Boldness.

Acts 4:29-31, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

When the religious rulers demanded that they cease speaking in the name of Jesus, Peter and John replied that they “could not but speak of what we have seen and heard.” They did not pray for an end to persecution, or for the local authorities to be removed; they prayed for boldness to continue speaking the truth in love and working the signs and wonders as God was pleased to grant. Have we prayed for this kind of boldness?

Grant us this same boldness to follow you even in the face of threats?

ESV Lectionary