Walking through Defining Moments

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.”
(Joshua 2:8–9)

Every Christian walks through defining moments when fear tries to keep us from stepping into all that God desires. Sometimes those moments rise quietly in ordinary, everyday places, where God tenderly nudges our hearts toward obedience. At other times, they arrive as significant turning points that can redirect the very course of our lives. These defining moments call for courageous faith—faith that God often begins cultivating in us long before we recognize it.

Rahab’s story offers a powerful picture of this unseen preparation. She was a woman many avoided, publicly known as a prostitute and carrying the weight of shame. Yet God was already at work in her heart long before the Israelite spies reached her hometown of Jericho. When the king demanded that she hand the spies over, Rahab made a choice no one expected. Instead of protecting herself, she protected them, hiding them on her roof at great personal risk. Her obedience in that moment wasn’t a coincidence; it was the response of a heart beginning to trust the God who sees, saves, and redeems.

Faith has a profound effect on the people around us. Consider the spies who trusted God and Rahab who acted on what she believed. Their obedience helped shape the future of an entire nation. The same principle holds true in our lives today. Your faith shapes the atmosphere of your home and influences the people God has placed around you. Do those closest to you feel encouraged to trust God more because of how you live? Your step of faith may be the spark that ignites a spiritual domino effect in the lives of others.

Bold Step Challenge:
Identify one area in your life where fear has been holding you back from fully trusting God. This week, take one small but intentional step of faith in that area. Ask God to use your obedience to encourage and strengthen the faith of those around you.

Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for working in the hidden places of my heart and preparing me for moments that call for courageous faith. Help me to recognize the areas where fear has tried to hold me back. Give me the strength to take bold steps of obedience and to trust You with the outcome. May my life create an atmosphere of faith for those around me, and may You use my obedience to inspire others to seek You more deeply. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Listen to the sermon: Change Your Story

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Ministry Update from Mark

Before we close out the first month of 2026, I want to invite you to make a commitment that can shape your entire year, a commitment to spiritual growth that lasts. That’s why I’m excited to share my brand-new resource designed to walk with you week after week: Growing in Christ: 52 Devotionals for a Year of Faith.

I truly believe this is one of the most intentional tools we’ve ever offered through Bold Steps, and I want you to experience it for yourself. Whether you're just beginning your faith journey or you’ve been following Christ for years, Growing in Christ will help you take the next step forward. This time next year, you’ll be able to look back and see the growth God has brought into your life. Consider picking up a copy for yourself—and one for someone you love who could use encouragement and direction in their spiritual walk.

Let’s start 2026 grounded, focused, and growing in Christ together. Click the link under the Next Step Gift to get your copy today.