If you have been a follower of Christ for very long, then you know that there are times when the Lord calls us to be "bold and diligent." In fact, the Scriptures say that "the righteous are as bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1 NIV) That means that no matter what kind of personality we may have, the Lord will expect us to rely on His indwelling Spirit to enable us to act courageously and confidently in what we may consider intimidating circumstances. The "diligent" aspect of this verse means that God often requires us to persist and persevere, instead of giving in to laziness or procrastination.

I love how this Scripture says, "God be with you as you do your best." In other words, if we will make a sincere effort to please the Lord in whatever He calls us to do, He will release His power in and through us, so we can do in His strength what we could never do on our own, no matter how we tried. Unlike people, God won't put unrealistic expectations on us. He is not a cruel taskmaster, but rather, a loving Father who longs for us to reach our full potential - not on our own, but with His divine help and guidance.

Many years ago, I heard a godly man say that the entire time he was growing up, his mother told him - "Look your best, be your best, and DO YOUR BEST!" He took her instructions to heart, and he became one of the greatest evangelists of the 20th century.

So be bold! Be diligent! Do your best! And God will be with you to guarantee your success!

Prayer: Lord, fill me with a holy boldness that will cause me to continually move forward and make progress in all that You have called me to accomplish in Your name. Make me diligent and persistent in knowing You intimately and following You wholeheartedly. Teach me how to do my best at all times, and to excel in all of the work You assign to me. Thank You that as I shrug off laziness, procrastination, and fear, You will bless me and use me in mighty ways for Your glory!