Passage of the Day:
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.[b]’[c] 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 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 4:23-31.
Reflection:
Over my 40 years as a practicing Christian, I’ve met a few individuals who placed their complete dependence and trust in God, Proverbs 3:5-6. These mature followers of Christ remind me of first century apostles. Despite being imprisoned for their faith, John and Peter couldn’t stop telling others about Jesus. Rather than become fearful of government officials and religious leaders, these godly men turned to the Lord for strength. According to Luke, this time of prayer was so powerful that this place was filled with the Holy Spirit. Upon leaving this meeting, those in attendance were filled with a spirit of courage, boldly proclaiming the good news about Jesus.
Prayerful Action:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:9.
Developing the Spiritual Guts to Press On:
Whenever individuals are blessed with material possessions, human nature has a way of leading to complacency. Perhaps, this is what happened to the church in Laodicea, Revelation 3:15-18. Instead of placing your sole trust in God, many Christians rely on their own abilities to provide for their families. There was a time in my own life when I lived paycheck to paycheck, unable to affordable extra-curricular activities. Yet, now with just one child in college, my family has been blessed with the funds to enjoy life. Nonetheless, I have to avoid the temptation to become lukewarm in my faith. The next time a spirit of complacency comes your way, pray to the Lord that you’ll be filled with a courage and boldness.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Temptations never stop in life. Subsequently, regularly praying for boldness and courageous is essential. The spiritual discipline of Bible Study and prayer helps protect your mind. Meanwhile, when you gather together with other Christians to pray, this sets the spiritual tone for courage.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 