Pray Boldly, Stand Firm

Prayer is not only about bringing our needs before God. Prayer also prepares us to live boldly for Christ.

At the end of Ephesians 6, Paul asks believers to pray for him. Think about where Paul was when he made that request. He was in prison because he had been preaching about Jesus Christ. Yet he did not ask the church to pray that he would become quieter or that life would become easier. He asked them to pray that he would continue to speak the gospel with boldness.

We see something very similar in Acts 4.

Peter and John had been arrested for preaching Jesus. After they were released, they returned to the other believers and prayed. Their prayer was not, “Lord, make sure this never happens again.” Instead, they asked God to help them speak His Word with confidence. Scripture tells us that after they prayed, the place where they were gathered was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued speaking the Word of God with boldness.

God answered their prayer.

Why did they need that boldness?

Because the gospel is powerful.

Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel does something no earthly power can do. It brings spiritual life to those who are spiritually dead. That is why Paul was not ashamed of it, and that is why we should be willing to share Jesus with others.

But sometimes fear and anxiety can make boldness difficult.

First Peter 5:6-7 tells us to humble ourselves before God and cast our anxieties upon Him because He cares for us. When anxiety begins to weigh us down, our first response should be prayer. We bring what we are carrying to Jesus and trust Him with it.

Peter then reminds us to stay alert because our enemy is looking for opportunities to pull us away from trusting God. His answer is simple: resist him and stand firm in your faith. We do not resist in our own strength. We submit ourselves to God, continue trusting Him, and depend upon the grace of Christ.

Prayer should also reach beyond our own lives. Paul teaches us to pray for those who carry responsibility and authority. Leaders need wisdom, strength, and direction, and believers should faithfully lift them before God.

So let me ask you a few questions.

What anxiety do you need to give to Jesus?

Are you standing firm in your faith?

Are you praying for those who lead?

And are you asking God to give you boldness to tell someone about Jesus?

The gospel is still powerful. God still hears prayer. And we are still called to stand firm and speak boldly.

Let us pray:Lord, help us give You the things we are carrying. Strengthen our faith, help us pray faithfully for others, and give us boldness to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Help us stand firm and trust You in every situation. In Jesus’ name, amen.