How can I be a better Christian? I get along pretty well most of the time, but then I'll get upset at something and lose my temper, or fall down in some other way, and then I realize I'm not a very good Christian after all. — D.N.

The first step to being a better Christian - is to be sure you truly are a Christian! Have you confessed your sins to Christ and turned your life over to Him? If you are unsure of your relationship to Christ, commit your life without reserve to Him, and ask Him to help you walk with Him every day.

Then realize that you can't become a better Christian on your own, or in your own strength. You need God's help, and you need the resources He has provided to help you grow stronger. In ourselves, we are weak - but when we seek God's help we discover that the Bible's promise is true: "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him" (2 Peter 1:3).

Just as we need food to keep us strong physically, so we need the spiritual "food" God has already provided for us through His Spirit if we are to be strong. What is that spiritual "food"? First, God has given us His Word, the Bible. Make the Bible part of your spiritual "diet" every day, both by studying it on your own and by hearing others teach it. Job said, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread" (Job 23:12).

Then God also has given you the privilege of prayer, and the privilege of fellowship with other believers. Prayer connects you with God; fellowship connects you with other believers. Through these means, God will encourage you and use you to help others.