Praise

Begin by reading one to five psalms each day, paraphrasing
them in your own words. Allow them to reflect your emotions
and increase your devotion toward God. The psalms give you
courage and confidence to tell God exactly what you are feeling
and thinking. They give you permission to call God by many
names: Father, Friend, Companion, Savior, Warrior, Creator.
The psalms give you a new vocabulary for talking to God; they
teach you how to pray. Make them your personal praise
prayers!

Admit It!

One of the first and most important conversations you will ever
have with God is when you admit to Him that you are a sinner.

But as you grow in your relationship with God, if you’re
typical, you might begin to avoid the constant admission of sin
primarily because it seems as if it shouldn’t be a factor in your
life anymore. Many fall into the trap of ignoring sin or hiding it.

John Owen, a favorite author of mine, gave me a different
perspective of sin in his treatise called Sin and Temptation.
(His unusual terminology gave both sin and temptation a
persona.) He suggested that sin will never, ever stop chasing
after you—it continuously, relentlessly fights against God and
for you! He was convinced that sin never gives up trying to
destroy your life, your relationships, or your witness. It will
entice you and try to dominate your thoughts until you
succumb to it.