How can I make friends as an introvert?

Know who you are! Too often, at every age, we go out of our way to be something we are not. In gatherings, seek out those who appear to be in the same situation. Take a risk in introducing yourself but do not be conformed to who others want you to be. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14, NIV). He knows your days before one of them came to be!

– Colonel William Mockabee, Dallas, Texas

How can having faith in God make my life better?

Life is full of wonderful joys and great difficulties. Sometimes we believe that difficulties happen because we are deserving of them. Maybe a speeding ticket or a failing grade on a test when you didn’t study is a difficulty we create for ourselves, but with difficulties like physical or mental illness, broken relationships, natural disasters, acts of violence upon ourselves or our loved ones, these and more are difficulties of which no one is deserving. Having faith in God fills us with hope and hope does not disappoint; this is a promise we are given in Romans 5:5.

I wish I could say having faith makes all the difficulties disappear, but that would not be truthful. Life includes difficulty not because we are doing life wrong, but because we live in a fallen world. But when difficulties arise, my faith in God gives me internal peace and strength because His Spirit lives within me. Somehow His presence makes hard times easier and gives me strength to endure and look for the positive, like how I might grow.

– Major Dawn McFarland, Dallas, Texas

How can I stay consistent with the goals and habits I set in January?

I think that to be consistent with goals and habits, I must evaluate my past achievements. Establish a sharp vision for those goals and habits and be specific. Make the goal measurable, establish realistic deadlines for those goals and plan action steps. Review your progress regularly, focus on what has priority and what you are successful at in the present with the existing resources.  

Setting challenging goals and habits leads to increased performance, persistence and motivation. Having goals helps to focus on the most important tasks. The book of Proverbs gives us a perspective to remember to do our part in maintaining our goals. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3, ESV). “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5, ESV). “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5, ESV).

– Major Israel Acosta, Pawtucket, RI