Self-help books and motivational speakers are like cheerleaders standing on the sidelines shouting, 'You can do it!' They are helpful, but if the 'you can do it' philosophy always held true, we wouldn't need God. The apostle Paul wrote, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). He knew that discovering the will of God needs faith for the impossible and childlike dependence on him.

The Bible is full of men and women who saw their godly destiny fulfilled by doing things that would normally be impossible to do on their own. For example: (1) Noah and his impossible project. Noah was commissioned to build a ship the size of an aircraft carrier - by hand - and on land! (2) Abraham and his impossible promise. At ninety, after years of trying unsuccessfully to be a father, God told him his children would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the sea. (3) Mary and her impossible pregnancy. Imagine telling a fianc, 'I'm pregnant, and the baby's father is the Holy Spirit.'

God has always chosen ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Each one was called to be part of something bigger than himself or herself. And because of their willingness to surrender to God and allow his purposes to be revealed in them and fulfilled through them, he used them in amazing ways..

So what now? Ask God to do things through you that only he can do, to reveal his greatness and goodness to a world that needs him.

If Caleb from the Bible were alive today he could easily qualify for 'Person of the Year', someone who's done so much to influence circumstances for the better.

Here's his story in his own words: '"I was forty years old when Moses...sent me...to explore the land...I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed...God wholeheartedly...that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance'...So here I am today, eighty-five years old...as strong...as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me..." Then Joshua blessed Caleb... and gave him Hebron as his inheritance...because he followed the Lord...wholeheartedly' (Joshua 14:7-14 NIV).

We can learn so many valuable lessons from Caleb. He had 'a different spirit' from those around him. He was a positive, optimistic kind of person. He believed that with God's help every giant that stands in our way can be conquered, even when others say they can't. He had a vision that he stuck to, even when he grew older and had to face tough circumstances. He was willing to wait and work for it even though it took 45 years to fulfil. He remained totally committed to God.

So what now? Ask God to give you the spirit of Caleb, especially in the harder, more negative-seeming times.

When Daniel was taken to the king's palace, he made a decision to not eat the food the king served. A Babylonian feast was always eaten in honour of the gods. So when people sat down to a meal, it was dining and an act of worship. This food had previously been sacrificed to a pagan god. Daniel took his faith in God seriously, and if he participated in eating what everyone else was eating, it would mean he was compromising his beliefs. By eating their meal, it would appear he was worshipping their god. Eating that food would have compromised his character, and Daniel refused to let that happen. He had decided the things he believed in advance, so when he was faced with that situation, he was strong enough to stick with what he believed.

Let's determine our core beliefs - the things we'll do, or not do, no matter what - upfront. That way, when trials or temptation come, we have a solid foundation to stop us making compromises. The psalmist said: 'How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you' (Psalm 119:9-11 NIV).

So what now? Use God's word to establish your core beliefs and what you won't compromise on. Then ask God to help you stick to them, especially when it gets tough. You are ultimately keeping yourself safe from harm.

Sometimes we sow a 'seed' of faith, and wonder when we'll see the 'harvest' God promised. Here's a Bible passage to help us understand the process: 'The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come' (Mark 4:26-29 NKJV).

Before we reap the harvest of blessing God promises, we'll go through certain stages. First, the 'not knowing' stage. The 'seed' of our dream is buried in the ground. How and when it develops is entirely up to God. But we must believe that it will happen. Next comes the 'blade' stage. It's just a tiny blade blowing in the breeze, but it's enough to encourage us that our harvest is on the way. Next comes the 'head' stage. The seed has started to sprout and look like what we prayed for. This is when we must water it with prayer, nourish it with God's word and protect it from anything or anyone that would uproot it through doubt and unbelief. Finally we enter the 'full grain' stage when the grain ripens and we reap the harvest.

So what now? Whatever stage of the faith process you're in, stand strong and keep trusting God. Your harvest is on the way.

Being a follower of Jesus doesn't guarantee that life will go as we dream or plan. We are totally allowed to dream and plan, and move forward with what we have planned, if we've done it honestly and purposefully. But ultimately, the only outcome that is certain is God and our relationship with him. Pursuing God and his ways is always the best first move in any area of our lives.

The Bible says the rain falls on 'the just and the unjust alike' (Matthew 5:45 NLT). The law of cause and effect applies to everybody, despite all our plans and good intentions. Think about it like this: maybe we consider studying in a particular field. We do the research, talk to the experts, and things look good. Then we proceed on what we think is a sound decision. But then the unexpected happens: a family tragedy, a financial issue, a change in circumstances. It's not our fault; we were sound in our decision making, but it didn't change the result.

When we've committed our lives to Jesus, when the 'rain' falls we can be assured that he'll help us navigate our uncertain path. If we believe and are looking for direction, let's pray, read our Bible, and listen for what God has to say: 'Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come' (Jeremiah 33:3 NLT).

So what now? Ask God to give you direction through his word and presence. He promises to!

It's easy to say, 'The Lord is my shepherd,' but how can we tell if it's real for us or if we're just saying the words? Here is a simple test: when we need help, who do we turn to first? Many people go to God only after they've tried everything else. And when nothing else is working, then they try praying. In past crises, whatever or whoever we turned to first for help, that's our shepherd.

A man on a trip to the African rainforests was following a guide. As they pushed deeper into the jungle, the guide was whacking away with his machete at the thick growth that rose up like a wall before them. 'How do you know where to go?' the man asked. 'Where's the path?' The guide replied, 'I am the path.' Life is like a jungle; we need a guide who knows where they're going and what they're doing.

And here on earth, who qualifies for such a job? One person only - the Lord! There will never be a day when we don't need his guidance, and we can have it if we really want it. The Bible says, 'He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out...he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice' (John 10:3-4 NLT).

So what now? There are many voices competing for your attention. But Jesus, your Shepherd, is the one voice you can always trust when it comes to guidance. That's why it's important to 'know his voice'.