Moriah Peters – “Brave” (Devotional)
What is our obsession with this word? Why do we love the way it sounds, sings, and looks? Why do we want to wear t-shirts, beanies and wristbands that have the letters, ΓÇ£B-R-A-V-EΓÇ¥ plastered all over them? If weΓÇÖre honest, bravery is a quality most people on planet Earth admire. Like a father keeping his daughter out of harmΓÇÖs way, or a soldier fighting for our freedom, courage is commendable. But being brave is not that easy. If it were, we would all be strong, selfless, bold beings.
Personally, I find that no matter how badly I want to be the kind of completely confident person who leads others to know Christ and who positively impacts culture, I often fall short of the ΓÇ£ideal me.” Joyce Meyer puts it this way, ΓÇ£The distance between who we are and who we want to be is filled with things we donΓÇÖt want to do.ΓÇ¥Well said, Momma Joyce. Being brave is incredibly uncomfortable, often heart-pounding, and at times, excruciating. But hereΓÇÖs the good news: We donΓÇÖt have to be brave all on our own.
My favorite line to sing when sharing the song ΓÇ£BRAVEΓÇ¥ in concert is, ΓÇ£I know IΓÇÖm no superwoman, but impossible is possible with you.ΓÇ¥Perhaps youΓÇÖve heard the words, ΓÇ£I can do all things through Christ who strengthens meΓÇ¥ (Phil. 4:13). Well, for those of us who may have developed a numbness to this popular scripture, let me pose a question in hopes of offering a fresh perspective: If we truly lived like we could do anything, what would our lives and this world look like?
Bravery isnΓÇÖt an attitude, feeling or appearance. ItΓÇÖs a choice.
ItΓÇÖs recognizing our weaknesses and believing that God can turn them into strengths. This means that whenever weΓÇÖre hit with a challenge, we have two options:
- Be brave
- Run away
My prayer is that we choose option #1 with the understanding that ΓÇ£God goes with us and will not leave or forsake usΓÇ¥ (Deut. 31:6). The moment we feel weak, He is strong. The second we say, ΓÇ£I canΓÇÖt,ΓÇ¥ He says, ΓÇ£I did.ΓÇ¥When we feel afraid, He makes us brave.