1. Identify blessings. Too often we go through life oblivious to the good that comes flowing into our lives. Try this spiritual exercise for one week: At the end of the first day, identify a blessing that came to you from a family member. At the end of the second day, a blessing from a neighbor. Third day, from a friend. Fourth day, from a work colleague. Fifth day, from a stranger. Sixth day, from a child. On the seventh day, a blessing that came from an "enemy."


2. Be like Moses, speak words of blessing. One of the most beautiful and compassionate passages in the Bible contains these words of blessing pronounced by Moses:

"May the Lord bless you and protect you,
May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show yon his favor and give you his peace"

—(Numbers 6:24-26).

Get creative with language, and speak words that will uplift, encourage, hearten, and bless other people. As you build them up, your own spirit will get stronger.

1. Nurture a shared prayer life. Increase the amount of time you spend in prayer by sharing in prayer with others.


2. Take a step of faith. Today, make time to heal a wounded heart, to extend kindness to someone who really needs a friend, or to help gather up pieces of a broken dream. Today, do whatever you can to radiate God's unconditional love.


3. Be a grateful person. Start every day with a morning prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of a new day. Do this even if the day ahead appears ominous. Conclude every day with an evening prayer of gratitude to God for the gift of the preceding hours. Do this even if you've had a very tough day.


4. Share the journey. Hook up with one other person who is seeking to grow spiritually. Agree to meet once a week for a period of time to study and reflect on spiritual matters.


5. Serve. Look for ways to serve the community, especially tasks that promise no reward, such as picking up litter on the streets. Read and reflect on the action of Jesus in John 13:1-5.


6. Cultivate a little solitude. "Solitude makes us tougher toward ourselves and tender toward others; in both ways it improves our lives. Set aside a few minutes to be alone—just you and God. In quietness we turn our minds away from the problems of life and fix our thoughts on the mind of God.


7. Fast and pray. Prayer linked with fasting was often done by people in the Bible. Ezra 8:23 reports: "So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer." The next time you are asked to pray urgently for someone in difficulty, consider combining your praying with some fasting.


8. Turn worries over to God. This is a clear teaching of Scripture: "Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you" (Psalm 55:22). Do this each time a worry comes up.


9. Spread love wherever you go. That is the advice of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who advised: "Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."


10. Strive for excellence. The Bible tells us: "Whatever you do, do well." (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Be the best that you can be at whatever station in life God has placed you.
    
11. Meditate on scripture. The Bible is loaded with verses of comfort, encouragement, and wisdom. Make it a habit to read and study your Bible in a regular, disciplined way. Highlight verses that speak to you. Meditate on those words. Memorize some of the passages so you can recall them from memory at a future time.
    
12. Be reliable. Do what you say you will do—whether it's convenient or not. Follow through on all of your commitments, large and small. By your actions, show others you are a person who can be trusted and counted upon.
    
13. Ask God to make you a blessing today. A great way to grow in wonder and amazement is by asking God to turn your life into a blessing. Do this each morning before your daily activities. Offer a short, simple prayer like this one: "Dear God, on this day make my life a blessing to someone, somewhere." Then pay close attention to every person you encounter during the day, as God will honor your prayer, sometimes in surprising ways.
    
14. Spend time in nature. Nothing gives darshan (blessings) better than nature!