Acts 4:31 – And when they had prayed, the place in which they were praying was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.

O Holy Spirit, Comforter and Guide, come to me and work in me. Pour out your gifts on me that I might completely bold and open in who I am. These disciples did not hide their faith; they did not live a life of closet Christianity because they were afraid of what people might do. In fact, they even prayed that you would continue to make them bold in the face of the threats that the Jewish leaders were making against them. I know my heart, O Holy Spirit. I am often afraid of some negative response from people to the things you give me to say and teach. I often hear or feel their threats; I experience their negative response. Both my fear and their threats want to push my faith underground. They make me a closet Christian. I pray, forgive me for my fear and timidity. Forgive me for letting fear be a ruling factor in my life. Pour out your gifts on me. Yes, come fill me yourself, dear Holy Spirit, that I might be bold and confident. My identity and my message are not something to be pushed underground. They are something of which I should boast. It is a message that I should proudly, openly, publicly profess. It is something that should be clearly evident to all who meet me. Work in me, Holy Spirit, so that I an open and bold in my faith. Amen.