Passages Devotional: Courage to Speak
“Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should”Ephesians 6:19-20
Perhaps this has happened to you. An opportunity to talk to someone about Christ presents itself, and you freeze. You aren’t sure what to say and you’re scared to speak. Afterward, you felt like something was wrong with you. Certainly strong Christians don’t struggle with sharing their faith the way you do. Or do they?
Paul experienced the same fears that we do (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). That’s one reason he enlisted others to pray for him. We’d be wise to follow his example.
We have two needs as we enter the spiritual journeys of others. First, we need God to give us the words to share the gospel in a clear and relevant manner. Second, we need him to supply the courage to share it. Courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear. Courage is the strength to act despite our fears. If Paul needed prayer for boldness, so do we.
Thought
Don’t confuse courage with the absence of fear.
Take a Step
Enlist at least three others to pray for you. Have them pray for courage to speak, as well as for open doors with others and clarity of speech.
Bonus
READ: Acts 4:23-31 >>
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 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.
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Day 2: Fear or Courage?
