Too often, we play it safe with God. We ask for comfort, protection, and the expected. But what if faith was never meant to be cautious? What if it was meant to be courageous? God doesn’t just respond to polite whispers—He honors audacity. Prayers that stretch us invite the miraculous. Bold prayers reveal a heart that trusts more in God’s ability than in our own limits.
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. —Acts 4:13 ESV
Bold.
We all have preconceived notions about this word, don’t we? I know I did. For the longest time, I would not have described myself as “bold.” Sure, I caught glimpses of it when I did something brave or spoke out in moments that required courage, but boldness always seemed fleeting—here one moment, gone the next.
I admired people whose lives were marked by boldness—the ones on the front lines, those who defied the odds and faced battles head-on. But me? I didn’t think I fit that mold. Maybe you feel the same way.
Yet here we are, embarking on a journey to dream bold dreams, pray bold prayers, and take bold action. So, we better start rethinking what boldness truly means. And here’s the good news: Biblical boldness isn’t what you think.
The world may define boldness as being outspoken and courageous, running towards the thing you fear without feeling fear but when we unpack the Scriptures—when we look at the lives of those who were bold for the Lord—we see a different picture. One that may surprise you, and I hope, encourages you.
In my opinion, no one embodies boldness in the New Testament quite like the apostles we see in the book of Acts. These are men who spoke life in the face of death, declared truth amongst the lies, and shared love behind prison bars. Their lives are a profound example of boldness, because they were rooted in something much deeper than most are. Acts 4:13 says, 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.
Here’s the key: These men were ordinary people doing extraordinary things simply because they were with Jesus.
It wasn’t Peter and John’s education or status that made them bold. It wasn’t natural talent or fearlessness. It was their time with Jesus that empowered them to be bold. I believe that biblical boldness isn’t about how large your dreams are or how brave you feel—it’s about the depth of your relationship with the Lord and your obedience to what God is calling you to do. Simply put, boldness is the willingness to say “yes” to Jesus! And come to find out, the more you spend time with Him, the easier it is to say “yes” to Him!
I am here to tell you today, if you want to be more bold, spend more time with Jesus! When you spend time with Him, you fall in love with Him and develop a selfless desire to obey Him. Real obedience is birthed out of love, not fear. Therefore, boldness flows from an intimate connection to Jesus. It’s not something we muster up on our own; it’s something the Spirit empowers us to do. Boldness is Spirit-led, not self-led.
Would any of the apostles, Peter and John specifically, have chosen prison, rejection, and hardship if it were up to them? Probably not. But they were willing—willing to say “yes” to God, no matter the cost. Their boldness was not based on their own strength but on their dependency on God. That’s the heart of boldness.
Boldness doesn’t mean you never face fear or doubt; it means you simply choose to trust and obey God even when the path is uncertain. Boldness means saying “yes,” even when you want to say no. Though obedience isn’t always convenient, it's always worth it.
As you dream with God, He’s going to challenge you. He’s going to ask you to step into things you’ve never imagined, to think in ways that stretch you, and to act with the kind of faith that will take you beyond your comfort zone. He’ll blow your mind with what’s possible and He’ll shift your perspective on what’s true. But here’s the beauty of it: as you depend on Him, you’ll discover that with God, nothing is impossible. All He needs is your “YES!”
Boldness is a life of intentional connection with the Lord and ongoing obedience to His will. It’s trusting God in the face of adversity, and moving forward even when plans don’t unfold the way we expect. It’s staying committed to God’s presence and purposes, even when the dreams seem impossible. Boldness isn’t about never feeling fear; it’s about choosing to trust God in spite of fear.
May your life be marked by your YES to Jesus—empowered by the Spirit and fully connected to the One who can do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine.
Steps to Take:
Step 1: Speak What Scares You
Pray the prayer that makes your voice tremble. Say the thing you’ve been afraid to speak out loud.
👉 Practical tip: Write down your boldest prayer, then read it out loud as a declaration.
Step 2: Ask for Holy Confidence
Tell God, “I want to trust You more than I fear failure.” Then listen.
👉 Practical tip: Read Acts 4:13 slowly, asking, “What made them bold, and what would that look like in me?”
Step 3: Say “Yes” Before You Know the Outcome
You don’t need all the answers. You just need the obedience to say “yes.”
👉 Practical tip: Start today with, “Whatever You ask of me, Lord, my answer is already yes.”
💥 Boldness begins at the altar of surrender. Say yes, even when it’s hard. Heaven is waiting on your voice.
When you dare to pray bold prayers, your faith activates heaven’s response. Watch my video on how to live bold, check out my book, or download a free devotional resource to keep walking in bold surrender.
