Everyday brave…does that describe you? My friend Janet Thompson knows all about living everyday brave. She’s an author, speaker, and three-time breast-cancer survivor. I’ve invited her to be my guest today and introduce her new book, Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith. Leafwood Publishers is offering a free copy of her book to one of my followers who leaves a comment. So…leave a comment!

By Janet Thompson

You’re with a group of people you’ve just met and you sense by their conversation and actions that they’re not believers. What do you do now? Try to fit in or act the same as you would if you were with a group of fellow believers? We’ve all been there sending up a silent prayer asking God, “Help!”

In today’s culture, it often takes courage to stand up for our faith, but this is nothing new. The message the Apostle Paul gave to the church at Corinth is still a source of encouragement for Christians to be brave today: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13).

And Paul should know. He was routinely arrested, sent to prison, flogged, and ridiculed for his faith; but he never backed down from sharing the truth of the gospel.

A group of what the Bible calls “prominent women” or “leading women” who were God-fearing Greeks in Thessalonica and Berea heard Paul’s message about Jesus, became believers, and joined his ministry. In both cities, the Jews listening to Paul became jealous that he was drawing a crowd, and they formed a mob to go after him and his ministry companion Silas. Knowing violent agitators and bullies were following Paul everywhere he went, what must these courageous women have feared might happen to them?

Publicly believing the gospel and joining Paul’s evangelistic ministry could easily jeopardize their marriages, their standing in society, and their businesses. No matter what the personal cost to worldly fame, fortune, and security, they were all in for Christ.

They were brave believers and played an important role in helping Paul start the early church and share the gospel. Imagine the trials and struggles faced by these women as they watched Paul endure persecution while they served beside him amid hostility and danger. We can learn from these strong women of faith how to carry on their courageous legacy in a culture today that often isn’t receptive to the gospel of Christ.

Sometimes we’re tempted to compromise on our beliefs because we don’t want to make waves; we want to keep everybody happy. Impossible. Jesus made waves. We worry how we’ll look to our peers. Jesus worried about the eternal life, more than the earthly life, of both his peers and his enemies. What if they reject or snub us? They rejected Jesus. What if God doesn’t come through for us? God is always faithful.

The Bible says people will know us by our actions. So it’s good to take our spiritual heartbeat by asking ourselves some revealing questions.

The Bible says people will know us by our actions. So it’s good to take our spiritual heartbeat by asking ourselves some revealing questions. Click To Tweet

Do my actions portray that I’m a believer?

Am I a Bible-believing Christian role model to the world? To my family? In all situations?

Am I willing for others in my circles to know I’m a believer—maybe the only one?

Would someone have to ask if I’m a believer?

And if they did ask, what would be my response?

Would I have the courage to stand by my convictions at the risk of losing my job or friends?

Yes, it’s uncomfortable and difficult, but as long as we stay tethered to God and biblical truths, he will provide us the strength we need to go against the worldly secular culture when it opposes our faith. Be strong. Be courageous. Be brave.

As long as we stay tethered to God and biblical truths, he will provide us the strength we need to go against the worldly secular culture when it opposes our faith. Click To Tweet

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1Peter 3:15-16.

When has God given you the courage to be a brave believer? Please comment below.

Janet Thompson is an international speaker, freelance editor, and award-winning author of twenty books. Her passion is to mentor other women in sharing their life experiences and God’s faithfulness. Her latest book Everyday Brave: Living Courageously as a Woman of Faith releases September 10, 2019 and is available for pre-order now.

She is also the author ofMentoring for All Seasons: Sharing Life Experiences and God’s Faithfulness; Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten; The Team That Jesus Built; Dear God, Why Can’t I Have a Baby?; Dear God They Say It’s Cancer; Dear God, He’s Home!; Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter; Face-to-Face Bible study Series; and Woman to Woman Mentoring: How to Start, Grow, & Maintain a Mentoring Ministry Resources.

Janet is the founder of Woman to Woman Mentoring and About His Work Ministries.

Visit Janet and sign up for her weekly blog and free online newsletter at womantowomanmentoring.com.

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About Everyday Brave: In Everyday Brave, Janet explores the extraordinary bravery of fifty ordinary women in the Bible. Twenty-eight women of today also give testimonies of realizing their strength and courage through God’s love. As Janet shares the stories of these women, she reminds us that the real heart and substance of bravery comes from unconditionally placing our hope in the only One who can give us the courage to stay the course.