This is my 43rd year of journaling. In those journals I have a record of almost every day: what happened, what I learned, where I blew it, how God has poured one undeserved blessing after another into my life. In the course of journal-writing, I have accumulated thousands of quotes and insights from other writers and thinkers. When they have moved my heart, I have written them down. Often I skim the pages of my journals and retrieve the thoughts that once brought me inspiration or rebuke. To borrow the words of the cereal commercial, I have "tasted them again for the first time."

Here are a few of those, in no particular order. These statements have helped realign my soul.

• The prayer that John Stott has used to begin many of his mornings:
  
  "Good morning, heavenly Father; good morning Lord Jesus; good morning Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I worship you as the creator and sustainer of the universe. Lord Jesus, I worship you, Savior and Lord of the world. Holy Spirit, I worship you, sanctifier of the people of God. Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen."