Courage & Practice
A few years ago, when beginning the journey of starting Propel Potential, I came across a thought shared by Brene Brown in her book Dare to Lead. The idea was that if you want to build a brave culture personally or corporately, it takes COURAGE and PRACTICE. Let that sink in.
Now, take a moment to consider the areas in your life where you have been successful and overcome. Likewise, think about the areas in your life that are currently underachieving the results you desire. The bridge from one side to the other isn’t luck or wishful thinking, but rather embracing the inner work of courage and practice: Courage to step into your opportunity to lead, and practice showing up consistently until your practice becomes permanent. One without the other is like trying to use a one-sided quarter with heads and no tails — you can’t spend it!
When Jesus sent out the disciples in groups of two and gave them authority over the dark spiritual realm, they were “sheep among wolves” (Matthew 10:16). Think about the courage it took to step into dark realms of spiritual warfare with demons, spiritual hosts of wickedness, and stand and declare Jesus’ name and dominion, bringing light to the dark. Then, after going face-to-face with their fears and using the tools Jesus gave them, they said, “The demons submitted to our authority” (Luke 10:17).
As tremendous as courage is, without practice or building habits over and over, we will not develop the spiritual backbone and muscles necessary to engage our spiritual fights that we must face and overcome in this life. Practice is the twin brother to courage. Together, they move us from being transactional spectators to transformational participators in the storyline of real life.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). What is more abundant than engaging the darkness with our light and truth and speaking to confusion and bringing Jesus’ name and authority to the places where we are currently? Seeing people touched and changed by His life and power. We must see ourselves as “change agents.” If we do, we will take responsibility to have the courage necessary to engage spiritual opposition, and thus, see God’s power and life breakthrough in the lives of others.
Take time this week and ask yourself these two questions: Where do I need to step out in courage, and where do I need to show up consistently in practice?
Remember, darkness is always scared of the light!
Dan Daugherty