We can make prayer harder than it's supposed to be. We think we have to sound a certain way or say specific things. But that isn't prayer. Jesus said: 'When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you...don't babble on...your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him' (Matthew 6:6-8 NLT)!

What can we learn from this? (1) Prayer is personal one-on-one time with God. (2) Prayer isn't fancy words. (3) Prayer isn't measured by how much we say. All God wants from us is to spend time with him. If we look in the Bible for how Jesus did prayer, he often went for a wander and poured his truest thoughts out to his Dad (Luke 5:16).

God knows what we'll pray about before we pray. So if we don't get the words out the way we'd like, God knows our heart and intention. If we need a prayer outline, we could use the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6. All that's left is to get ourselves into a distraction-free (yes, that means InstaSnapBook free) place and go for it. Let's make that time regularly, and we'll grow closer and closer to him.

So what now? Whether you're a newbie or veteran at prayer, it's a practice that needs to be kept up. Start with telling your Father about your day. Simply. Honestly.

Jesus felt the same emotions as us, including anger: 'So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables' (John 2:15 NIV). The money-changing system made a daily habit of insulting God's house, so Jesus had a right to be angry. We know he never sinned (1 Peter 2:22), so his anger definitely wasn't sin. As our hearts become more like his, there may be times when our anger is justified like that, too.

Jesus' anger was always directed at injustice, hypocrisy and the exploitation of the vulnerable. But even then, his response was aimed at restoration. When he met Zacchaeus, who'd been taking advantage of people's money (see Luke 19:1-10), he didn't rage at him. He saw Zaccheus as a person first, and dealt with him in love.

Like Jesus, we need to use our anger for good. When we see a system that hurts people (or God), let's allow that anger to move us to constructive action. Or, when our anger is more person-related, let's learn to defuse the fuse and approach the person with patience and love.

So what now? Next time you feel angry, go into another room. Pray for a couple of minutes. Take a few deep breaths. Is your anger justified, or just a human niggle? Ask God to be with you as you deal with the situation.

Love! We sing, write and make movies about it. Love's a massive part of this world, probably because it's who God is. That's why we gravitate towards it and crave the great feelings that it brings. Experiencing love here on earth can help us understand more of God, and can give us the grace to act more like him - putting others first, and dropping what we're doing to help someone else.

The earth-version of love isn't perfect. Our love can disappoint. It can feel as though we put ourselves out only to be hurt. Paul wrote, 'If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal' (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV). Love extends beyond words; love is nothing without heartfelt action. When we act without putting others first, it's like we're just making a whole lot of meaningless noise.

Challenging as it is, it's time to pray for the will to love people. Real, put-others-before-yourself love is vitally important. Jesus told us to love everyone as he loved us (John 13:34). That's a tall order, but we reckon that, if he asked us to do it, he'll show us how. And his love from above is perfect.

So what now? Who was the last person you said 'I love you' to? Do something generous for them today. And who's the person you'd never expect to say 'I love you' to? Do something generous for them too. Thank God for his love, from above.

It's true that the power God gives us is enough to overcome anything (see Philippians 4:13). But what about when we get... distracted? If the narrow path that God leads us on is like a corridor filled with doors, getting to the very end without hearing/smelling/seeing/imagining what lies behind each of the doors can be difficult.

These things are called temptations and can seem like a good idea at the time. Solomon put it this way: 'My son, if sinful men entice you ... do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths' (Proverbs 1:10;15 NIV). And: 'There is a path...that seems right, but it ends in death' (Proverbs 14:12 NLT).

If we're struggling to resist, we're not alone. Some of the best advice for when faced with wandering from God's will is this: decide beforehand what we're going to do. Before we've even set foot in the day/tempting place, know what we want to do. Paul explains we need to 'find out what pleases the Lord' (Ephesians 5:10 NIV). Chances are, we probably have a good idea about what God does and doesn't want for us. If we know we're prone to a certain temptation, let's decide now that we don't want it, for the sake of staying close to God.

So what now? If you've been sidetracked lately, ask God for forgiveness and ask him what he wants you to do. If you feel well on track, good on you, just keep on focusing on what pleases God.

No matter how hurt, sad or alone we feel, God will never, and has never, left us: 'The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit' (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

God is real and near to us when we're broken and suffering. He notices our shifts of mood. He's a warm presence, waiting to comfort us. God saves is when we're crushed. What does this mean? It means that God turns around the very things that are crushing us and makes them work for us. In Romans, Paul says, 'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us' (Romans 8:35-37 NIV).

When we are a conqueror then we fight our enemies and beat them. When we're more than a conqueror (see Romans 8:37), we fight our enemies and then make them work for us. Through God, we can turn to the things that would destroy us and say, 'Come on, graves. Come on, crosses. All you're doing is making me stronger.'

So what now? Maybe you're not feeling broken right now, so you can file this away for another time. But maybe you know someone who is. Give them a call today and ask how they may need you. Just being real with and close to that person is a help in itself. Thank Jesus that he is victorious over the grave and the cross, and therefore you are.

Loss. Maybe it's a death, a relationship that's ended, a friendship that's broken. Loss makes us feel awkward and vulnerable. Often, we may not even know what to do. We may try to brush it off, smile and go on. And it's hard to hear those all too familiar comments initially: 'Everything happens for a reason'; 'God has a plan'; 'You'll learn from this.' The comments may be true, but they don't feel comforting in the moment.

When Lazarus died, Jesus took it hard. That shouldn't surprise us. Jesus isn't an untouchably emotionless God. When he was on earth, he was just as open to loss as we are. 'When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" He asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him"' (John 11:33-36 NIV)! Jesus cared about Lazarus and his sisters. He didn't say, 'He's in a better place.' He sympathised with them and cried with them.

Whatever kind of loss we're facing, Jesus' example gives us the go-ahead to feel the emotions we may be bottling up. It's okay to be angry. It's okay to cry.

So what now? Whether you're currently experiencing loss, or have in the past, remember that God sympathises with you. It's okay to cry or shout. And, if you know someone who is grieving, give them a hug, a coffee or a listening ear.