“Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
 Philippians 2:12

When I was in high school, I realized that I tended to work harder when people were watching than when I was alone.  In the weightroom, on the track, at work, wherever I had to put in effort, I would try to "show off" by working harder.  I realized this was very common so I came to the conclusion ...
"If I work hard ALL OF THE TIME, especially when NO ONE IS WATCHING, and that is more often than when they are, I will improve at a faster rate and beat more people."  And, God is always watching.

Lord, You are always watching so let me show complete effort all of the time.

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you will be blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that, when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.”  1 Peter 3:14-16

... For the right reason!

Lord, thank You for the promise that if I do what is right, it may not seem right at the time or possibly ever, but it is right and that is all that matters.

“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8

Actual Statements that I have heard with my own ears ...
1) "I got really drunk last night and had a job interview at 7am this morning".
2) "I have been awake for two straight days and nights studying for the MCATS today".
3) "I can't think straight right now so I am going to quit".

Helpful Advice ...
1) Never make an important decision when you are sick or tired.
2) Being drunk and being hangry never lead to good performances.
3) Nothing ever good happens between the hours of 10pm and 2am, especially when the lights are out.

More Helpful Advice ...
1) Guard your heart and mind by allowing yourself the opportunity to be alert.
2) Understand that sickness, tired, hungry, stress and anything that puts you at a mental disadvantage is a prime time for vulnerability to attack.
3) Taking a big deep breath and saying a prayer is a much better start to a positive solution than most other choices.

Lord, help me to be more alert to the attacks by thoughts and actions that are not helpful to me and those around me. 

“Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”  Hebrews 13:6

FACT - Middle School was scary.  I walked around scared all of the time.  Scared of being bullied.  Scared of social situations.  Scared of sports failure.  Scared of forgetting my locker combination.  Thankfully, I grew out of all of that.  But mostly I chose not to be scared.  I chose Jesus and chose to trust God and not to be fearful of people and what I thought they could do to me.  Unfortunately, I see a lot of adults still walking around like scared middle schoolers.  

Lord, help me to continue to trust You and please help others to know the freedom of fear that only You provide.

“I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to your decrees. I hurried, not hesitating to keep your commands.”  Psalm 119:59-60

We all have (or should) think about what we are doing.  How we spend our time, who we spend that time with, what we prioritize, what we aren't doing that we should, and the habits we have that we need to break.  Self-assessment is a continuous process.  We mostly do it on December 31st but every day is a new day and an opportunity to get on the right path toward the person we should be and want to be.

Lord, help me to stop, be honest with myself, and get going in the right direction ... Your direction.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me.” John 6:38

​I want to do a lot of stuff.  A lot of stuff I want to do is stuff that I want to do and not necessarily stuff I should do.  There are two ways to look at life.  One is seeing life as an opportunity to do whatever we want.  If it feels right, then do it.  Another way is seeing life as having a purpose and that purpose is often contrary to what I want to do.  The first option may seem fun but in the end is unfulfilling and simply all about me. The second tends to have much more meaning and typically involves others.

Lord, please continue to remind me that life is a TEAM sport and not simply a time for me to do the things I feel like doing.

“Be strong, and let your heart be courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.” Psalms 31:24

We think of "strong" in terms of muscles when we should look at strong as being "sturdiness".  We think of "courage" as being brave, when we should she courage as what it actually is ... the absence of fear.  When we trust God, we have no need for fear.  When we are sturdy in our faith, we will trust God and have no need of fear.  

Lord, help me to be sturdy and firm in my faith so that I may be sturdy and firm in my trust in You.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" is a verse from the Bible, Philippians 4:6.

Or the alternative is an option ... 

"I am worried about everything because I pray about nothing."

Lord, help me to pay more so I worry less.

“He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:13-14

The opposite of "Sadness" is "Gratitude".  It is challenging to turn sadness into happiness but it is even more difficult, or near impossible, to be sad when we acknowledge ALL that we have.  

Lord, thank You for EVERYTHING, and most of all, the saving grace of Jesus.

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10

​Teachers, Coaches, Parents, Friends, YouTube ... we can learn A LOT from others when we have no clue what we are doing.  No better LIFE COACH than God.

Lord, thank You for being willing to teach me ALL the things I don't know and please give me the strength to not be resistant to Your teaching.