i realize, of course, we need to find and possess ALL our worth and value in Jesus. Well, we need and ought to do a lot of things, but honestly, making all our springs of joy and existence to be in Christ alone is not as easy as we might think. We are so often, so easily dragged backwards into the hopeless, Godless world we live in.

Lately i’m having a hard time completely finding my value in the Lord, although ALL my value is Christ alone, and there is not another. Oh sure, i know all my value is in Christ alone, and everyone who has spent time with God knows it’s the truth. Yet, if it’s all as much the truth as we declare it is, why do we tend to vacillate all the days of our lives? It’s right up there with saying “I know Jesus loves me forever”, but when things are bad we say, “Why has God abandoned me? Doesn’t He love me anymore?” And again, even though we know Christ-alone is the absolute, ultimate truth, we talk ourselves out of what we know is true. Good grief, why do we do that?

i have pondered this before the Lord and here’s how my thinking goes. All my life everything i’ve done has had some sort of measuring stick tied to it. For example, when i was young i was told, “If you mow the lawn, i’ll give you $10.” After i had gotten the lawn mowed i felt like i had value because i’d earned $10. Society likes kids who make good grades in school, and they shy away from those who don’t. i was told when i was young, “If you make good grades your mother and i will be so proud of you.” And then came the unspoken part which went something like, “And then we’ll treat you like we like you…a LOT! And if you don’t we’ll withhold our emotional availability and will subtly hold you in contempt.”  Implying that if i didn’t make good grades, nobody would like me nor would my parents be proud of me. Make good grades = everyone likes you, make poor grades = nobody likes you. Interestingly, there were people who didn’t like me even if i made the best grades, and people who did like me…. a lot …especially when i made the worst grades. As long as my value was tied up in my ability to produce, i would always fall short, especially if i was always raising the bar of what was successful.
So much of my life’s value has been tied to my ability to make money, and when the Lord moved me out west, suddenly i became “the guy who was busy but didn’t make money” because my vocation changed to serving the Lord fulltime. Friends, it’s glorious to think of ourselves in full time ministry, but i’m telling you, when you’ve got $10 in your pocket and $500 in office rent is due, all that “full time ministry” stuff is very uncomfortable, especially when, like myself, you absolutely refuse to beg for donations and drum up support. I will not do it. As a result, my self-worth crashed and burned because all my value was tied up in my ability to make money. i didn’t realize so much of my value was tied up in making money, but it was. i’m far closer to the idea of “all my value comes from Christ alone” but on the other side of that, i’ve been in the throes of a complete identity crisis for 17 years now, all because my value in my own eyes was expressly tied to my ability to make money and be approved of by others. i’ve been trained that my worth is expressly tied to my ability to produce and be valuable (according to someone else) since i was born, diligently taught by my parents, school, friends and associates, movies, advertising, the military, bosses, clients, even some parts of the church (do good, get good, do bad, get bad). i have never known anything other than the concept my value comes from another man’s evaluation, subtly checking the boxes on a hypothetical performance chart. It all points out that my perspective is not nearly as important as the evaluators.

But then, i’m faced with God telling me, for 53 years now, that He is my value, He is my all in all, He is my strength, He is my hope, He is my wisdom, He is my insight, He is my peace, He is my, well — everything that is anything of real and lasting value, yet i have never known anything other than a worldly system which has been in my head since i was born. So to say, “all my springs of joy are in Him” can prove to be a difficult thing for most of us to imagine, that is, if we’re honest.

