September 9

Read: Ephesians 6:10-20

Praying always… for me, that… I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20).

Be Strong In The Lord

Can God use me to win a friend to Jesus? Yes, if I speak boldly as I ought to speak. Recently a young man gave his Christian witness to an attendant in a service station and found a warm response. Afterward he asked me, “Why does it scare you so to speak about Jesus?” The answer is that the devil does everything in his power to stop even the most Spirit-filled Christian from speaking a word for Christ. We wrestle “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Dr. Henry Clay Trumbull witnessed personally to more than ten thousand people in forty years of personal soul winning. But said he, “In every instance I was tempted not to have the interview.”

Even after forty years of a Spirit-filled life of service, Trumbull had to resist the devil in order to witness for Christ. The strongest Christian needs again and again to hear this encouraging word from God: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not… for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Even the Apostle Paul knew the opposition of the devil and requested special prayer that “I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.”

As a sanctified Christian, I join in that prayer. O God, give me courage that “I may speak boldly as I ought to speak.” Use me to win a friend to Christ.

Truth For Today

Courage is fear that has said its prayers.