suggests you slow way, way down in your quest for courage and—get this—expect trouble along the way. Plus,
.
Steve Brown writes: “I start most days with what I call a ‘Prayer of Dependence’ (I also call it a ‘Prayer of Incompetence’) that reflects the posture of Psalm 70:5.” On Day 26, “Posture Matters,” of his 28-day courage journey, he confesses:
“Dear God, I need You.
Before my day even starts,
I admit I’m in over my head today.”
Oh, my. When I completed the 28th day in this expedition for the soul—I wondered if I could inspire Steve Brown to write 28 more chapters. Actually, I would read 100 chapters from this transparent
college president.
(Who admits they need more courage?) This is a very special book. Bring a pen and an open heart.
Brown adds to Day 26, “On my own, I’m in deep trouble. But with and in Christ, everything changes. Fresh courage comes by humbly depending on and trusting God."
The book’s daily format is perfect: two pages on a courage topic—and then two short pages with his “Bottom Line” summary, plus “Action and Reflection.”
(I love it when an author suggests next steps.) Each day features a prayer “inspired by” several Bible passages.
(I love that too.) I found morning treasure every day. Examples:
Day 1. “As C.S. Lewis wrote in
The Screwtape Letters,
‘Courage isn’t simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Short reminders about Queen Esther, Nathan, Peter, and Joshua punctuate this first chapter. Brown suggests a courage definition for Jesus followers:
“Courage is choosing to follow Jesus even when your knees are knocking.”Day 2. Noting that the disciples of Jesus
“were slow learners and frequent on-the-job sleepers,” Brown contrasts their courage with this: “Despite His identity as the Son of God, Jesus rejected entitlement. He didn’t buy into the temptation that He deserved unique perks or was due special treatment.” In his Day 2 prayer, Brown gifts pastors with a four-point sermon outline: “Thank you for choosing
sacrifice,
servanthood,
submission, and
seeking the Father’s glory about all else.” (The
“4 S’s” will preach!)
Day 3. On the theme, “Expect Trouble” (
John 16:33), the author quotes J.R.R. Tolkien: “The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus mean that one day everything sad will come untrue.”
Day 8. Read why Brown memorized
Psalm 16:8 and why he has a framed picture of the verse on his office wall and in his living room.
Day 9. “In the midst of this difficult journey, our Omega juicer taught me an important lesson,” admits Brown. He elaborates:
“When you are faithful, God sees your faithfulness and delights in it. Thankfully, you don’t need to drum up faithfulness on your own. While faithfulness is a choice and a commitment to persevere, faithfulness is ultimately a fruit of the Spirit. Its source flows from the unquenchable resources of our faithful God.”
Day 10. LOL! “To me, it totally seemed like God had somehow penetrated Uber’s booking software to get me in the back of Darren’s car with a tangible reminder that God sees him.” And this: “But now, as I reflected on Darren praying for me,
it seemed like God had just done a two-for-one miracle.”Day 11. Stunning! Steve Brown reached out to a trusted mentor, Evon, who was in his early nineties at the time. Read how the Bible verse, “Be still, and know that I am God,” ministered to Brown’s stress and anxiety.
(Note to self: Who are my 90-year-old mentors?)Day 13. “Being a nonanxious presence is a critical trait and practice when you are responsible for others. It’s also critical for anyone facing a challenge. If your spirit is settled, steady, and filled with peace, then you will think more clearly and act more courageously. Your example will also help those around you be more steady, settled, and courageous.”
Day 14. “Come Alongside” shares the poignant story of the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
View this short YouTube video as Great Britain’s Derek Redmond courageously hobbles to the finish line of the 400-meter semifinal. (See who
comes alongside.)
Day 16. You’ll quote frequently from the chapter, “Get Some Sleep.” Brown lists three spiritual realities about why you should take naps and get adequate rest. Number 2:
“Sleep is a reminder that we are not God.”Day 19. On this day, we’re urged to remember that we’re surrounded by others (Hebrews 12)—and to make a list of eight to 10 people whose example in faith have inspired us. My list was a trip down numerous memory lanes—spiritually powerful. PTL!
Day 21. Have you ever read this? “Seeing people is a prerequisite for being a courage giver. If we don’t see people, we won’t be courage givers. And simply seeing people can give them courage. Noting Mark 5:32, Brown writes, “Every single person matters. You won’t ever see someone who doesn’t matter.”
How do I do this? • Include in your prayer: “Please slow my cadence down so I can see people in my everyday moments today.” (I’d add, listen to this Chuck Girard song,
Slow Down.)
• And pray this: “Help me to leave
deposits of courage where I go and whatever I do. I pray this in the name of the One who sees me and says I matter.”
Day 23. After reading that the Lord’s compassions never fail—and are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), Brown reminds us that “Back in the Old Testament days, when God did something significant, people would often mark the event by giving the place a special name or building an altar." The big idea:
“Remember Faith Markers.”These markers became “an educational and encouragement tool for future generations. When a young person asked about the pile of rocks on a memorial altar, they would then hear and be encouraged by another story of God’s provision and protection.
