The most important word in the English language apart from proper nouns is relationship. You might think it would be love, but where is love going without a relationship? Relationships are the tracks on which love travels. The Great Commandment involves relationships – loving God and loving others.

If I want to make the most of my relationships, I need to learn how to fight fair. Developing deep, personal and meaningful relationships doesn’t exempt you from conflict. In fact, it’s more likely that you will face conflict if your relationship is to go to the depth God designs.

We’ve looked at making the best use of our time, but what about relationships? How can we make the most of our relationships?

If I align what I do with my passions and gifts, I can live a more focused life and experience the fulfillment God designed for me.

Are you redeeming your time or regretting your time? We all have the option as to how we use our time. Redemption or regret? Wise people redeem their time. One way to redeem your time is to ask yourself this question: Is this a Divine opportunity or a beautiful distraction?

While multi-tasking has become popular, studies have shown that multi-taskers are really suckers for irrelevancy. Imagine a pilot or surgeon multi-tasking for a minute!  How would you feel paying a consultant and, while he is consulting you, he’s texting and checking on his fantasy football team or shuffling through papers for his next client?  The secret to a fulfilled life is focus – not multi-tasking.

Contrary to our culture, meekness is not weakness. Meekness, in the Bible, is strength under control. It’s the description of a horse trained for battle, yielding to the control of the rider. Jesus said it would take meekness for us to surrender our lives to His control.  But, what does that really mean? And how do we practically do it?

How do you stay true to God? Concerned that Christ followers in Philippi may wander from the faith, Paul writes this closing challenge to them, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord….” With that challenge, he gives practical counsel as to how to stay true to God.

It’s a choice to rejoice. When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi he was speaking from personal experience. He told them, “Whatever happens my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.” Philippians 3:1 (NLT)

Do you ever feel like your spiritual life is not making progress? It can happen when we get discouraged, exhausted and overwhelmed. You’re not alone if you’ve felt that way before or if you feel that way now. When I feel that way, I’m reminded of the promise in this verse, and it gives me hope and confidence that God is not finished. He hasn’t given up on me, and He hasn’t given up on you!