Make Me Bold

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness.” - Acts 4:29

In July of 2013, two young girls in Pakistan received a copy of “The Story of Jesus” in their native language of Urdu. The Christians who distributed the booklets joyfully reported that these girls trusted Christ after reading the booklets.

Just a couple of months later, on a sunny Sunday morning, two suicide bombers entered the All Saints Church compound in Peshawar, Pakistan. The Islamists waited until the services were over and the nearly 500 worshipers began to gather for a meal together. At 11:45, they detonated their suicide vests and killed 78 people and injured another 130. It was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan.

The two young girls, fresh in their faith, were among those killed in this attack.

This true story was taken from Voice of the Martyrs blog. Intense suffering and persecution are still very real threats to Christians around the world. And yet, even under to most dangerous and intense situations, they do not pray that the persecution would stop, but that they would be faithful and bold for Christ in the midst of it. Can you imagine having such daring faith in ever-present danger? Where do these believers get such boldness and passion for the Gospel?

The only possible answer is from Christ through the Holy Spirit. Just as Peter and John prayed thousands of years ago for boldness and not relief, faithful disciples of Christ today are doing the same. What about you? Are you praying for deliverance from hard circumstances, or the boldness to walk through them faithfully so that Christ’s power is displayed through your life?

Dear Father, So often I lack boldness in my faith. I need courage that only Your Spirit can give. Please help me to rely on Your power and not my own to speak the truth of Your Word with conviction and compassion. Make me an effective witness of the Gospel. Thank You for Your faithfulness to my brothers and sisters in Pakistan and for their example of what it means to stand boldly for You. 

 In Jesus’ Name, Amen.