100 Days to Brave: Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self

by Annie F. Downs

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” —ISAIAH 41:13 NIV

being brave is organic and spiritual and a unique journey for each person.

you are braver than you know,

Courage is doing things even when you’re scared. Being brave isn’t something that happens when you’re not scared anymore. Brave people don’t stop hearing the whispers of fear. They hear the whispers but take action anyway. Being brave is hearing that voice of fear in your head, but saying, “Okay, but the truth is, God made me on purpose and for a purpose.”

So I step out, full of fear, but trusting that God is on the other side in new and wonderful ways. And so far? He always is.

Brave people don’t stop hearing the whispers of fear. They hear the whispers but take action anyway.

We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it. But we know it now. —2 TIMOTHY 1:8–9 MSG

Seeing other people be brave makes me want to be brave too. It’s a domino effect.

That’s why we have to start. That’s why we have to go first. That’s why we have to be brave—so that others will be inspired to be brave along with us.

We can be brave because we were always meant to be brave.

It is scary to be who you’re meant to be. It doesn’t feel easy because it’s not. But we were made for this. Like today’s scripture says, we have holy work. Why be brave? Because when we’re brave enough to share the God stories in our live...

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” —ISAIAH 30:21 NIV

I never felt brave. But day after day, I just did the next thing, took the next step, said the next yes.

I may not have felt brave, but I was taking brave steps in obedience to God.

You’re probably already doing more than you realize. You are braver than you know.

There is something superpowerful about putting brave on display—in your life, in the lives of the people you love, in the art you see or read or hear.

not only do we need to share our brave, but we need to actively look for it as well.

I think when you hear other stories, they will sound like your story, and you will realize you are braver than you give yourself credit for. And we will cheer for each other and see courage in each other, and we will all be braver for it.

you know you can do it if you can just. Get. Started.

You aren’t headed out to find courage. It’s in you, it is blooming, and it is with you as you travel and say yes to things that seem scary.

The moment you take that first step, little seeds of courage begin to sprout in your heart.

It’s time to get quiet before the Lord and ask Him what it looks like for you to live a life of courage today. Just start.

The planet just really needs you to be you, okay?

your struggle to separate truth from lies is something that every human wrestles with.

Satan is a liar. I know you know that, but I want to say it again: he is a liar. He wants to define you, label you, and stop you from being brave and doing the work God has for you.

It’s hard to believe truth if your mind is flooded with confusion and false stories.

The truth that sets you free is God’s Word. If you fill your mind with His words, that truth will make you brave.

Believing truth is always a choice.

you have the choice to fight for truth or give in to the lies.

There is so much power when you begin to understand that you are who God says you are, not who other people say you are or who you believe you are.

YOU AREN’T A MISTAKE

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. —PSALM 139:14 ESV

I am not perfect.

I believe in the me God made and in the me God can make. I believe He made me on purpose and didn’t make any mistakes when it came to my creation. That makes me feel brave.

while I am making mistakes, I am not a mistake.

While I am making mistakes, I am not a mistake.

God doesn’t make mistakes.

We can be confident in how God made us because His Word says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. But we can’t do this life—or be brave—on our own.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. —PSALM 86:15 NIV

Our God, the One who is breathing life into your life, is full of love for you—no matter what you have done or where you have been.

Allow God into your heart. Let Him into those little places inside that are hurt and alone and afraid. Let Him love you, lead you, and make you into the courageous person He has planned—because I promise that adventure will be the greatest of your life.

embrace the fact that you are loved and chosen by God,

Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. —ROMANS 12:2 CEV

Your mind is a container, but it’s a fragile container. So being brave means taking measures to protect it.

What you hear and what you see will affect your brain (and heart) greatly.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. —PROVERBS 18:21 NIV

It’s just as true when you talk to yourself as when you are speaking to others.

stop being mean to yourself.

Speaking kindly to yourself will make you brave.

It’s not that you have earned the love of God or that you deserve love. God loves us, even though we don’t deserve it (1 John 4:19).