To continue to speak Your word with all 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.

These first disciples of Christ had healed a man, certainly a good deed even by worldly standards, and yet they were charged not to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ again. Instead of praying for their tormentors to be destroyed, they recognized God’s sovereign purpose even in the actions taken unfairly against Jesus and prayed for boldness. No matter what happens in our world, do we recognize God’s sovereign hand, and pray for more boldness to continue to speak His truth in love?

Give us this same spirit of boldness, especially in times when Your truth is reviled in our culture!

ESV Lectionary