Praise for Being Brave: A 40 Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You
AVAILABLE from Abingdon Press ORDER HERE
Fear is pervasive in our world today. Daily life requires courage and bravery. Kelly Johnson has written a wise and inspiring book to help us in being brave. I love this book! –Adam Hamilton, author of Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times.
In Being Brave, Kelly Johnson invites us to stop settling for safe and instead embrace who we were created to be by the God who loves us. This means setting aside fear, distrust, and the masks we wear for self-protection in favor of courage, authenticity, and trust in the Lord. Kelly’s gentle but firm exhortations to be brave, and her confidence that we all have it in us to do just that, will lead you on a forty-day journey to a more fulfilled, more engaged, truer you.– Harmony Harkema, The Glorious Table
Culture shouts: “Be brave! Power through life fearlessly!” Kelly Johnson turns this notion upside down by tapping into Christ’s definition of brave, His strength made perfect in our weakness. Her vulnerable struggles and victories move me to live with more honesty, grace, love, and joy. Being Brave no longer feels impossible for this recovering overachiever and people pleaser. What a freedom! Be empowered right in the middle of the mess.—Christina Hubbard, Author Five Ways To Love Like You Mean It and Founder of CreativeandFree.com
In a world of struggle over prejudice, comparison, anxiety, sentimentality, perfectionism, and injustice of all kinds this is just the prescription we all need. Pick up this book and stop. Breathe. Rest. Reflect. Pray. Through Scripture, spiritual readings, questions, and prayer the reader will discover a God whose middle name is Surprise. You will find yourself relieved, challenged, comforted, laughing, and even feel the flow of a tear running down your cheek as you rediscover what it means to be human, alive, and loved by God. By the end of your spiritual journey you will find yourself rolling up your sleeves empowered to join God’s movement again. Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Church.—Dr. Tobin E. Wilson, pastor, author and thought leader
This devotional could not have come at a better time for me. Kelly Johnson does a beautiful job of opening our eyes to the One who makes us Brave. Each forty-day encounter with God through His Word ends with engaging questions and prayer, which bring us to deepen our resolve in our walk with Him. —Becky Shaffer, Executive Director, Saving Grace NWA
I love this book! I’m so grateful for Kelly Johnson who is willing to take an honest look at her life and tackle tough topics like cynicism, fear, and discontent to help us uncover what may be holding us back in our own lives. She asks tough questions and uses Scripture and prayer to call out the best in us. This book in insightful and encouraging and will inspire you bravely step into the life God has planned for you! —Sue Bidstrup, founder of Great Big Yes!, www.greatbigyes.com
Kelly Johnson enables us to see the important link between courage and a faith that responds to God’s calling in daily life. Reading Being Brave made me see opportunities to take risks for Jesus, to have courage and encourage others. Only when we are brave will we find the fullness of life in Christ. —Rev. Tom Berlin, Floris United Methodist Church
Kelly Johnson leads us through a forty-day journey of living boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit. She offers thought-provoking stories and questions that are sure to get you thinking about bravery in a fresh way. This beautiful devotional journey is inspiring and uplifting.”—Micah Maddox, author of Anchored In
Being Brave is a kick-starter for anyone who has dared to dream less for themselves than they were born for. Even those who aren’t big readers will find this easy to ingest while appreciating its substance. Through Being Brave, Kelly Johnson guides us one day at a time to live full and free from the lies that keep us from trusting that God is enough, releasing us to make the difference we were born to make.
Although most people think I am already brave, this book deeply resonated with me. It is a misconception that all of us who are extroverts, entrepreneurial, love to speak, and share about our lives openly in blogs or books are actually brave. We fake our confidence often. But Kelly Johnson’s book was truth I could soak in. It was simple to read, while still being a full study on the art of bravery. It helped me find it easier to surrender control, trust that God is enough for me, and become truly confident both in my relationship with him and moving forward in my mission to change the world. —Elisa Johnston, author and founder of Average Advocate
Reading through Being Brave was inspiring, uplifting, and ultimately, freeing! Each poignantly written reflection served as a reminder to me that God uses our struggles for immense purpose and each experience builds resiliency and courage. Being Brave wholly encouraged me to see the brave in myself and emboldened me to call out the brave in others. This devotional will surely move you to live more passionately in the abundance and self-worth found in Christ! —Courtney Westlake, author of A Different Beautiful
Day after day, I’d pick up Being Brave to find Kelly’s words speaking directly to my life. Her insights and stories are relevant, impactful, and beautifully written. I finished the book feeling strong and capable of facing whatever God put in front of me, and then I handed it to my teenage daughter. This is the best devotional I have read in a long time. —Katy Epling, Writer/Speaker at www.katyepling.com
Kelly’s writing feels like good conversation with a wise and fun friend who gets you. I found myself nodding along so much, I eventually gave up on highlighting and just circled entire pages writing, “This!”. Her vulnerable style offers a welcome “me too” as she invites us all to call out the best in one another and ourselves. Being Brave is the guidebook you’ve been missing on how to live your best life. I’ll return to this new favorite again and again. —Melinda Mattson, Writer at MelindaMattson.com
For anyone feeling overcome by limitations and fear, Kelly Johnson names us brave and gives us the tools to step into our fullest potential. Kelly’s words are wise, insightful, and relatable. The questions in each chapter help get beyond the surface to the root of fear. I learned so much about myself and even more about God’s love for me. —Kelly Smith, writer at MrsDisciple.com
Being Brave is everything your Mother forgot to tell you about summoning bravery when it’s needed most. Wise, grace-filled, funny, and just plain “spot-on” this devotional will stir your heart and spur you onward. I didn’t know I needed to be named brave, but now I know I’ll never be the same. —Stacey Philpot, Writer/Advocate at Chronically Whole
I used to believe that I was the one that had to be brave, but in the last year I learned that God makes us brave; He gives us all we need to be bold, vulnerable, and embrace the best He has for us! Kelly’s book if full of truth and scripture to remind us daily not to fall back into the darkness of lies. If you have felt that you aren’t brave enough then this devotional will revive the spark inside your soul!—Tara Royer Steele, The Brave Gathering
