30 Days - Day 9

Day 9

Acts 4:29

29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

I am so not bold! As a child I remember (and am told) that I did and said things that were kind of bold for a child to say and do. I don’t know where that went, but I would hardly characterize myself as bold. So, when I see the disciples here and at other places in scripture praying for boldness I am right there with them.

Peter and John and the other believers realize that now speaking in the name of Jesus could carry some serious consequences. Threats had been made by the authorities. In fact, Peter and John only escaped punishment because the authorities couldn’t find a way to punish them. They couldn’t count on such a lack of inventiveness next time. So in the face of these threats they pray for boldness to do what they know is right.

Perhaps it was our Lord’s example that stood out to them. In the garden He prayed. We are told He was in agony as He wrestled in prayer. It was a struggle that cried “not My will but Yours be done”. And, having prayed, we see Him strengthen.

We also see in Ephesians that these disciples were not the only ones to pray for boldness. Paul! Yes, Paul also prayed for boldness. Paul who seems to have no lack of boldness. Paul who had to be pleaded with not to enter into a theater with an angry mob. Paul who after being stoned, walked back into the city and preached more before moving on. Yet, in Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul asks the Ephesians to pray for him that he would speak the gospel boldly and proclaim it as he should.

No one is immune to the temptation to fold when facing persecution. The disciples realize that even in speaking of something which they have witnessed and has changed their lives they still need power from God. However, even when there is no persecution involved we still need boldness from God to speak His word. While we have a message that is truly "good news" we also have a message that the world hates. We want so badly for it to be accepted by them, yet we know they may reject it. It is God’s boldness that we require to speak God’s word and proclaim it as we should. “...Grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word...”

Prayer Requests Day 9

1) Opportunities to meet new people
----1. in the park, at the playground as Christian plays
----2. through opportunities to teach English
----3. people that we meet while walking in the city, doing daily errands, shopping, etc.
2) Open doors & hearts prepared to the gospel
3) Wisdom for all we do here
4) That God would order our days and we would make the most of each opportunity
5) Breaking down of spiritual strongholds that oppose the gospel