But Then We Can

 

The following night

the Lord stood by him

and said,

"Take courage,

for as you have testified

to the facts about Me

         in Jerusalem,

so you must testify 

      also in Rome."

         Acts 23. 11

One response of faithfulness

to the Lord

strengthens us for the next.

"I could never do that!"

But then we can.

Faithfulness

    is a daily practice,

in big things and small

(that never turn out

    to be insignificant at all).

God grants us His courage

    to testify

in the most unusual

   and unexpected places,

sometimes when we are

     totally unaware

that anyone is listening,

sometimes when we realize

it is only by His strength in us.

We all have been

divinely appointed for 

   this time and place.

May we take up

      His courage in this.

O LORD,

Even when we face difficult

  situations, decisions,

  and impossible people,

You grant us Your courage

   when we have none.

Please give to us

    not just the right words,

          but a right heart.

Help us to realize 

that every day

  and every experience

is working Your strength

       into us as a testimony

     for Your glory.

Others are watching

   to see not that we 

   have all the answers

but You have

 transformed our lives.