𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 ✍️ “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦; 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥.” We have all replayed conversations in our minds, wishing we had spoken when the opportunity was there. Fear convinces us to wait for a better moment, a better question, or a better version of ourselves. Yet opportunities rarely announce their arrival. Whether we struggle with fear, hesitation, or exhaustion, the question is not whether we know the Gospel—but whether we proclaim it openly. Paul requested prayer in 🕮 𝐄𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟔:𝟏𝟗: “𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘭.” Even the great apostle understood that courage to speak comes from the Lord. Boldness is not the absence of fear but the grace to speak despite it. A trumpet cannot sound if it remains in its case. However finely crafted it may be, its purpose is fulfilled only when it is lifted and blown. In the same way, the Gospel entrusted to us cannot reach listening ears if it never leaves our lips. A silent witness is like an unopened letter—it carries life-changing news that never reaches its destination. Throughout Scripture, God has always worked through willing voices. Moses feared he could not speak (𝐄𝐱𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐬 𝟒:𝟏𝟎–𝟏𝟐), Jeremiah believed he was too young (𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝟏:𝟔–𝟗), yet God equipped both for His purpose. We are commanded to “𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥” (𝟐 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝟒:𝟐), knowing that “faith cometh by hearing” (𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟎:𝟏𝟕). God does not call the naturally fearless—He strengthens the obedient. Many of us wait until we feel courageous before speaking, but biblical courage often comes after the first step of obedience. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘯” (𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬 𝟐𝟖:𝟏). Don't silence the trumpet while the world is dying. “𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦” (𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟒:𝟔). The Gospel has never depended on perfect personalities but on faithful proclamation. Before Christ ever commanded us to proclaim the Gospel, He first secured it through His death and resurrection. He “𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦” (𝐇𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝟏𝟐:𝟐), bore our sins, conquered the grave (𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟓:𝟑–𝟒), and now reigns as our living Lord. Because Christ was willing to be publicly shamed for us, we should never be ashamed to publicly proclaim Him. Have you prayed for boldness this week, or only for comfort and ease? Are you waiting for courage instead of praying for it? You don't need Christ merely to give you words—you need Him because He is the living Word your lips are called to proclaim. Open your mouth. God has always been pleased to use willing voices to declare an unchanging Gospel. 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: Heavenly Father, forgive us for the times fear has kept us silent when You opened a door to speak. Grant us the boldness Paul desired and the faith to trust Your Spirit as we proclaim Christ. May our words be filled with truth, grace, and love, bringing glory to our Saviour. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Remember, a dose of God’s Word a day will keep you going all day! 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝... _____________________________________________________ All scripture references were taken from the KJV Bible. Thank you for allowing this ministry to be a part of your day… If my posts speak to your heart, you may be blessed by the full devotional series created for deeper reflection and journaling: 👉 FREE FlipBook Previews: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/ae17998766.html 📚 Also available now on Amazon (Kindle & Paperback) ✨ Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! https://www.amazon.com/author/dennislastimoso Also, just in case you need a reliable, dedicated online Bible Study Tool, I created one for you. 👉 Try it here for FREE, anytime at your hand: https://www.baptistry.app Your support helps us continue this ministry, edifying the believers around the world. May God bless you more abundantly…