The Boldness

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 (NIV)

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I have known the paralysis of fear before an opportunity to speak the truth I believed.

I called my silence wisdom, discretion, timing.

Often it was simply fear wearing a nicer name.

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But when You fill a room, the walls of caution shake loose along with everything else.

The disciples did not become naturally braver men overnight. You filled them, and boldness followed, because courage was never meant to be self-generated, it was always meant to be given.

I called my occasional courage a good day.

It was You, showing up on the days I let You.

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Forgive me for calling my fear discretion.

You do not ask me to manufacture boldness.

You ask me to be filled, and let boldness follow.

Filling Spirit, shake loose what caution I am hiding behind, and let me speak.

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A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Thank You, Holy Spirit, for boldness that is given, not conjured.

Thank You for shaking loose my excuses.

Fill me today and let boldness follow. Amen.

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