In the above verse Paul explains that if we live, we live for Jesus, and if we die, we die for Him—it all belongs to Him. You can find comfort knowing that if you devote yourself to your faith, all that your life is, every one of your accomplishments, and, your failures, too, belong to Him. Your life is filled with meaning because of Him.

The Bible is filled with verses about shade, shelter and taking refuge in the Lord. When stresses in your life heat up, remember that Jesus is your shade. He protects and shields you in the midst of trouble.

Make your time with God count. Don’t miss the deep meanings and direct messages from God that are in His Word by rushing through Scripture. Instead, slow your pace. Stop and take a moment when something touches your heart. Let it sink in and become part of you.

The Bible states that God is incomprehensible, yet He is knowable. How can that be? God is infinite and all powerful, yet, amazingly, He is personal and His love is intimate and individual with each and every person. Your relationship with Him is unique, unlike any other.

God’s word has tremendous power when it is hidden in your heart. The faith that no one else can see connects you to God and provides a strong foundation from which all other relationships can grow and flourish. Make it a point to memorize Scripture to strengthen your connection and help you live a faith-filled life.

Turn to the empowering Scripture above when you need encouragement to face difficult situations. Turn your focus to filling your heart with God’s strength. He won’t let you down.

Surrender can have a bad connotation in our culture: It can mean that you gave up or lost a battle. But when it comes to faith, surrendering to God is key to experiencing His love and mercy. Surrendering or offering yourself to Him, trusting and obeying His instructions even when they don’t make sense—these actions make you a winner in God’s eyes, for they are the heart of your faith.

It is easy to be distracted by technology—a second to check social media or email can turn into an hour of missed time with your family or enjoying the beauty that God has placed before you. Make a commitment to unplug during your vacation or family time—and keep it! You won’t regret being present in the precious moments that you share with your loved ones.

What does it mean to fear God? Author JoHannah Reardon gives her insight as: “Fearing God keeps us from fearing anything else. Because God also loves perfectly, we can trust him and know that one so powerful will conquer all else that we fear in the world. Perfect love balances fear.”

The prophet Isaiah‘s words can help you stay calm in the midst of times of trouble. When everything seems out of control, rely on your Redeemer to guide you through rough waters. He is with you.

When you are facing a difficult decision, turn to God. Pray about your options and ask Him for guidance and the ability to see the situation from all perspectives. Then be still and wait for His insight to come to you.