In my little devotion book about the beach, the author mentioned milquetoast. I hadn’t heard this word in years and for certain didn’t recall seeing it in print, so I was intrigued.

Turns out, the word milquetoast was brought into our world through a comic strip by H. T. Webster. In The Timid Soul, Casper Milquetoast was created as the character who was timid, weak or a bland person. We now use the term milquetoast to describe such a person.

However, milquetoast is not to be confused with milk toast, which seems to be a comfort food in nearly every region and culture around the globe. It always includes bread of some sort and the topping is milk-based. But each area has added their own twist to make it unique.

Some warm the milk while others serve it cold. Some add sugar and complementary spices while others use savory spices. Some cultures thicken the milk as a white sauce while others would never consider changing the consistency of milk (Asia actually uses sweetened, condensed milk).

As I mentioned earlier, this dish brings great comfort to many in our world, but in its original form, milk toast is bland. This is where the term milquetoast gained its inspiration.

When it comes to our spiritual lives, God has called us to move beyond milquetoast lives. God has called us live boldly for Him. Don’t believe me? Take a look at some of these verses.

“The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1 – NIV)

“They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:28-31 – NIV)

“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Corinthians 3:12 – NIV)

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 – NIV)

I don’t know about you, but these few verses certainly show me that I haven’t been as bold as I should be. Did you catch the part about being filled with the Holy Spirit? God’s Spirit is within us to make us bold. To boldly be righteous people, speaking God’s truth-filled message, and sharing our hope in love. I don’t think I do this nearly as often as I should

We have some really good examples in Scripture of men and women who boldly spoke God’s message. Noah, Moses, Esther, Nathan, Isaiah, Daniel, John the baptizer, Peter, Paul, Aquila and Priscilla just to name a few.

Were these extra-ordinary people? I don’t believe so. I believe these were ordinary people who were willing to allow God’s Spirit to move them from a milquetoast life to a bold way of living. We can do the same thing.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to move and then take action when He prompts, extra-ordinary things will happen. Our lives will move from timid to powerful. We simply need to be willing, useful vessels of God’s Spirit.

I pray that you will find it within yourself to ask God where He wants to take you today. Ask what He wants you to do. Then, in boldness, take that first step toward a powerful, Spirit-filled life. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me today!

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna