It’s late but I missed yesterday and didn’t want to miss two days in a row.
Today was a good day overall. Becky and I went and did sealings early this morning, which was a great way to start the day. BYU got worked for the 2nd time in a row in Football (which was not so good, but they are a young team this year). We went to the Harvest Horrah in Spanish Fork, which was mostly for the kids. And, most of all, it was just a relaxing day.
Tonight I’m going to study parts of a talk from Neal A Maxwell titled “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father“.
If one “mind[s] the things of the flesh” (Rom. 8:5), he cannot “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) because his thought patterns are “far from” Jesus, as are the desires or the “intents of his heart” (Mosiah 5:13). Ironically, if the Master is a stranger to us, then we will merely end up serving other masters. The sovereignty of these other masters is real, even if it sometimes is subtle, for they do call their cadence. Actually, “we are all enlisted” (Hymns, 1985, no. 250), if only in the ranks of the indifferent.
This is a really powerful statement – “Who am I really serving?”
13 For how aknoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? (Mosiah 5:13)
One thing I’ve felt a lot more lately, as I’ve been making an honest effort to study the scriptures in conjunction with the 12 Step Program, is that I’m thinking more in spiritual terms in stead of always about work, or about stresses of every day life. The “little things” like scripture study will prove to be some of the main components of true discipleship when all is said and done.
For many moderns, sad to say, the query “What think ye of Christ?” (Matt. 22:42) would be answered, “I really don’t think of Him at all!”
Elder Maxwell talks about giving “half our will” to God (which is something I feel I continue to struggle with on a day to day basis).
He uses a couple examples that really hit home:
An honorable father, dutifully involved in the cares of his family, is less than kind and gentle with individual family members. Though a comparative stranger to Jesus’ gentleness and kindness, which we are instructed to emulate, a little more effort by this father would make such a large difference…
Many of us thus have sufficient faith to avoid the major sins of commission, but not enough faith to sacrifice our distracting obsessions or to focus on our omissions. Most omissions occur because we fail to get outside ourselves.
Another cosmic fact: only by aligning our wills with God’s is full happiness to be found. Anything less results in a lesser portion (see Alma 12:10–11). The Lord will work with us even if, at first, we “can no more than desire” but are willing to “give place for a portion of [His] words” (Alma 32:27). A small foothold is all He needs! But we must desire and provide it.
Losing one’s self does not mean we have to lose our individuality; it means, as I submit my will to God, I find my “new self” – I discover things about myself that I may have never realized before. And this truth “shall make [me] free”.
As one’s will is increasingly submissive to the will of God, he can receive inspiration and revelation so much needed to help meet the trials of life.
Along this pathway leading to consecration, stern and unsought challenges sometimes hasten this jettisoning, which is needed to achieve increased consecration (see Hel. 12:3)…One may be stripped of accustomed luxury so that the malignant mole of materialism may be removed. One may be scorched by humiliation so pride can be melted away. Whatever we lack will get attention, one way or another…the more one’s will is thus “swallowed up,” the more his afflictions, rather than necessarily being removed, will be “swallowed up in the joy of Christ” (Alma 31:38)
Things I Can Do To Submit My Will More
- Look for opportunities to serve others more
- Be consistent in scripture study
- Be consistent in personal prayer
- Be consistent in striving to have a positive and patient attitude with Becky and the kids
- Be consistent in working the steps of the program towards full recovery from addiction
- Avoid browsing the Internet at all times, even in the middle of the day (Facebook, Google Images, Youtube, etc.)
- Consistently reach out to others in the program via responding to emails, contacting via phone, etc.
- Getting to bed at an earlier time and waking up earlier
- Going to the temple on a scheduled basis (2 times per month)
I enjoyed this talk and look to read it again.
Hasta manana!
Nate
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