MONDAY - Devotional

READ: Philippians 1:27-28

(Answer the question/s below in your app notes)

• How would someone know that you are standing firm in your faith?

In 2012, Disney announced an exciting new project that would show in theaters in June. The Scottish tale of Merida, a young red-headed girl with spunk, passion, and courage, would be on full display right in time for summer.

Maybe you’ve seen the movie I’m talking about. Brave is an iconic piece for its many firsts in the pantheon of Pixar films: first female director, first female lead character, first period setting, or historical setting (as opposed to present-day or futuristic environments). But Brave was not the story’s original title. Originally, the film was presented as The Bear and the Bow.

While we were not privy to the conversations regarding changing the name of the movie, it is fitting for such an ambitious premise. One look at all of the “firsts” this project achieved, and one of the first words that comes to my mind, at least, is exactly its title: Brave. Paul writes that when we stand firm in the faith of the gospel, we become emboldened against those who oppose us. In other words, we become brave. We have the courage to achieve “firsts.” We become trailblazers. Once we are fully rooted in the Spirit’s purpose for our lives, we can achieve infinitely more than before. We are bold. We are brave.