Holy Spirit of God, help me keep up my courage...

 
Acts 23:6-11
 
Paul was facing stoning, torture and imprisonment on a regular basis and was on his way to Rome as an ‘inconvenient’ prisoner of the Roman Emperor. That is when the Lord “stood near him one night, and said, ‘Keep up your courage and keep testifying for and about me.’” The challenges I face even on a daily basis are much less serious but are no less significant. They too feign to have the power to enslave me and break me in body, mind, and soul. Just as the Lord in real time stood beside his beloved witness who had wakened in the night wondering what will happen to him and what to do, so the Lord stands by me in the night when I am awaken with the same worries.  As I face the challenges in my life will I, like Paul, keep up my courage so that I might testify for Christ Jesus, no matter where I go and what I do?  Holy Spirit of God, help me keep up my courage to testify for you.   
                                                                  
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:7-8 )
                                                                                                                
Let us claim the truth that we are loved and open our hearts to receive God’s overflowing love poured out for us. And living fully each day, let us share that love in all our wonderful and difficult relationships, responsibilities, and passages.
Henri Nouwen, Finding My Way Home       
 
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei