Day 102

Joshua 15–16 | Acts 4:1–31 | Psalm 44

They had every reason to be afraid.

Peter and John had just healed a man in Jesus’ name—and now they stood before the same religious court that condemned Jesus. The pressure was real. The threats were serious. Their lives were on the line.

And yet, they didn’t ask for protection.

They didn’t plead for things to get easier.

They asked for something far more dangerous.

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:29)

Not the Prayer I Usually Pray

I know what I typically ask God for.

I ask for wisdom to make the right decisions.

For provision in the uncertainties.

For peace in the middle of pressure.

For clarity when everything feels cloudy.

And none of those are wrong.

But boldness?

That’s not always at the top of the list.

Because boldness assumes risk.

It doesn’t wait for comfort.

It steps into the unknown believing God will meet you there.

And that’s exactly what we see in today’s reading—not just in Acts, but tucked into Joshua 15.

Achsah, Caleb’s daughter, had already been given land. But she wanted more—not for greed, but for what was needed to thrive. So she did something bold.

“Give me also springs of water,” she said (Joshua 15:19).

And she received them.

Not because she demanded.

But because she trusted.

Because asking God for what you need—especially when the future is unclear—isn’t presumption. It’s faith.

The Boldness to Ask, and to Act

That’s the kind of boldness I need right now.

Not loudness.

Not bravado.

But the courage to ask—again—and the strength to speak when fear says to stay quiet.

I don’t know what’s next.

The road ahead feels crowded with unknowns.

Professionally. Physically. Personally. Even parentally. (If that’s not a word, it should be—because parenting is a category all its own.)

And while I’m not walking into a courtroom like Peter and John, I still feel the weight of opposition—subtle, internal, unrelenting.

But the Spirit hasn’t changed.

The gospel hasn’t weakened.

The mission hasn’t stalled.

So I keep asking:

God, give me what I need—not what I want, but what You will.

Give me the words.

Give me the springs.

Give me boldness—not because I’m unafraid, but because I believe You’re still with me.

Like Achsah, I want to ask with faith—not for comfort, but for provision that allows me to keep walking in Your purpose.

Not out of entitlement.

But out of trust.

We Cannot Help But Speak

Peter and John didn’t speak because they were strong.

They spoke because they’d seen too much.

Heard too much.

Been changed too much—and too deeply—to stay quiet.

“We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

That’s where real boldness comes from.

Not from willpower.

But from wonder.

From remembering what God has done.

From trusting what He still will.

⸻

Lord, I want to be bold. Not reckless. Not brash. But rooted in You. When the pressure comes, help me speak with courage. When the path is unclear, help me ask with confidence. Let my prayers sound less like escape plans and more like faith-fueled surrender. And let me never lose the wonder of what I’ve seen You do.

Amen.