I’ve been really working on Step 3 – Trust in God, over the last few weeks.
Here’s how:
- Personal Prayer every morning on my way to work
- Reading something from the scriptures almost every day
- Working hard to “pray in the moment of temptation” – be it my addiction, anger, etc.
Here is the 1st question:
“Reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved” (2 Nephi 10:24).
Consider what it means to live your life in harmony with the will of God. Think about how His enabling
power can come into your life as you turn to Him. How do you feel about letting God direct your life?
I feel really good about letting God direct my life. One thing I’ve done a lot more lately is make honest effort to submit my will to Him in EVERYTHING, not just spiritual or church related things. I’m in the process of making some big decisions in my career and have really been asking Heavenly Father to direct me and help me be patient. As I bore my testimony in Church a few Sundays ago and shared my feelings at group meeting, I mentioned that I truly felt the Love of God in my life. I recognize more now than ever before that He has a hand in ALL I do, work, career, hobbies, interests – He really knows me and knows what I want, need, and what’s best for me. I simply have to put my trust in Him and listen for answers to what His will is for me each day. I really feel I’m learning how to let God direct my life.
What prevents you from allowing Him to direct your life?
In the past it may have been fear of the unknown. It may have been that I just wasn’t ready. It may have been that my pride was still too strong. I don’t know for sure but these are some of the things that come to mind. At this point in my life, I really feel nothing prevents me except my own pride and stubbornness. The only things I’ve felt prevent me from allowing Him to direct my life is when I don’t direct my thoughts and actions towards him, when I forget to do the basic things like personal prayer, scripture study – things that invite the Spirit in to my life.
Submitting to the will of God
“The burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15).
The Lord could have removed the burdens of Alma and his people; instead, He strengthened them to bear “their burdens with ease.” Notice that they did not complain but submitted cheerfully and patiently to the will of the Lord. Write about the humility it takes to want immediate relief and yet be willing to have a burden lightened gradually.
Having the burden lightened gradually is what spiritual growth is all about. If the “burdens” of my addiction were just automatically taken away, I don’t feel I’d have the chance to learn and grow and would most likely fall right back in to the same errors. This is what’s happened in the past – I’ve never really gone through these steps to receive full forgiveness and feel of the love of the Savior. I’ve felt it partially, but never this profoundly before. I’m grateful for the learning process. It does invite humility, which I feel more and more is simply being willing to submit my will completely over to God and let him direct me. “Not my will but thine be done!” This whole concept is so important to learn, as more and more people feel “entitled” to their way NOW, TODAY without going through the step by steps to really learn what they need to learn.
What does it mean to submit to God? How do you submit?
To me, submitting to God can mean a lot of things: being willing to do whatever He asks of me, doing what he asks for the right reason (not to be seen of men), I feel more and more that submitting to God is related to having an ongoing conversation with Him. It’s recognizing His hand in everything and acknowledging that I can’t survive in this life without His help (just as a baby submits to his or her parents).
Ways that I’m learning to submit:
- Doing the little things each day
- Personal prayer in the morning
- Personal prayer throughout the day as I need His help with work, having patience, not looking at things, etc.
- Scripture study in the morning
- Working the program: reading the manual, answering the questions, attending meetings CONSISTENTLY
- Talking with my sponsor on a daily basis
- Meeting with my sponsor once a week to review the Step I’m currently on
- Doing my best to magnify my calling
- Supporting Becky in her new calling
- Personal prayer in the evening
- Special Fasts
How do you feel about submitting willingly and with patience to the Lord’s timetable of change?
I feel great about it. I’m doing my best to really listen; to find out what He wants most for me at this time in my life. I know this whole learning experience is a life-long process. Learning how to use the Atonement in my life will take years and years of practice before I ever get it completely down. I’m willing to continue submitting my will to God’s and exercising patience – it’s the least I could do in exchange for all the patience He has exercised with me.
This will be all for now. More questions to come tomorrow!
Nate
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