Make Us Courageous

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. - Acts 4:29-30

When you read these verses for the first time, you might think there is an error. I mean, shouldn't the early disciples have prayed, "Lord, consider their threats, and protect us!"? Isn't that the way we usually pray for those who are tasked with taking the Gospel around the world? Lord, keep them (friends, family, others) safe?

Of course, it is. Yet, is it right and proper to pray in this way? Those early followers did not pray for protection. Instead, as slaves of Christ, they prayed for "complete boldness." Why? The way of Christ is never the way of earthly security. His way concerns eternal security and it demands a supernatural boldness, a courage that is rooted in His indwelling presence.

With this in mind, pray not that the Lord would keep you safe. For the love of God, pray that He would make you courageous.

Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart, courage to make love known? - William Shakespeare