“The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion” (Proverbs 28:1).

Boldness eluded me for many years. I was shy, timid. I am naturally an introvert, so I don’t like to be seen to begin with. But I was so timid I would run and hide if I thought someone was going to call on me to pray or prophesy publicly. My first mentor in the prophetic gave me some keen advice: pray for boldness.

Throughout the pages of the Bible, we see boldness as part of the prophetic DNA of many men of God. Moses confronted Pharoah and delivered millions of Israelites from Egyptian bondage after releasing a series of plagues. And remember when King Ahab called Elijah a troubler of Israel? Elijah didn’t back down or run away. Instead, the prophet boldly replied:

“I have made no trouble for Israel. You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel” (1 Kings 18:18-19).

Elijah was so bold, he not only confronted a wicked king but called a showdown with 850 prophets. Operating in the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist called the religious leaders to the carpet: “But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. ‘You brood of snakes!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who warned you to flee the coming wrath?’” (Matthew 3:7). Jesus as prophet was at least as bold.

Boldness and harshness are not the same thing. Boldness is fearless in the face of danger. Bold is a daring spirit. Boldness is freedom. When the apostles were filled with the Spirit of God, they spoke the word of God with boldness (see Acts 4:31). Prophets filled with the Spirit of God should be equally as bold. That’s how people will know we’ve been with Jesus (see Acts 4:13).

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you boldness and deliver you from timidity or cowardice that keeps your tongue cleaving to the roof of your mouth when you should be prophesying.

This is an excerpt from The Prophet's Devotional.

Check out the new course, Developing Prophetic Boldness, here.