Last year, we as a family had the most incredible family vacation in Africa.

Emily was completing a two-month internship in Zambia as part of her Master’s degree program and we knew that this was a brilliant excuse to travel to this amazing part of the world. So, we went. I am so glad we did.

Africa was astoundingly beautiful. We travelled from Zambia to Zimbabwe seeing the sites and experiencing the culture. And what trip to Africa would be complete without going on safari?

As we jumped into the large Land Rover our guide and the tracker asked what animals we were interested in seeing.

“All of them!" I said. “But I would really love to see a lion”.

With that we were off, in search of a lion, in a 1.5 million acre national park! (Talk about finding a needle in a haystack!!) Five and a half hours later our Guide and tracker quietly pulled up beside two majestic lions lying in the shade of a mopane tree.

They were so beautiful. So majestic. So bold. But what I marvelled at was how confident they were as our vehicle pulled up a mere 20 feet from where they lay.

These amazing cats owned their space. They knew instinctively that we couldn’t possibly be a threat so they stayed exactly where they were. In their confidence they looked like they were relaxing. This scene reminded me of the verse in Proverbs 28:1 which says:

But the godly are as bold as lions.

What an amazing image, isn't it? To be bold and confident as lions. That’s how we are when we are right with God.

Boldness isn’t arrogance; its assured confidence. In our case, this is confidence in Jesus Christ who never fails us and never forsakes us. Jesus, who has paid all our spiritual debts. In boldness we can stand up against the voices of the past, the nagging whispers of self doubt, and the attempts of the enemy to trip us up.

You have been redeemed and you are a child of God. You can have confidence in the saving power of Christ. Be bold!

This Sunday we are starting a new series entitled Extraordinary Boldness where we will look at the truths found in the book of Acts. Please plan to join us. It's not the same without you.