadly, I have missed opportunities to witness. I can only ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness for those times.
I believe it is so important to feed on the word…to get that scriptural food into us. By feeding on the scriptures, the promises and understanding the Word, will give us boldness that we need when opportunities arise.
I have sat in conversations where things of a spiritual nature were discussed and kept quiet, when I knew it was wrong. I simply wanted to avoid confrontation. It was easier…and many times, I have taken the easy way out.
Dear Jesus, as I hunger for your word and direction in my life, give me courage to stand up for you. Give me the desire to look for opportunities to witness and praise you.
Give me a boldness to speak your word. May the Holy Spirit be so evident in my life that when opportunities are before me, I boldly take the loving time to witness to that one who is lost. May I never be hesitant to praise you and lift you up….to tell others what You have done for me..in a personal and loving way.
With each new day, Lord, may I experience a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit and may it radiate thru me. I want to be your vessel..to be used for Your Glory.
As I grow in your word and learn from the teaching of these Godly women around me, may You give me a bolder personality..to use for You.
Thank you Jesus, for loving me, for saving me and for delivering me from the pit I lived in for so long.
I love you, I praise You and worship You, my Master, Savior, my Jesus.
When I read today’s devotional I thought “No, not our Gail, and how brave she is for openingly letting us all know about her “shrinking back”. She who is so thought provoking and teaches us through the Word and her straight to the heart devotionals. Ah! but that is why she is able to write so candidly and to encourage us to read scripture and apply it to our everyday lives, because she is open to recognize happenings in her own life, read and apply the Word, change, and grow.
Thank you, Gail, for you candidness and challenge to me. I accept it with knowing I have the the Grace and Power of the Holy Spirit to guide me. I would not be able to do it on my own. I pray that I will hear His still small voice and be obedient. God bless you.
Sharon, I am praying for you daily. Sending you a big hug. Love and Prayers, Judy
THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO TRY TO FORCE A PERSON TO DENY WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED IN THEIR LIVES AND THOSE OF FRIENDS WHOM ARE WILLING TO STAND UP WITH THEM IN THERE BELIEFS AND IN KNOWING WHAT REALLY HAPPEN IN THEIR LIVES.