i think most of us, if we’re honest have a really hard time imagining ourselves as having value unless we attain a worldly standard, make money, or achieve some note worthy success.
Having value any other way is nearly unimaginable even though i have a very vivid imagination. But yet there is evidence in my life of value which comes by a different route than my being productive enough to deserve value. i stand in faith, i’ve lived a supernatural life so long i can’t imagine living any other way, i’ve witnessed the blue fire around the corners of the room during high praise, and no i’m not making that up, i wasn’t the only one who saw so i know i didn’t imagine it. i’ve witnessed the Holy Spirit set in upon the room and change our bodies, hearts, and make people sane again, whether i believed it or not, and He didn’t ask me if it was ok. My life has been more than natural, it is super-natural because God is supernatural, and i can’t deny where i’ve been with Him, even if it’s beyond the beyond of my imagination. It is the Lord. i’ve lived in the throes of an “expectation of God” for so many years, it’s like the worldly idea of success, though stuck to me so well i can’t peel it off, is being superseded by God’s “better idea”. i’m a constant witness of the glory of God out growing me to the point it is humbling to be in the presence of such constant goodness. From way out at a distance, it’s like someone is riding on a horse bringing good news to my dim “earth ears”, and the closer He gets to all things, the more all things become like Him.

Matthew 10:31, “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” and 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Our value in Christ is not something you earn, achieve, or negotiate—it is a gift declared by God and secured by what Jesus did on the cross. We are infinitely and unconditionally loved, forgiven and declared righteous, and most of all, our value in Jesus is the value of someone for whom the Son of God gladly laid down His life, and it doesn’t fluctuate with performance, feelings, success, or failure. Our value is measured by the infinite worth of Jesus Himself who says in Isaiah 43:1, “You are mine!”

What do you think?

The Bible doesn’t use a single, specific word that directly translates to “audacity” in modern English, as the term carries flavors and colors of boldness, courage, or sometimes comes with little sidebars of openly caring less what others think, depending on context. However, several Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible convey pretty direct references to what we would call audacity or being audacious, particularly in the context of bold faith, risk taking, danger, and maybe even being over-the-top adventurous. It needs to be said though, that audacity can be negative or positive. Audacity describes a boldness or a certain fearlessness, and negatively speaking, it can be a willingness to disregard any normal restraints. Let us be audacious in our faith while wholeheartedly putting away from ourselves the rude, unrighteous willingness to disregard normal constraints. Does that make sense?

One word that aligns closely with the positive sense of audacity, which is boldness rooted in faith, is the Greek word parrhesia, which occurs 31 times in one form or another.

Parrhesia translates to “boldness,” “confidence,” or “freedom of speech” and implies speaking or acting openly and courageously, often in the face of opposition or great risk. It’s not just courage, but huge courage. It’s used to describe living a fearless proclamation of truth or faith, and looks a lot like the audacious character seen of David, Esther, Jesus, Paul and the list goes on and on.

Philippians 1:19-20, “… for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage (parrhesia) now, as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Audacity is something we should boldly ask the Lord for. And i mean asking more than just one and done, but pursue that kind of faith.

In Acts 4:29-31, The apostles pray for parrhesia to speak God’s word boldly amidst persecution. “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness“, or parrhesia. Wouldn’t you know that God answers, the room shakes and they’re filled with the Spirit.

Paul repeatedly asks for prayer for audacity as in Ephesians 6:19–20.

In Hebrews 4:16 believers are encouraged to “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” Ah, do you see the implication of parrhesia, which reflects audacious faith in possessing God’s mercy? The apostles had the nerve, ! the nerve !, to approach the King of the Universe and request His help, and He was all to glad to reply, an enthusiastic reply even. They weren’t just milling around in the throne room, tugging at God’s sleeves asking for self-centered favors.

C’mon, be audacious in your prayers. A.S.K., ask, seek, knock. Remember, Jesus said we have not because we ask not. Righteous audacity, or parrhesia, literally captures the essence of acting or speaking with fearless conviction, trusting in God’s ability to do what He says and soooo much more. Like the examples of David facing Goliath or Daniel praying despite a death sentence.

While other words like the Hebrew chutzpah (often associated with boldness or nerve), or Greek words like tharsos, courage could be used, but i don’t believe either one is large enough to fit the idea of audacity. Parrhesia best reflects the bold, faith-driven audacity we’re looking for. Again, please consider that negative audacity is called arrogance, but that’s a whole different discussion.

i’ll say this again and i hope it sticks to you: Audacious faith points to bold, courageous acts of faith or defiance of evil in the face of overwhelming odds, and is rooted in trust in God, in the sense that faith is a type of “trust training”.

