In the above parable, one of the servants was afraid to take a risk. He let insecurity and fear of failure guide his actions. The next time an opportunity comes your way instead of hesitating because of doubts, trust that it will all work perfectly.

God wants you to fully experience the world, to notice and enjoy His wonders of creation. When you break out of your daily routine and make an effort to try something new, you gain a fresh perspective, see new possibilities and discover amazing things!

This verse is a reminder of how life can sift or shake you until you feel as if your world is falling apart. Scripture reminds us that when you are at your lowest Jesus is by your side, walking with you, praying for you and guiding you.

God intended you to live a life filled with hope. If fear has taken control and stolen your optimism, release your worries to God. Open your heart and allow a strong, fresh current of hope to enter back into your life.

It’s easy to be happy when everything is going your way, but how you respond to dark and difficult times is a test of true character. In the above verse, despite their suffering, Paul and Silas praise God. They worship in the worst circumstances and inspire others by their actions.

The most important way to spend your day is to model your actions after Jesus. Every day brings new opportunities to become more like Him. To offer compassion, understanding and love, to be a blessing to those around you.

Job tried desperately to understand God’s actions. And although God responded to Job with a flurry of questions, He never directly answered him. God’s response shows that His actions, His reasons cannot be reduced to human understanding.

If a mistake or the unexpected happens—a misdialed number, a wrong turn, a missed meeting—instead of worrying or wishing it hadn’t happened, trust God and say a quick prayer of thanksgiving. Often our mistakes turn out to be a detour that brings blessings.

Sometimes God calls us to wait and not act. Our job is to continue to trust Him along the way. To surrender our will for His, to exchange our timing for His, knowing that He holds every moment in His hands.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Give thanks daily for your blessings. Get in the habit of thinking happy thoughts. Go out of your way to make other people happy. There is your formula for real happiness and enthusiasm.”