When it comes to spiritual matters, understand your faith. I Peter 3:15 tells us to,"... be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." If you don't know what or why you believe, how can you share your faith and how can you stand firm?

Don't hide behind platitudes and clichés and trite phrases when life shakes you. Instead, take a risk. Be vulnerable. People won't open up to you if you don't open up to them. Pretending everything is okay never helped anyone.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). You can't go wrong when your desires are His, and you look outside yourself to focus on Him.

Don't be spiritually naked. Live out Ephesians 6:10-13. Be someone who stands on the power of Christ, rather than on the power of themselves.

Forget one step forward, two steps back. Leap ahead in your life as a believer. Don't be content to be,"... infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching" (Ephesians 4:14). We're meant to mature spiritually, not stagnate or backslide.

Be a mentor. Find a mentor. Pray for God to sprinkle people into your life who can offer wisdom and people you can share that wisdom with. Your best place is in the middle-helping and being helped.

"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence" (Ephesians 3:12). You don't have to guess about your importance and your worth. God gave the ultimate sacrifice for you-His son.

Build a scripture base-a well of peace and comfort and wisdom-inside your heart, and it will never dry up. Ephesians 6:14 tells us God's Word is the belt of truth. Wear it well.

It's a hard balance. But we're asked to stand apart from the world at the same time we're asked to love the people of the world. Romans 12:2tells us,"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind," while Matthew 7:1 reminds us not to, "... judge, or you too will be judged.

The Golden Rule has stood the test of time for a reason. Even if it's not direct Scripture, treating others the way you want to be treated is never a bad strategy.

Don't waste your time on the world's wisdom."Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"(Hebrews 4:16).

Be the same person when no one's looking as you are when all eyes are on you. The right thing doesn't change with the company you keep.

"Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning" (Proverbs 9:9). God wants to shape us until we stand in His glory. Soften your heart and be humble enough to learn.

Money guru Dave Ramsey advises, "A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went." Set an example for your family by being wise with God's resources.

"How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver" (Proverbs 16:16). Worldly possessions may not last, but wisdom is something no one can ever take away from you.

God didn't create us to be afraid. He doesn't want us to live in captivity to the what if'sof life. I John 4:18 tells us,"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." and God loves us perfectly all the time.

What you deem important will be where your energy and time go. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34). Pick your treasures wisely.

Don't spend your life waiting for something amazing to happen. Ask God to show you the amazing stuff He's doing in your life every day. Your future is your now. All the little moments add up to the memories of your life.

If servanthood was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for you. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"(Mark 10:45).

Will you be someone who's remembered? That's up to you. Ask yourself what you want people to say about you after you're gone-and then strive to be that person.