Been With Jesus

 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

— Acts 4:13

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

The rulers and elders in Jerusalem heard Peter's speech and made an observation and had a realization. Their observation was that Peter and John had courage. Here was a man who had been so afraid and fearful for his life that he denied knowing Jesus three times. Now, on multiple occasions, he is boldly confessing his faith in you and exhorting his listeners to find salvation in your name. They saw their courage. Their realization was that these were unschooled and ordinary men who had been with Jesus. Their courage and their boldness was a direct result of being with Jesus and being filled with his Spirit, despite being unschooled and quite ordinary.

Ordinary people do extraordinary things when they've been with Jesus. Gracious Lord, I want to be one who lives with courage and boldness that flows from being with you. I want to be one who, despite what I lack in education and despite being quite ordinary, I create astonishment because others can tell I've been with you.

Lord Jesus, today I choose to be with You. I'm not checking a box to do some religious requirements. I am choosing to be with You, to sit in Your presence, to learn at Your feet, to simply enjoy Your company and hear Your voice. As I am with You, I believe I will see the direct result of courage and boldness from being with You and being full of Your Spirit. As others take note, may their astonishment be not of who I have become, but of who You are.

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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