These stories were fuel for courage.”
Oh, my. I was blessed recently to be part of a chain of God-orchestrated moments for my brother’s celebration of life service. Read the story here on the
God Reports website—and learn about the “marker” (a shepherd’s staff!) for Jim’s grandson, who serves at
SAMBICA, a Christian camp and retreat center.
This 23rd day devotional was
jammed with encouragement. Brown notes Mary Oliver’s poem, “Sometimes,” that “provides a profound template for remembering God’s faithfulness and work in our lives.” Oliver writes, “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” Steve Brown reminds us that
“Too often, we move too fast to pay attention to what God has done or is doing. As a result, we aren’t astonished, and we have nothing to tell about.”Day 24. Steve Brown is also the author of
Great Questions for Leading Well (see my “
Questions Issue”), and other books, and on this day he urges us to “find an hour or two per month with two or three peers (in-person or online if needed)” and
ask these six questions: #1. How are you really doing?
#2. What can you celebrate right now?
#3. What are you learning?
#4. What are you grieving?
#5. What’s hard?
#6. How can we pray?
Day 25. Referencing
Tim Keller’s insights, Brown writes that “You are a spiritual billionaire because of the magnitude of what Christ has done for you and in light of your identity as a joint heir with Christ.”
Oh, my. I immediately wrote the words, “
SPIRITUAL BILLIONAIRE,” in the prayer guide I use frequently.
Need courage? Know someone who needs courage? Read this four-week devotional journey (28 days). I’ve spotlighted just 15 days, but I could have highlighted all 28 insights on courage.
TO ORDER FROM AMAZON, click on the title for
Finding Courage: A Four-Week Devotional Journey, by Steve A. Brown.
YOUR WEEKLY STAFF MEETING QUESTIONS:1) Finding Courage, by Steve Brown, is one of 12 “Inspirational Resources” I featured in the Dec. 17, 2025, issue of
Your Weekly Staff Meeting.
See my mini-reviews here, plus a new addition,
Reconstructing Faith: 365 Days to Reconsider Jesus, by Dick Daniels.
QUESTION: What’s your favorite devotional book? What are you reading now?2) I featured Steve Brown’s book,
Leading Me: Eight Practices for a Christian Leader's Most Important Assignment, on my list of Top-10 books in 2016.
Read my review here.
QUESTION: Without asking ChatGPT, or looking on your team member’s paper, list eight best practices about leading yourself. (Then, read the book for Brown’s answers.)
3) As a sidebar to Steve Brown's book on courage, delegate your reading and ask a team member to read
The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action, by Margie Warrell.
(Read my review.) QUESTION: What's one new insight on courage you gleaned from this book?
SECOND READS: Fresh Solutions From Classic BooksYou have changed—and your problems have changed—since you read this the first time!Book #41 of 99: The ChoiceFor your team meeting this week, inspire a team member to lead your “10 Minutes for Lifelong Learning” session by featuring Book #41 of 99 in our series, “Second Reads.” The big idea:
REREAD TO LEAD! Discover how your favorite books still have more to teach you and the people you’re coaching and mentoring.
The Choice:
The Christ-Centered Pursuit of Kingdom Outcomes
by Gary G. Hoag, R. Scott Rodin,
and Wesley K. Willmer (March 14, 2014)
DON'T READ THIS BOOK! You read that right...if you're good with what Hoag, Rodin, and Willmer label "The Common Path." Or if... "production-driven leadership, expansion-focused strategies, earthly oriented metrics, results-based management, and a utilitarian view of resources" ...is working out for you—
then don't read this book. • Reviewed in Issue No. No. 297 (April 13, 2014).
•
Read my review on Amazon.
• Order from
Amazon.
• Management Bucket #1 of 20:
The Results Bucket.
DON'T READ THIS BOOK...if you strongly disagree that "defining success may be the most important decision we make as God's people." That's line one, chapter one, in this radical book, published by ECFAPress. And don’t read this book—if you've drummed all the critical thinking out of your strategic planning and SMART goals process—and have not examined your presuppositions since...well, maybe never.
CLICK HERE FOR BOOKS BY JOHN
“When the horse is dead, dismount!” That’s from The Results Bucket chapter (free download) in Mastering the Management Buckets. See page 21, in the workbook, for a list of 21 ways that church leaders respond when they discover that their ‘horse’ is dead!” (Hilarious thanks to Elmer Towns and Warren Bird!)
IMPORTANT NOTICE! Effective Oct. 1, 2025, all 657 eNews issues, previously archived on Typepad.com are slowly (!) being moved to a new website here. New book reviews will also be archived at John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. Or, click here for John’s recent book reviews on Amazon.
Issue No. 658 of Your Weekly Staff Meeting (Oct. 3, 2025) features a new book coming Oct. 7—describing the four seasons of a CEO. The “...
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