When Jesus spoke or acted, he was totally free from the need to impress. This means he was free to 'speak the truth in love' (see Ephesians 4:15). Are we free like this? Or is our life like one really long episode of X-Factor, where everything we say or do is a performance designed to impress 'the judges'? Almost certainly our family would be on that judging panel, and our mates, plus our teachers, youth leaders... it can get pretty crowded in the judges' box. The drawback of a performance life is that it's an act made up of what we think other people are thinking. And of course, we can never know for sure what anybody's actually thinking about us.

When we are young we can get into the bad habit of living to please others. When we are older and wiser we realise that most of the time others aren't even thinking about us anyway! When our identity gets wrapped up in others' opinions, we set ourselves up for approval addiction. Our sense of self-worth is always on the line.

That's not how God wants us to live! Paul writes, 'I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant' (Galatians 1:10 NLT). Let's put aside seeking approval from people; let's focus on the panel of one, Jesus..

So what now? Give yourself a break from the performance. Just seek to do what God thinks is great!

God's indwelling Spirit does three wonderful things for each of us: (1) He seals us! 'In him you were sealed with the Holy Spirit whom he promised' (Ephesians 1:13 GWT). To protect a letter we seal the envelope. To seal a deal, we sign the contract. A seal declares importance, value and ownership.

(2) He protects us! Peter says we are 'shielded by God's power' (1 Peter 1:5 NIV). We have no idea how many times God has stepped between us and the enemy, protecting us from harm. Deep within each of us, God's Spirit whispers, 'You are mine, and what I own I protect and care for.'

(3) He makes sure we are heard! Understand: 'The Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. God can see what is in people's hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants' (Romans 8:26-27 NCV).

Notice: 'The Spirit help us with our weakness.' Weak bodies, weak wills, weak faith. How good to know that it's not up to us. None of us prays as much as we should - but we all pray more than we think - because the Holy Spirit turns our sighs into petitions and makes sure we are heard.

So what now? Sealed! Protected! Heard! Spirit-filled living - refuse to settle for less.

Romans 8:5 TLB says, 'Those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God'. All believers have God in their heart - but not all believers have given their whole heart to God! The question is not, 'How can I have more of the Holy Spirit?' It's 'How can the Spirit have more of me?'

The apostle Paul was big on pleasing God. Look at his list: 'Stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbours the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And don't sin by letting anger control you... If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful... And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live... Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour' (Ephesians 4:25-31 NLT).

Let's look at a shorter list: (a) Our tongue. Do we tend to stretch the truth or gossip? (b) Our language. Is our conversation wholesome? (c) Our grudges. Do we hold on to resentment? (d) Our activity. Do we kick back because we think the world owes us something?

So what now? Ask yourself: 'How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?' Pray this: 'Holy Spirit, guide me today, empower me and help me to honour you in all that I do. Amen.'

On September 11 2001, volunteer Frank Silecchia sifted through the carnage at the World Trade Centre. He found 47 bodies but no survivors. But something did catch his attention - a cross standing upright against the dusty sunrise. The unmistakeable shape was made by steel beams from two different buildings. As they'd crashed into each other, the girders, forged together by the fire, had created a giant cross in the chaos.

When death or disease claims a loved one, or financial disaster wipes out our sense of security, we wonder, 'Where's God in all of this? Does he care?' We can handle almost anything as long as we know he's there.

When God introduced himself to Moses through a burning bush he said, 'I Am' (Exodus 3:14 GWT). This has not changed. He is still the same 'I Am'. Jesus said, 'Before Abraham was born, I Am' (John 8:58 NIV). He is 'the same yesterday, today and forever' (Hebrews 13:8 NLT). He still walks into the events of our lives: weddings, funerals, broken homes, hospital rooms, bankrupt businesses and jail cells, saying 'I Am - always with you.' Listen: '"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not..." says the Lord who has compassion on you' (Isaiah 54:10 NIV).

So what now? Going through a difficult, painful or confusing time at the moment? Look closer... see the cross... see 'I Am' standing right there with you. He's been there all along.

The Bible says, 'To everything there is a season...' (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV). We can't pray our life's seasons away. There are some situations we aren't meant to change - we're meant to go, and grow, through them! In winter, trees take advantage of the season to rebuild their strength underground and prepare to be fruitful next season. Then in spring they push their way back up again in the form of new growth.

Looking back over our life we'll find that it's seasonal. Growth comes, then struggle, and so on. Each season has its purpose. God has a reason for not wanting us to be productive all the time. When he lets wintry weather blow through our life he's getting us ready for spring.

James writes, 'My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing' (James 1:2-4 NKJV). One of the issues we'll struggle with in a winter waiting time is the urge to hurry or make spontaneous decisions. Let's not do it! Not every situation needs immediate action. Remember, patience comes from trust, and we can't trust a God we don't know.

So what now? The weather is warming up now, but you may be in a 'winter' season in an area of your life. Thank Jesus for patience to get you through it.

Shortly after Jesus died he appeared to two of his followers: 'sadness [was] written across their faces' (Luke 24:17 NLT). In fact they were in so much pain, they didn't even click it was Jesus! He'd risen from the dead, and even though they hadn't realised, he'd come to take their sorrow. How did he do this?

A quick prayer? Did he leap out a tree shouting 'Tadaaaa!!!!?' No. Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself' (Luke 24:27 NLT). He talked to them about God's word - the one thing that never fails! Did it make a difference? For those two it did: 'When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn't it warm our hearts' (Luke 24:32 CEV)?

Trying to live a Christian life without Scripture is like trying to run a car without petrol, work on an empty stomach or pay for the movies with a Farmers card: it just won't work. There are many things vying for our attention each day, most of them destructive or unhelpful. The Bible reminds us of what's true and important, and helps us to stay spiritually healthy.

So what now? Don't run your spiritual tank on empty. Take your daily medicine - read your Bible! It has all the nourishment you need for life. (And, ask the Holy Spirit to help you to see all its health benefits)