Scripture Reading: Act 23:11
And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

Reflections: Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem. The crowd that mobbed him demonstrated such hostility and hatred against him that it took the timely intervention of the captain of the city for him to be rescued. That night, as he was held in custody, the Lord Jesus comforted and admonished him to be of good cheer since his task of testifying about the kingdom was yet to be over. Rome was going to be his last assignment. The Greek word translated ‘to be of good cheer’ is tharseō. It speaks of exercising the kind of courage that keeps you going in the face of danger or adverse circumstances until you have accomplished a given task. At one point or the other in life, you may find yourself confronted with adverse conditions that will make you feel like giving up even though your assigned duties are yet to be over. The only way out of such circumstances is to be of good cheer knowing that God is by your side. Yes, be of good cheer! It is divine and rewarding!

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you that you have placed in me, the drive to keep going in the midst of adverse conditions until your will for my life is accomplished.

Confession: I remain of good cheer. I am driven to pursue life’s goals despite the challenges.