Persecution is not a pleasant word no matter how it may be used. If any knew about persecution, Paul knew. He was beaten for his outcry for a nation to turn to God. He was arrested for not keeping his mouth closed about the need for salvation.

With many of us today, we are a long way from this type of persecution but yet our mouths remain close. While they tried to shut Paul up with beatings and arrests, our mouths close the moment someone says something about us.

But we learn a valuable lesson with Paul. He understood that with his persecutions came more opportunities to witness for Christ. Let us follow his lead and not allow anything to stand in our way today of sharing Christ with someone.

2nd Corinthians 12:10 list the word "persecution" in the list of things Paul said he was content with. Because as Christ promised "when I am weak that is when I am made strong". Not in our power but in the power of Christ.

How powerful is that? Well, it was powerful enough to raise Christ from the dead.
Good enough for me!

Prayer: "Lord, help me not to be intimidated by other people. Help me to speak your name to as many people as possible without allowing the enemy to shut me up."