Bravely Bold Be-Attitudes (Part 1: “B”)

Those who know me are well aware that I adore coffee.  The fancy and the flavorful.   Lattes, cappuccinos, and mochas.  Even just plain regular—as long as it is bold and strong.  And please do not forget the coffeehouses!  A favorite in New Orleans is Café du Monde, and there are two of the most divine coffeehouses in Dallas (that I have so far discovered), which serve multiple flavors—all you want and free refills!  My beloved husband knows this is my passion, and he diligently searches and finds quaint little places he knows I would enjoy—a man after my heart!

Since I favor the bold flavors, my mind is drawn to think about connecting the two.  Coffee + Boldness = Connections.  What does it look like to be bold?  What do I do, or what could I do, that may be bold?  When I consider boldness, I think risk, take a chance, go for it.  Consider areas in which we are willing to be bold—our motives, our beliefs, and our passions.  This week, we will focus primarily on connecting the spiritual piece of our lives.

Naturally, I turn to Scripture to discover what it says about boldness.  Hebrews says we can approach the throne of grace boldly, or with confidence (Hebrews 4:16).  The disciples (past and present) are bold sharing their faith.  And we demonstrate boldness as we desire to live with excellence.  We are bold when we live with determination.  We are bold when we exercise integrity and trust, the qualities that build and exhibit our character.

To simply associate Scripture and boldness, we can use the acrostic B-O-L-D as a memory tip.

B = Be-Attitudes (purposefully misspelled).  The Beatitudes are listed in Matthew 5 and known as the “Blessed are …” statements.  Let us look at these selected characteristics from the perspective of boldness.  These may not appear obvious in the realm of boldness, yet consider them as they are connected to being bravely bold.  It takes bravery to be bold as we embrace these Be-Attitudes.

• Poor in spirit – Poor in spirit is essentially humility. Jesus is our perfect example of humility (Philippians 2:3-8).  Humility is expressed by practicing a servant’s heart and intentionally putting others before ourselves.  We exercise boldness when we are humble.
• Mourn – When we mourn, we express deep emotion. Through the process of grief, we find comfort from God and others.  Mourning allows the opportunity to be sensitive by sharing grief or emotion we may have experienced and in comforting others.  We exercise boldness when we allow ourselves to mourn and comfort.
• Meekness – Meekness is defined as strength under control. It is not a sign of weakness but of inner strength.  If we become angry, for example, we can exercise strength by purposefully staying calm and quiet.  We can quietly excuse ourselves from a challenging situation for a few moments until we are better able to handle the situation.  If we do not step away, we run the risk of doing more harm.  We exercise boldness when we express meekness.
• Hunger and thirst for righteousness – Hunger and thirst are both a physical need and a deep desire.  Righteousness is simply right living.  Connecting the two is the desire to live a life of excellence.  We exercise boldness when we live with uprightness, honesty, and blamelessness.
• Merciful – A simple way of explaining mercy is not giving someone what they deserve. It is an act of compassion and forgiveness.  Mercy is one of the most difficult traits to exercise and one of the most freeing.  We exercise boldness when we show mercy.
• Pure in heart – Purity reflects cleanness, without spot, and without blame. “In heart” is our very core: our mind, will, and emotions—every part of our lives.  It is an act of being set apart for a special purpose.  If we desire to be pure in heart, expect to be refined or pruned—that is, a removal of what is impure.  This is also painful, yet it is necessary.  We exercise boldness when we display purity, integrity, and endurance.
• Peacemakers – A peacemaker is one who brings harmony and reconciliation. When we identify situations that require peacemaking, we may think of conflict management, agreeing to disagree, and forgiveness.  One is a peacemaker when attempting to bring unity and reconciliation.  We exercise boldness when we seek to make peace.

And that is just the B’s!  As you may have seen, each could be further examined.  The rest are shorter yet just as powerful.  Here are some verses that we can associate with the rest of the acrostic.  I would encourage you to review these verses and consider how they may be related to boldness.  At a later date, we will explore each of these aspects.

O – Open my mouth that I may speak with wisdom and kindness (Proverb 31:26).

L – Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5).

D – Delight yourself in the Lord (Psalm 37:4).

We exercise boldness when we love God with all we are and when we allow Him to speak words of life to others through us.  Though these characteristics are taken from Scripture, we can connect them to practice in our daily lives.  Each of these traits can be difficult for some.  They may seem uncommon or difficult today—that is the bravery aspect.  We are bravely bold when we practice them.  Yet, we can display them every place we go and with every person we contact.

“You made me bold with strength in my soul.” (Psalm 138:3, NASB)

Our connections challenge for this week:  As you enjoy your favorite coffee (or tea), take a moment to meditate on one or more of these Be-Attitudes and how you can be bravely bold.  Be bravely bold, and exercise one or more at the workplace, at the grocery store, at the gym, and at home.  I encourage you to focus on at least one Be-Attitude this week, and watch how your life and the lives of others are influenced—all because you are being bravely bold!

Thank you for connecting with me today!  Be brave!  Be bold!  Be excellent!