Acts 4:23-31 NIV
[23] On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. [25] You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [26] The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ‘ [27] Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. [28] They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. [29] Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. [30] Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] 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.

Dear God, I can’t even begin to put myself in their position. They were involved in something that no humans had ever experienced in history. They had this great news to share with people and they knew they were putting themselves in harms way with everyone if they shared it. Yes, on the surface you could say that others had been there before, but not like this.

I think they needed that filling of the Holy Spirit to even begin to move forward. How would they have ever done it otherwise? As much as they mention in their prayer about you giving The leaders the power to persecute, you also gave them the power to respond how they are responding. And these wonderful people and their reactions are part of the reason I am here today. I owe them a debt larger than I have probably considered before.

Father, please help me to be appropriately filled with the Holy Spirit at the moments you need me to be filled. Yes, I think the Holy Spirit is always with me and in me, but there is a difference between being present and those moments when you deem I need to be filled for your glory’s and plan’s sake. So help me to be sensitive to you and move through me so that I can be who you need me to be for all of those around me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen