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Spreading the Good News with Boldness

By: Dana Parrish

Posted: April 23, 2016

Category: Daily Devotional

“But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The preached the word of God with boldness. Act 4:28-31

Sometimes I read God’s word and get overwhelmed with all that He asks me to do. I get overwhelmed because I am trying to do these things on my own. When I read these verses it reminded me that He is not asking me to boldly spread his word on my own. He gave me the power of the Holy Spirit to give me the strength and courage to do what I cannot. I am not brave and courageous nor do I possess the words and ability to do so, but the Holy Spirit that lives in me does. If we pray this same prayer that Jesus’ followers prayed we will be able to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus and spread the Good News that is Jesus Christ.

If we believe that Jesus is who he says he is and that he died and rose again and that through his gift of salvation we have eternal life, then the power of the Holy Spirit fills our hearts and we are able to live for Christ and die to ourselves. When we do that we let Jesus “take the wheel” and it no longer matters what we want because we are so in love with Jesus that we want nothing more than do be His people and live for Him. We give up control and the thought that we can do all things alone and embrace the Holy Spirit and begin realize that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13 Then we can speak God’s word with boldness!

Prayer

Gracious and Loving God, thank You for Your word, which is truth. Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to help us do what we alone cannot. I pray that each day I can speak boldly in Your name. Even though that is not in my character to do so, it is in Yours. Help me to stop trying to do this and all things alone and instead rely on the Holy Spirit that lives inside of me. In Jesus Name, Amen.