9 Ways you can be brave in everyday life

The Avengers is one of my favorite movies. In fact, I love all of the comic book hero movies; Spiderman, Ironman, Captian America, X-Men, etc. Who doesn’t love a story where the hero saves the day?!

Even greater are movies about real life heroes (those without the cape!).

Movies like Hotel Rwanda and Schindler’s List touch the very core of humanity. Military movies such as American Sniper, Hurt Locker, Unbroken and so many more inspire us to do more and be all we can be.

Than there are movies about real life heroes that fought for social justice like Erin Brochovich. Or movies like Pursuit of Happyness in which a man overcomes poverty despite the nay-sayers, and goes on to do great things.

These are TRUE stories of ordinary people doing impossible things.

If you believe that you can’t be brave right where you are, I have got news for you. YOU can be brave, and you can be a hero. With the power and authority of Jesus Christ, you can do great things. Believe it!

Here are 9 ways to be brave in your everyday life.

1. Fight for your church

I am about as far from a ‘yes man’ as one can get. Even though I refuse to call myself a ‘devil’s advocate’, that is exactly what I am. I challenge and I question everything.

If you feel tension in your church, be brave and stand up and fight for it. There is nothing loving about standing by while the train goes off the tracks. You and I are the church, we must fight to protect it.

That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. . . . . Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.   John 17:20-23

We must fight for unity. We must fight for love. We must fight for the church.

• confront people about questionable doctrine
• ask to be part of the ‘vision setting’ meetings
• don’t let ‘tension’ keep you from teaching classes or leading Bible studies
• be a prayer warrior for your church and its leaders

2. Follow Christ with everything you’ve got

True heroes are people that faithfully follow Christ everyday. Going against the flow to follow Jesus is about as brave as you get.

Mother Theresa is one such hero. She really did ‘for the least of these.’ I can’t wait to see her riches in heaven!

3. Get involved in people’s business

We need to get in each other’s business. That is what the church is all about—living life together.

Our pride keeps us from letting others see our messiness. Yet, we are all messy. So, why do we hide? God never tells us to keep secrets from each other.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

4. Walk through suffering

Walking through suffering instead of escaping out of it is one of the greatest forms of bravery there is.

• give up alcohol and feel the pain
• stay in a marriage that doesn’t feel good and feel the pain
• let go and feel the pain

Give up things that you use to anesthetize yourself with and walk with God through the pain. Be willing to wrestle with a God who can restore and heal.

5. Be different in your community

We have been set apart as holy because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do by sacrificing his body once and for all.  Hebrews 10:10

How can we be different right where we live?

• put God above family
• don’t be ‘over busy’- give God your firstfruits
• live modestly and give generously
• spend more time teaching your kids about Christ—more than academics or sports

6. Be a mentor to a young person

There is nothing greater than pouring into the life of a young person. Get involved with the youth at your church. Take the time to spark conversations that show care and concern.

• offer to buy a young person Starbucks, and then LISTEN to them
• reach out to a young person experiencing trauma that you can relate to, and then LISTEN to them
• go to a game or other event that a kid you know will be participating in
• be involved in your grandchildren or neices and nephews lives

It takes a village to raise kids! And that village is the church.

7. Be willing to fail

Is it OK if failure is in God’s will for your life or for mine?

Obviously we won’t fail spiritually if we are following Christ. And we won’t fail when it comes to our eternal inheritance through salvation in Christ. But, what if it is not in His plan for me to be successful in this world? Ever? Would I be OK with that?

As I ponder this question part of me wants to jump up and appear holy and righteous by saying, “whatever thou willeth I will doeth with joyeth”. But, is that real? Could I really rejoice in that?

How brave am I willing to be? Am I willing to fail for my God? As the line from the movie, The Stand by Stephen King goes, “My life for you!”

8. Create a new family legacy

Does your family have a legacy of alcoholism, neglect or abuse? Does your family have a legacy of avoiding conflict, or being passive aggressive or manipulative?

Make it your mission to stop the cycle right now and create a new legacy. The buck stops with you . . . oh, brave one!

9. Fight for your kids

• stay home with your kids even though you have a promising career
• homeschool your kids if God is leading you to it, even if you think ‘you could never do that!’
• keep your family together even though ‘that loving feeling’ is gone

If you are doing any of the above and you don’t think you are brave, you are wrong! You don’t have to have superpowers to be brave. And although it would be nice, you don’t have to be seen or acknowledged to be brave either.

You don’t even have to feel brave to BE brave!

Believe that you can when the world tells you ‘you can’t.’ Believe that you are when everyone tells you ‘you aren’t.’ Choose to believe God and believe in yourself. And BE BRAVE!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phillipians 4:13