Jesus knew the human heart and the temptations presented by the cares of this life. So he gave his disciples some excellent instruction on worry in Matthew 6.

Jesus gave us “The Lord’s Prayer,” as it has been called, not simply to pray as a standalone prayer, but as a pattern for prayer.

In Romans 4, Paul tells us Abraham “grew strong in his faith” and urges us to walk in Abraham’s footsteps. To believe like he believed. How do we do this?

Being a disciple of Jesus is hard. He said we must daily take up our cross and die to ourselves. He calls us to serve, love, and look to the interest of others. Following Jesus yields immeasurable joy, but we can also grow weary from day to day. Weary in parenting, weary in serving, weary in trials and affliction. When we’re weary we can find fresh strength, joy and motivation in Christ.

Here are 10 ways to do that:

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It’s very easy to slide into sinful anger, hatred, and bitterness. Here are some Biblical truths and principles that God has used to help me make progress in conquering my own sinful anger.

God gives the meek everything they need. Those who are meek find deep contentment and joy.

Turn on the TV and you’ll see all kinds of gurus telling you how to be successful and fulfilled. But what does God have to say?

Paul prays that the saints would know “what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.” If we don’t know about it, we won’t access it, won’t benefit from it, won’t ask for it.

God doesn’t guarantee he will automatically save our children, but gives us many promises to inspire us to pray and believe him to answer.

At one time or another, all of us will face times of uncertainty. The reality is that none of us are secure in this world except in Christ. Nothing is certain.

A lot of people are going to be surprised on judgment day. Because the things they do to believers they are really doing to Jesus himself personally.

God doesn’t need anything. He doesn’t need our worship, our work or our money. So why does God command us to worship, serve, and give our money to him?

Have you ever found yourself not knowing which direction to go? What to do with your life or your time? Maybe you wonder, as The Clash asked, “Should I stay or should I go?” Maybe you don’t know what your gifts are, where you should serve, how can you best use your life to glorify God. Maybe you’re facing a family situation and you just don’t know how to resolve it. Maybe you don’t know what to major in in college or where you should live. We can worry that we might miss God’s will, or make a decision that will mess up our lives.

Are you “quick to hear?”

Are you a good listener? Are people able to disagree with you? Do others feel they can bring observations or critiques to you? Do you listen when they do? I mean really listen, to understand where they are coming from? To really weigh what they are saying? Are you teachable? Are you able to receive correction? Are you able to see things from others’ point of view?

Sometimes we can “listen” to people, but not really hear what they are saying. Sometimes we formulate our counter-argument or defense while they are still speaking. Or we write them off: “They’re just emotional;” “They are over-reacting to what I said.” We can be too quick to think or say “I disagree.”

Sometimes we cut them off before they’re finished. Or we make excuses for why we did something. I have been a poor listener many times in my life. But I am trying to grow and learn to be “quick to hear” as James tells us:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19-20)