Casandra Martin

She chased me down the aisle at the grocery store. She got close, took a breath, and whispered, “Can I tell you how God has been blessing me?” In wonder, she described the way that God had been working in her family. Provision had been made, joy had been poured out, answered prayers were abundant, and God’s presence was very real and very close. She looked at me and said, “I am in this aisle stocking the shelves, but really, I am, I am…” Overwhelmed, she stopped. I filled in the blanks as we stood together next to the pretzels. “You are praising God,” I said. “Yes!” she exclaimed, a huge smile overwhelming her face.

Back up a few minutes. Picture me with my grocery cart searching the shelves for just the right thing. A store clerk is surrounded by boxes as she fills in the empty spaces on the shelves. She notices what I am buying, points out a coupon I didn’t see, and returns to her job. I thank her, pushing my basket away. I turn around and tell her that I am praying she will have a blessed day. Next thing I know, she is chasing me down the aisle and we have this amazing conversation about God’s power and timing.

Back up a few months. Studying through Acts, I noticed that one single word kept rising to my attention – bold. The early Christians were bold. They didn’t hope people would notice Jesus in them – they spoke His name, extended His grace, and poured out His love. No one left Peter or Paul’s presence without hearing the name of Jesus. God was poking at my heart. I am not bold by nature, but I could be bold by grace. A surrendered decision to be bold is why I spoke a blessing to a woman in the aisle at the grocery store, which God used to open a door of conversation and open my eyes to His glory.

My Jesus Resolution today is to be bold. I walked out of that aisle of the grocery store completely humbled and amazed. God poured His goodness out in abundance in aisle nine. Going bold allowed me to see it, participate in it, and soak it up. Too often fear keeps me from going bold, but imagine what might happen if every Christian determined to walk away from every encounter leaving a little bit of Jesus behind. In Acts 17:6, Luke records that their boldness “turned the world upside down.” Maybe that is God’s bold plan for us as well.