Flaunt

I use to be overly dynamic about my faith. I had untamed passion. I told everyone what to believe. I prayed out loud at every prayer meeting. I volunteered for every ministry. I felt an incessant need to make Christ “known”. 
I have matured and mellowed. I still admire those on-fire and in-your-face Christians. I approve of their tenacity and their perseverance. However, God has used heartbreak and disillusionment to settle me. He chose to tame my wildfire. He preferred that I be a focused, treasured flame. 

My bridle was persecution. When I am rejected for loving holiness, my love for holiness is proved more sacred. I no longer feel the need to fight a holiness battle. I don’t feel the need to defend holiness. I just guard it. I lock it away. I treasure it.

As I witnessed people ridicule the truth, I became sensitive and introspective. Now I communicate with God through His Spirit, no longer with words. I understand why those groaning are too deep for words. (Romans 8:26). I no longer cry out or rage against the ungodly. That is futile. Evangelism, as we have defined it, seems vain to me.

Not everyone is called to guard their faith in this way. However, God never called us to be peacocks, flaunting our faith. I will only display my faith, when God gives me permission.