One day while praying and telling the Lord that my highest joy is in pleasing Him, the Holy Spirit surprised me by saying, "If your highest joy is in pleasing me, then you are just as happy when another's ministry is successful as when your own is."

The Bible study leader said, "This week when you praise the Lord raise your hands in worship." 

One morning I disagreed with someone. Although I wanted to state my disagreement, I could sense my words would not be spoken in love, so I fled to my Refuge by silently praying, "You're my Refuge, Lord. I hide in You. I won't say a word You don't provide."

When I began leading home Bible studies, I found one thing was essential if I were to depend upon the Spirit. I needed to pray until I was confident that the Lord would help. Then I taught with assurance that the Spirit was directing my thoughts. When I failed to prepare myself through believing, I discovered I was looking for signs that those in the class had profited. If there were none, it was easy to become discouraged. However, when I trusted God to help, I could leave the results with Him. The secret was to keep my focus on the Lord and not on the people.

"What makes you the happiest?" someone asked a couple days ago. I thought for a while before I replied. Then I knew what to say. 

To live a holy life may seem as impossible as the idea pictured on a poster of a small sleepy cat nestling inside a box. On the outside is the picture of a tiger. The caption reads, "When you dream, dream big." There is no way that the little kitten will become a tiger-cat without some drastic mutation. God's command, though, to be holy is not an impossible command. 

Samuel Logan Brengle, a favorite preacher in the early days of the Salvation Army, formed a habit of choosing a text for his day. As a traveler stuffs snacks in his pockets, Brengle daily stuffed the pockets of his mind with tasty treats from the Word. These snacks were short, simple statements of promise, reassurance, or comfort he would turn to for support and power along the way.

One morning a young man told me he and his wife would be house-hunting that day. "After looking yesterday, it seems impossible for us to find what we need in the right location," he said.