Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said that through enthusiasm, prayer and faith you can reach your highest goals. In order to make your dreams come true, “Ask and believe; dream and believe; work and believe.”

Sometimes in your prayer life it might seem as if God is quiet—that maybe He is not present or hearing you. If this happens to you, continue praying. Keep track of your prayers and how you feel. Often you’ll discover that this desert period in your prayer life has brought about the most beautiful blooms.

Does disagreement or resentment weigh on your heart? Jesus tells us to forgive our debtors, to love our enemies and to pray for those who harm us. Follow His way with this prayer.

When was the last time you had fun? When life gets you down, lighten up and do something that brings you joy. Nurture your childlike spirit by picking fresh flowers or going out for ice cream. Do something you love.

It is a divine gift to act as God’s instrument for the healing and betterment of the world. When you believe that God has a plan and you ask Him to help you dedicate your life to His work, you will experience the fulfillment of being of service.

Nehemiah faced a frightening situation and “he prayed to the God of heaven.” As Corrie ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” The next time you face a fearful problem, pray.

God told His people dozens of times “Be strong.” Perhaps He tells us this because He knows He asks grand things from us, but also because He knows it can be human nature to be discouraged. Are there big plans in your life that you abandoned because they seemed too challenging? Revisit them now with God’s Word to propel you forward.

Building sandcastles is sometimes used as a metaphor for wasting your time. Yet sandcastles serve an important purpose; they allow us to create something that we know will not last; they encourage us to savor the present moment.

It can be challenging to rely on God’s wisdom when you don’t fully understand His ways. But when you recognize that your human insight is not as brilliant as God’s, you can release your insecurities and trust His plan.

How do you react when worry enters your mind? What do you do when you can’t seem to ignore or rationalize your fear away? If this happens, take a deep breath and pray. Ask God to fill you with His peace so that you can rest in His presence.

Knowing when to say no or when to ask for help is an important part of life. When your cup runneth over, perhaps it’s time to say no or to look for how you might downsize your responsibilities. When you empty your cup of what you cannot hold, you make room for new blessings.

Spiritual growth is a lifelong process. There is no end to your development. The closer you grow to God, the more you realize how much more there truly is! God’s bounteous gifts are infinite.