Do you pray with audacity, having the nerve to dream out loud to God? Do you have the audacity to “step in” the river with God? Are you audacious in standing up for what you believe? Not rude but hoisting your colors up the flag pole without stumbling around, choking on your words and being embarrassed?

In 1 Samuel 17 David faced Goliath, who was a massive Philistine warrior, and everyone was terrified of the guy, and probably his own people were frightened of him. Armed with only a sling and five stones, David’s audacity stemmed from his faith in God’s power, declaring, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty”, 1 Samuel 17:45. His boldness led to a stunning victory, slaying Goliath with a single stone and sent the Philistines running for their lives.

          In Daniel 6, Daniel defied a royal decree forbidding prayer to anyone but King Darius, and let me tell you, nobody but nobody denied the King anything or they just were killed. Despite knowing the penalty was death in a lions’ den, he continued praying to God openly. His audacious commitment to his faith resulted in God’s miraculous protection, as the lions did not harm him, demonstrating divine deliverance. In fact, his audacity to believe God over the King changed the face of a nation, at that time.

Those are just two of many and their lives highlight audacity driven by faith, courage, and conviction in the face of absolute danger or overwhelmingly impossible odds.

How about some modern examples of faith-based audacity. For 30+ years a man known as Brother Andrew smuggled Bibles into communist countries where Christianity was all but banned. His audacity in Christ led him to drive past armed border guards with hidden Bibles, trusting only God for protection. In fact, his mission organization delivered over 365,000 Bibles in 2024 alone.

Of course, we can’t leave out Corrie ten Boom’s Resistance in WWII. Her actions still resonate in present day discussions of courage. She and her family hid Jews from the Nazis during World War II. They were driven by their belief in God’s call to love and protect others. Regardless of being arrested and imprisonment in a concentration camp under horrible conditions, Corrie’s audacious faith sustained her. Besides these examples, today, there are a multitude of people’s lives that reflect extraordinary courage, rooted in faith, to confront oppression, danger, or injustice, impacting communities and even the world today.

Hebrews 10:19–22 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence (parrēsia) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” Because of Jesus, you now have the right and possess the nerve to march straight into the presence of God almighty, King of the Universe and ask for whatever you need. That is staggering audacity — and friends, God loves it.

In Mark 7, a Gentile woman has the audacity to argue with Jesus when He initially says no. Jesus commends her: “Woman, you have great faith!”

In Genesis 32, Jacob literally grabs God and says, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” God renames him Israel (“struggles with God”) and blesses him. Then there is the persistent widow of Luke 18. Jesus tells a parable about a woman who keeps pounding on an unjust judge’s door until he gives her justice, then says, “Will not God give justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night?” Jesus was saying, pray with shameless audacity. To sum all this up, audacity is praised when it flows from faith in God’s grace and promise. i heard somewhere that the gospel actually creates holy boldness. Because you’ve been forgiven everything, loved infinitely, and given direct access to the throne, God’s love is audacious, His gifts are audacious, and He’s calling us closer to Himself. We can now live and pray and speak with fearless confidence that the world will often call “audacious.” Do you have the audacity to live the life Christ has called you to?

So yes — God wants you to be audacious… with Him and for Him. Think about it.

i had a dream where i went to a friends house. As i pulled into his driveway the first thing i noticed was that his house was surrounded by a tall wooden fence, high enough that you couldn’t hardly see anything of even the roof except the peak. i went to the gate, which had a buzzer and intercom, pressed the buzzer and told him i was there. In a moment, the gate unlocked. When i stepped through the gate, inside was another gate with a buzzer and intercom. There were many gates in a short space before i got to the front door. When he finally opened the front door he glanced around outside as if he was checking to see if anyone else was watching and let me inside. In the dream, from the front and back windows i could see his entire yard was a series of fences and gates. i thought why, oh why is there so much fencing, and fencing inside the fencing, mostly hiding nothing? When i asked him why all the extreme fencing, he said it was nobody’s business what was inside. i thought to myself, “But there’s nothing to hide but hiding itself.” As i woke up the Lord gave me a revelation. i realized his ardent fencing was built out of fear, fear that if anyone saw inside his yard they might use it against him, fear of shame, fear someone might “know” something. i thought to myself that truthfully speaking, there was nothing to know, and fear was driving all his constant guarding.

