Daily Dose of Hope

November 21, 2025

Scripture - Acts 4:23-37

Prayer: Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us. Thank you for that. We are sorry for the ways that we resist. Help us to want what you want for us. Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient. Conform our will, Lord, In Your Name, Amen.

Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. Happy Friday! We are so glad you have joined us today. We have been doing an intense deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. We have made it to the book of Acts and today, we are finishing up Acts 4.

The Jewish leaders had threatened Peter and John not to preach and teach Jesus. Peter and John knew that was not going to be possible. So what do they do? They immediately gather with other believers for a time of prayer. They pour their concerns out before the Lord. They proclaim the majesty of God's greatness and power and they ask him to give them more boldness.

I want you to adequately grasp this. They don't hide. They don't cower. They don't pray for protection. They pray for boldness. They never had any intention of backing down, but they do know that they will need Spirit-filled courage.

Think about the situation in your life right now that is causing the most stress and anxiety. How can you reframe it like these disciples? It's not about backing down. It's about God giving you the strength, courage, stamina, and wisdom to face it head-on. Please use good sense here and proceed with prayer. But don't let fear make you make down. Were Peter and John scared? Probably. They were human beings. But they surrounded themselves with believers to pray over them and build them up with the strength of the Spirit. What a great model!

I want to jump down to the end of the chapter. The believers are together and share all they have. They are of one mind. They sell their possessions and lay them at the apostles' feet. They are filled with grace in a powerful way. This is the way the church began. Do you think maybe we have gotten off course a bit? The reality is that a lot of history has occurred between the church of Acts and today.

But what do you take from this passage? What elements of the church might we need to bring back to right now to be more in line with the teachings of Jesus?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki