A Prayer from Acts

Here is a passage that captures a prayer spoken by the believers in Acts 4 that I have been thinking about since reading it again a few weeks ago.  It comes at a time when Peter and John have just reported what had happened to them after being arrested and taken before the Jewish authorities.  It comes in the face of threats of persecution (by the same groups that had hung Jesus on a cross no less - not just empty threats).  It is this part of their prayer that sticks out to me:

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 

Not a prayer for protection or guidance but a prayer for boldness and to see God move.  They prayed that Jesus' ministry (for He always preached and healed) might continue through them and that they might do it boldly!  It is a prayer that the message, the gospel, the good news might continue to be shared and that signs might accompany it, that actions would back up the words and that the authority granted to those speaking might be confirmed.  

I think that, despite the fact that I may not be under direct threat of persecution that this might be an appropriate prayer to imitate.  It is a prayer that I, along with my family and church, might speak the message with great boldness and that we might see God move.