It takes courage to speak to the Lord on a deep level. It takes courage to pray. For instance, do you have the courage to pray: "Jesus, may I know how to share in Your sufferings by being formed into the pattern of Your death" (see Phil 3:10)? How about praying to be purified and refined, to have your purgatory now rather than later? Do you have the courage to ask the Lord not only to use you, but to use you up? It takes courage to pray these two extra letters, "up." Did you ever pray for God to make you holy no matter what it takes? When you give God a blank check, who knows what He will write in? It takes great courage to pray the "Our Father," especially if you know what you're saying, and mean it. The traditional preface to the "Our Father" is: "We dare to say 'Our Father.' "
It's important for us to have the courage to pray "daring" prayers. This indicates we know that the Lord loves us and that we trust Him. True love of God means courageous conversations with Him and daring prayers to Him.
| PRAYER: | Father, give me the courage to communicate with and trust in You. |
| PROMISE: | "If we are unfaithful He will still remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." –2 Tm 2:13 |
| PRAISE: | St. Boniface initially failed as a missionary, but later resigned as abbot to try again, and was instrumental in establishing several dioceses. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College