I've had the great opportunity to speak with Skillet lead singer John Cooper about many songs over the past ten years of writing these behind the song devotionals and I have always enjoyed their biblical viewpoints in their songwriting. Skillet drummer and vocalist Jen Ledger joined the band when she was just 18 years old and recently she stepped out in faith to release her debut solo project, LEDGER EP which features the single, "Not Dead Yet."
 
Her heart behind her songs and how her faith and biblical understanding has guided her in moments of anxiety and fear is beautifully expressed in these catchy songs. I love how LEDGER phrases biblical truth in vertically directed songs to encourage and edify listeners to live for God. I had the chance to speak with Jen Ledger about her song, "Bold."
 
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The themes of this song are similar to "Not Dead Yet," but said in more of a proclaiming way. "Not Dead Yet" is a bit of a theme song of singing against the enemy and "Bold" is more so proclaiming the truth of who God has called me to be. Something I've struggled with a ton in my life is feeling really timid. That's one of the biggest things I have to get over, which is myself. I'm currently reading the Book of Esther and something that reminded me of why I wrote this song is that she could have chosen to be the orphan girl or she could choose to live out the destiny that God had for her. The biggest thing she had to choose to do was to overcome just being who she thought she was. I can relate so much to her story. Something I really struggle with is wondering if fear is making something seem too big or scary for me. God hasn't called us to be a perfect people. He has called us to be a people who step out with Him. It's all about remembering that God is with me and it is okay if I'm not the strongest, but I will step out and trust that He will meet me and go with me where I will go. He will help me. Those are the promises that He has given me. This song is speaking the truth that I choose to rely on who God has made me to be and the identity that He has given me instead of following my emotions and how I am feeling. This song is about claiming who God has called me to be.
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Romans 12:2 (VOICE): "Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete."
 
Proverbs 28:1 (VOICE): "The wicked run away even when no one is chasing them; the right-living, however, stand their ground as boldly as lions."
 
1 Corinthians 1:27 (VOICE): "But celebrate this: God selected the world's foolish to bring shame upon those who think they are wise; likewise, He selected the world's weak to bring disgrace upon those who think they are strong."
 
2 Corinthians 3:11-12 (NLT): "So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold."

2 Corinthians 10:2-5 (NIV): "I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world; we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Chronicles 32:7 (NKJV): "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him."

Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG): "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

What is the takeaway message?

I've realized that the more time I spend in the truth of the Word and washing my mind and reminding myself and my heart of how big God is, and the testimonies of what He has already done, I'm able to get over myself and stop being timid and instead, be who God has called me to be. That's what I need to fix my mind on. If I fill my mind with how great God is, I remember that He is in control. I've got big opportunities and rather than fixate my mind on the future, I can fix my eyes on Him. He will provide people, advice, and wisdom. Remembering who He is helps me to be bold. This is a song that declares who we are in relation to God. Even though we are weak, and feel small and afraid, it's not the identity He's given us. He makes us bold, He makes us a new creation, and when He speaks something over us it is our true identity. We can be bold and courageous because of Him, because everything we aren't sufficient in, He is! He calls us His and tells us He is for us. He calls the weak and makes them strong. He calls the foolish, and the lowly to bring Him glory. That is what makes me bold. If God is for me, who can be against me? Choose to step out and rest in Him. I hope people can learn to step out in faith and be bold when they listen to this song. Trust that God will lead you.
 
Lyrics:
All this time
I have believed the lie
That I wasn't made to fly
My wings are bound, stuck to the ground

But I hear truth remind me
You are right behind me
Go ahead and break the mold

I'm gonna be bold
Gotta hold my head up
Cause I know when I get up
There's a victory I already hold
I'm gonna be strong
Gotta get my banner
Cause I know whose side I'm on
Got a heart like steel, a faith like gold
I'm gonna be bold

Take a breath
Faith builds within my chest
Spirit in every step
I'm made for this and so I rest

Cause I hear truth remind me
You are right behind me
Go ahead and break themould

I'm gonna be bold
Gotta hold my head up
Cause I know when I get up
There's a victory I already hold
I'm gonna be strong
Gotta get my banner
Cause I know whose side I'm on
Got a heart like steel, a faith like gold
I'm gonna be bold

No more doubt
No more small and scared
I'm not broken beyond repair
No more fear
No more playing safe
I will not be chained

I'm gonna be bold
Gotta hold my head up
Cause I know when I get up
There's a victory I already hold
I'm gonna be strong
Gotta get my banner
Cause I know whose side I'm on
Got a heart like steel, a faith like gold
I'm gonna be bold

I will not be chained
I'm gonna be bold
I will not be chained 
 
Closing Thoughts

From the first listen, this song fired me up to be more diligent as a husband, father and follower of Jesus. As men, we often struggle with fear of failure and complacency. As Christians, we are called to be bold for Christ and to serve Him daily. We can't find true courage in our own strength; we need to trust in Jesus. I have three young daughters that I'm trying to raise to be unashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to find their identity in Jesus.
 
With my personal connection to the biblical messages in Christian music having led me to a saving faith, and as a dad of girls, when I heard this album with songs about Christian identity, being bold about faith, and finding truth and love in God instead of from the world, I wanted to shout those messages from the mountaintops along with LEDGER.
 
We are all called to have the faith expressed by John the Baptist: "He must increase, but I must decrease." There's also a call to ministry in this song, "I'm gonna be strong, Gotta get my banner, Cause I know whose side I'm on, Got a heart like steel, a faith like gold, I'm gonna be bold." Be a prayer warrior and "not ashamed of the Gospel." We all need to be unashamed of our faith in Jesus, and we all need to be bold in expressing our faith. Boldness is about standing in confidence and in faith that everything will work out. Have faith and let God "work all things together for good."
 
Boldness means action. God gives us courage. Stand up for what you believe. Don't compromise. There is only One Way, One Truth and One Life, and that's found in our Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the World, and He is everywhere through the Holy Spirit who lives inside each of us when we've received Him as the Lord of our lives. Matthew 5 tells us: "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept." Join in and sing before Him, "I'm gonna be bold, Gotta hold my head up, Cause I know when I get up, There's a victory I already hold." Amen to that!