But most of us, in the ordinary course of life, should cultivate wonder and gratitude at the miracle of being alive. Every day is a gift. There is no end to the wonder and joy of it.

A humble person is constantly receiving input from others in all kinds of informal ways—a mere casual remark or even a quizzical look might be the occasion for correction and teaching.

No matter how old we are, how much we’ve studied, or how much experience we have, we will always be learning and growing. Therefore, we must remain teachable for our entire lives. Interestingly, we often learn the most from unlikely sources—from people we are tempted to look down on or people who are very different from us.

It is one of the most wonderful moments of life when you are able to say, and really mean it from your heart, “I’m nobody very special—and that’s okay!”

In the places where we are very ordinary, or even below average, we need not panic. Mediocrity is not the end of the world. Your value is rooted in what Christ has done for you. You are loved and treasured by God himself. Your life is measured by his estimation. You have an ocean of joy awaiting you in eternity. So your happiness and welfare are

There is joy in embracing the fact that it’s not about us. It reminds us what we are really fighting for.

How powerfully insightful for life! The world is filled with people vying to play first violin. But can we play the second fiddle with enthusiasm? Finding our own unique role and being content in it—this is where flourishing happens. This is where life gets interesting. This is where the joy comes out.

One powerful way to combat these unpleasant feelings is to remember that all of those who are serving Christ are ultimately on the same team.

Second, envy is one of the most miserable vices. Most other vices tend to produce some kind of pleasure, however momentary. But envy is nothing but unpleasant, through and through. It is the constant thief of joy.