13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
I was listening to the Bible in a Year Podcast from Ascension Press this morning and Father Mike highlighted this verse. I thought it would be a good prayer for me to pray over myself today. If I am to be bold, will they recognize me as an arrogant person who is foolish, or will they see that I am a man who has been with Jesus (you)?
Oh, Father. Oh, Jesus. Oh, Holy Spirit, please forgive me of my sin. Forgive me of my pride. My self-pity. My sense of independence. My need for approval from the world. My craving for things of this world. I am sorry. All of them get in the way of others seeing you in my life. They all get in the way of my branch being attached to your vine. When people look at me, I want them to simply see you and wonder what they might do to have the wonderful gift I’ve been given through Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. Through the Father’s love. Through the Holy Spirit’s presence with me. Help me to be all of those things.
I pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 