You know, i’ve discovered the hard way that we can be a friend to someone, even if they don’t let you in the gate, but it’s pretty impossible to have a relationship with them. As they sit inside their highly guarded, nearly insurmountable fence or wall, yes, we can talk to them through the boundary, pass notes back and forth, and even toss food and water to them over the top, but in the end, it is very, very limited, and totally controls any real connection, if any connection. We need to connect, meaning we must let God tear down the walls and fences of our own construction. i did NOT say boundaries were NOT good, because they are, they are God’s invention and even God has boundaries, obviously. But our constant walling out the Lord and the very people we need in order to prosper in our efforts to secure life and have it more abundantly, i believe is driven by woundedness, and fears of all sorts, and usually the kind of fears which totally make no sense. All the while, we sit in sustained, abject loneliness while feeling falsely secure behind our fencing, secretly wishing we could be free. We need to connect. Some are so dedicated to their fences, the term “immurement” comes to mind. Immurement literally means “walling in”, and is a form of imprisonment, in which a person is placed within an enclosed space with no exits, and if it’s allowed to persist, the prisoner will simply die from starvation or dehydration. It can be spiritual as well as physical.

Going to church is good, but is it really, truly, enough of a connection? i fail to understand how many people base their entire connectivity with God through a 1 and ½ hour event on Sunday. When scripture says, Forsake not the gathering together of yourselves in Hebrews 10:25, it doesn’t mean merely “go to church”, as we’ve been taught. It means to connect, and i mean for more than just 10 minutes before and after. The Lord didn’t make a law out of going to church in that scripture, we did. We’ll be told we absolutely have free will to do as we see fit, but then there’s the subtle, unspoken coercion that, “if you don’t then we’ll think you’ve backslidden”, all decided in the court of public opinion of course.  We’re the ones who made a law out of it all, yet we don’t make room for the real connections we need …and connecting takes time and maybe even courage. God is telling us to get ourselves to a group of like-minded people where we can freely express ourselves, be open and disclosing, and connect. Maintaining a complex fencing system denies us the connections we so desperately need, and i don’t care how tough you think you are, you can’t successfully do life unto the Lord, hidden behind your fences.

And what if we’ve been hurt by someone’s callous religiousness? Let me say that it’s bound to happen. Some people feel it’s their job to make sure others are compliant with the rules, and boy, do they love to tell people about all their rule breaking. In light of that, here comes the idea of “moral superiority” which inspires others to put up more fencing. “They’ve” been to church every time the doors are open and they really feel the need to ask, “i’ve been noticing you’ve not been here much. Why haven’t you been here?” “i’ve noticed you drink a beer occasionally, don’t you know it’s a s-i-n to drink?” “i’ve noticed you have some worldly music in your car. Where is God in your life?” “i’ve noticed you don’t bring your Bible sometimes. i thought you were a Christian.”

Regardless of those who feel obligated to make sure others are “fixed and complying” with some unspoken rules, we can look past them and address what’s going on with ourselves. We need to connect. Ever hear of stonewalling? It is a persistent refusal to communicate or to express emotions. It is common during conflicts, or when people attempt to avoid uncomfortable conversations out of fear that engaging will result in a fight, or someone will know something and use it against them. When we allow our fences to not only keep other scary people out, they also serve to keep us in. Every fence has two sides you know. Come out of your fenced in area you’ve built. God is calling you to connect. You think you’re gifted? You probably are, but, my friend, you can’t give away what you’ve got unless you are there to give it away. i’ll say it again, we can be a friend to someone, even if they don’t let you across the fence, but it is pretty impossible to have a relationship with them.

What do you think?