This book was a very nice read. I read it through with my 8 year old son and there were many timely and applicable lessons. I love how the author kept the truth quite simple and easy to grasp for any kid wanting to be more brave in things they face at that specific age.

I like to finish most of my children´s books before they read them, but it is not possible every single time. They read on their own a lot now. We have been going through this one and I´ve found some lectures that we enjoy and others that we don´t, anyway I think that if you have children of several ages is useful because you talk about topics or doctrines that you are related to and discuss others that you are not. I´m not sure if we will finish this one, to be honest. Concepts are important for children and sometimes this kind of books are useful because they have a different kind of topics, just like devotionals are.

Good use of scriptures that complement the message of that page. A positive and faith-filled perspective on everyday choices and situations that may befall on today's young men. I would categorize this as appropriate for tweens and young teens.

First sentence: You are very, very special! God has created you to do great things for Him and His glory. The cool part is that He doesn't wait for you to become a grown-up. Right now God wants to grow you into a brave boy so that you can be a young man of integrity--that is a young man who lives by God's principles.

This children's devotional has one hundred and eighty readings. It's written with boys in mind. For the record, I'm not exactly sure why boys and girls need different devotionals. But apparently they do. Boys are to be brave and girls are to be courageous. Koceich falls into a pattern of defining bravery at the start of many of his devotionals. I'm not sure they help illumine the concept of bravery. I'll share a few below.

*Being a brave young man means believing that Jesus is who He says He is and can do whatever He says He will do.
*Being brave means understanding God's grace. He loves you so much that He send Jesus to save you.
*Being brave means deciding to make Jesus famous. Spend today thinking about Him and all the things He has done for you.
*Becoming brave is becoming satisfied with the promises God gives you.
*Being brave means seeing your Bible as much more than letters on a page or stories written so long ago that their meanings have been diluted by time.
*Being brave means being grateful for everything God has done for you.

If I had to describe this devotional, I would say it was written in the key of G: G for Generic, or to be precise Generic Boy. While the girls' devotional tended to mainly focus on the practical and concrete, this one seems to veer into abstracts and metaphors.

For example, "Taste the joy that comes from running after a life covered in His grace." I can't imagine a young boy--age seven to nine--being able to put THAT into his own words. I'm not sure your average Christian no matter their age or gender could. It's very Christian-ese.

I will say this, Koceich's devotional book DOES delve into the ins and outs of the gospel and actually present the gospel message. The girls' book on courage does not ever do this--to my disappointment.

"God loves you. The heart of Jesus is the lens through which God sees your life." and "When God looks at you, He sees a beautiful person. You are beautiful and forgiven because of Jesus! Don't waste this new day trying to be someone else!"

That being said, I'm not sure there's enough emphasis on God's grace and mercy and our complete and total lack of ability. The imperative tone at times seems to apply that the Christian life is something that you DO, DO, DO, DO, DO and not something that is DONE. (Jesus saying IT IS FINISHED. Jesus paid it all.) Christians of all shapes, sizes, and ages tend to miss this as well.

"Decide that today is the day you will become more like Jesus and live your life for Him! Read His Word and ask Him to show you ways that you can change."

But I didn't care for how they simplified the concept of God's glory and glorifying and exalting God into "making God famous."

*Make a list of everything that's important to you. Family? Toys? Books? Friends? Whatever is on your list, make sure that "making God famous" is on it.
*Be brave and decide every day that you want your life to keep making God famous.

It did choose Scriptures from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. I also liked that it didn't just choose "boy" Scriptures. For example, boys can learn to be brave like Esther.

I am so blown away by this devotional. I think it is great for young boys to help them understand God’s love better as well as what it means to be a child of God. I was nervous that there would be a lot of sexist stereotypes in both this and the companion, How God Grows Courageous Girls. I was pleasantly surprised to see that neither did that. I do not want to teach my daughter that to be a good Christian woman she needs to be quiet and passive. I do not want to teach my son that to be a strong Christian man he needs to be assertive and in control. This belief is perpetuated too frequently in the Christian faith, however these devotionals did no such thing. I would be happy to have my son read this daily devotional.