Dr. Norman Vincent Peale said that prayer should be an act of surrender. Many of us struggle with this unconditional surrender. Yet once the leap of faith is made; once God is accepted at His word and we are forgiven and reconciled by His grace, there is only one question most people ask: Why did I wait so long?

Recognize that you are God’s workmanship. You are created for good works! When you pray to God and open your heart to embrace His plans for you, everything changes. Priorities shift, confidence grows and with a humble spirit, you accomplish great things.

The Apostle Paul was an extraordinary man who took extraordinary actions. Perhaps many at that time thought that he was out of his mind. Truth was, Paul’s love of God drove his actions and led him to lead an amazing life. He cared little about those who thought he was a fool.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale coined the phrase “victorious forgetfulness”—the act of forgetting about whatever barriers keep you from letting go of the past so that you can have a prosperous and beautiful future. Forget your mistakes, your feelings of insecurity and fear. Focus on victory.

Someone said that doubt is not the opposite of faith, it is in fact a part of every faith journey. When God’s plan is greater than you can grasp and doubt storms your faith, lean into the wind—and believe.

Sometimes, in order to hear God’s voice you must turn down the noise of your life and turn your attention to listening. Sitting in stillness can be a heavenly practice that brings you closer to Him. In moments of silence, He speaks to you heart-to-heart, and gives you clarity of mind.

With the holidays behind you, are you facing anxiety over paying your bills and making ends meet? If you’re experiencing financial problems, take a deep breath, let go of your stress and trust in God’s provision. God has taken care of you in the past, and He will take care of you today, too.

God’s light is infinitely brighter than any light on Earth; His shadow casts brilliance upon us. When you make God a conscious part of your daily life, you enter the secret place of the Almighty.