It’s not about the change in the weather, how young or old you are, or any other circumstance. None of these things matter. Life is to be celebrated, not merely endured.

There are days when it’s wise for us to stop and look and listen. We scrutinize our lives, examine Scripture, and spend extended time in prayer as we gain a clearer sense of what God is doing in our lives and what He has for us in the future. As the new year rolls around, take some time for reflection and renewal. Start today.

We tend to get angry when things don’t go the way we want. A good sense of humour can turn irritation into laughter. Next time things don’t go your way refuse to let your circumstances dampen your joy.

How specific are you in your prayers? When you talk to God, talk about your needs—don’t beat around the bush! God does His most ideal work when we are in an impossible situation. And He always proves Himself faithful.

Pray about everything. When you pray you’re giving your worries to God. He understands what you’re worrying about and He knows exactly what He’s doing. If you leave it to Him, He’ll work it out.

If you want to relax and get rid of anxiety, you need to lighten up. Are you typically harsh or critical? Try cultivating a more gentle and understanding approach to life. “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

Everyone has weaknesses and flaws, even Bible characters. They were real people just like us. It’s encouraging to know God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

We look at problems from a human point of view and leave God out until we’re desperate. But when we include Him at the outset, He helps us to look at things from His perspective.

You can’t always control your circumstances, but you can control your reaction to them. If you continually focus on the negative, find something positive and dwell on that. Make a positive perspective your life’s message.

Filled with practical tips from his more than 50 years of ministry, Chuck Swindoll shows us what to focus on to enhance our personal ministries.