Brave (WOTY): Poetry and Prayer

With my Word of the Year as BRAVE, I admit it is not always on my mind. Sometimes it is easy to just fade into the usual instead of jumping into the unknown. But I was reminded by reading some poetry about bravery this morning that not all bravery is about doing something new. Sometimes it is about finishing what is hard or doing the right thing instead of the easy one. So, let’s begin with a prayer about bravery and then move to poetry.

Lord God, Creator we lift you up and glorify you. You are worthy of all praise and all majesty is yours. Send your Spriit to remind us of your work already completed and yet to be carried out. Fill us with strength and courage to do your work. That fear will not reign, and that we will not be discouraged. For you are with us, you Lord God will not fail us or forsake us until the work is done (1 Chron. 28:20). For your Spirit gives us not of timidity, but power, love and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7). So, we stand in bravery, ready to do your will because you accompany us. In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen.

I’ll spare you much of my poetry, I’m afraid it takes a bit more brain space than I can spare right now. I have found some wonderful and very brave poets who have joined a shared space and written about bravery from their own perspectives that I’d like to share. https://hellopoetry.com/words/bravery/

My Bravery in an acrostic.

Bring new joy
Round out the experiences of life
Attitude toward new things changing
Veering away from the typical and humdrum
Embracing the goodness of God

Your World

I hope you will enjoy this poem by Georgia Douglas Johnson, titled “Your World” (1)

Your world is as big as you make it.
I know, for I used to abide
In the narrowest nest in a corner,
My wings pressing close to my side.

But I sighted the distant horizon
Where the skyline encircled the sea
And I throbbed with a burning desire
To travel this immensity.

I battered the cordons around me
And cradled my wings on the breeze,
Then soared to the uttermost reaches
With rapture, with power, with ease!

See It Through

And also “See It Through” by Edgar A. Guest (2)

When you’re up against a trouble,
    Meet it squarely, face to face;
Lift your chin and set your shoulders,
    Plant your feet and take a brace.
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
    Do the best that you can do;
You may fail, but you may conquer,
    See it through!

Black may be the clouds about you
    And your future may seem grim,
But don’t let your nerve desert you;
    Keep yourself in fighting trim.
If the worst is bound to happen,
    Spite of all that you can do,
Running from it will not save you,
    See it through!

Even hope may seem but futile,
    When with troubles you’re beset,
But remember you are facing
    Just what other men have met.
You may fail, but fall still fighting;
    Don’t give up, whate’er you do;
Eyes front, head high to the finish.
    See it through!

1 Georgia Douglas Johnson. "Your World." Family Friend Poems, https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/your-world-by-georgia-douglas-johnson

2 Edgar A. Guest. "See It Through." Family Friend Poems, https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/see-it-through-by-edgar-guest