Yesterday Was Nearly a Perfect Day
Well, it’s a new day. As the title says, yesterday was nearly perfect.
I didn’t get to read, write, or study – so that was one downside. I didn’t make it to my SA meeting; that was another. But other than that, I feel really grateful for the day.
We worked hard together.
We played hard together.
There was minimal contention.
Becky and I connected so well and felt so close. We went on a fun date and saw the movie “Inside Out.” And then we went to Bombay House, which was really fun and delicious.
We had a great talk after the movie about our feelings and how it relates to recovery and healing. That movie, “Inside Out,” is a great one to help me recognize feelings, why I have them, and how I can best use each feeling as a way to surrender to God and have Him help me deal with tough times.
I felt fear when I woke up this morning: fear that I’ve been doing so well in business and won’t be able to keep it up; fear that, after the Y app and the U projects are done, what will I do next; fear that this has been such an unbelievable year – how could I possibly do this again or improve.
All of these are valid fears I think. But then the scripture came to mind in Matthew 6:
24 ¶aNo man can bserve two cmasters: for either he will dhate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and emammon.
25 aTherefore I say unto you, Take no bthought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? aConsider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:…
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, ashall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little bfaith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father aknoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 aBut bseek ye first the ckingdom of God, and hisdrighteousness; and all these ethings shall be fadded unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take athought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (bold added for emphasis)
What an amazing answer to my fear.
God is there. He knows what I need. He loves me and wants me to be happy. He wants me to be a provider, protector, and advocate for truth and righteousness. He wants to help me and my family.
It is because of Him that I have had the success I’ve had this year. As Beck and I were talking last night, it’s amazing to realize that I’ve hardly made any sales with FS this year. For the past 5 years that’s been a big part of my growth and success. But this year has been different.
I think, sometimes, I feel like the ideal situation would be to get bought out by them and then be part of their team. But maybe that’s not what Heavenly Father wants for me right now.
I need to put my trust in Him and live one day at a time. “Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
As I looked up fear in the topical guide, I found so many other answers too:
4 Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to ashame; for thou shalt forget the bshame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the creproach of thy youth,
I really like this about shame – shame is the feeling I’ve had when I’ve turned to coping through addiction. Shame seems to be a prevalent virus in the family I grew up in. Shame is destructive and is never helpful. How many times did I hear the phrase, “Shame on you…” in my growing up years?
This is all about not looking back, not dwelling on the past; but living in the eternal present.
8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be awith thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
The Lord is with me. He is right there and is guiding me in this journey of life. I have to trust that, as I do my part to put my trust in Him and surrender my will to Him, He won’t let me down and will guide and direct me.
23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money.
It is only because of God that I’ve been blessed with my temporal blessings. I’m willing to do whatever He wants me to do. I’m willing to share with others. I’m willing to surrender my will over to Him.
I just need to be aware of what He wants for me and then act on those promptings. I also need to always acknowledge His hand in my life.
13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
He’s there. He’s holding my hand and guiding me!
How I need to recognize that He is helping me
20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath acreated it.
Like I said above – it’s He that has brought me such amazing blessings. It’s He that is there guiding me. I must never forget this or let pride in to think that it’s because I’m doing this or that. I do have to do all I can, but that will never be enough on my own. I need Him there and I need to rely on Him and put my trust in Him on a day to day, moment to moment basis.
Look unto Him in every thought
36 aLook unto me in every bthought; cdoubt not, fear not.
This is surrender. This is submission. This is having a prayer in my heart always. This is practicing the chin up on a moment to moment basis. This is practicing patience with my kids one day and moment at a time. This is doing the little things day to day to keep my mind full of righteous desires. This is bridling my passions and appetites of the natural man and thinking of Him in the moment of temptation – asking for His help.
34 Therefore, fear not, little aflock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are bbuilt upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
This is such a strong answer to all our fears about the direct the world is headed. Nothing can defeat us if we are built upon the Rock of Christ, our Redeemer, our Savior. “They cannon prevail.”
1 Verily I say unto you my friends, afear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give bthanks;
Gratitude is the way to show humility. Recognizing His hand in everything in my life is how I can practice being humble one day at a time. Gratitude is the opposite of pride and selfishness.
I must never forget this.
41 aFear not, little bchildren, for you are mine, and I have covercome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath dgiven me;
42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be alost.
43 And the Father and I are aone. I am bin the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.
44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the agood bshepherd, and the cstone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this drock shall never efall.
45 And the aday cometh that you shall hear my voice and bsee me, and cknow that I am.
46 aWatch, therefore, that ye may be bready. Even so. Amen.
This last one reminds me of the fear I feel Becky and I were talking about last night in relation to the announcement that the Church won’t let children of people in a Gay marriage participate in the ordinances of the Gospel: blessings, baptism, confirmation, priesthood, mission, temple marriage (I think that’s accurate).
The world seems to be getting more and more wicked. People are apostatizing because of social media and the influence confused people can have on the elect of God.
I know I’ve been there. I’ve been confused and blinded by Satan and his workers who led me down a horrible path of lust, pornography and filth. And they make it seem no “normal,” so “natural,” so “harmless.” To hell with that thought. Those deceptive paths are so hurtful to all involved and so damaging of what’s most important in this life – the eternal family.
Becky and I are afraid of how we are going to protect our kids, but I feel the answer is here in the scriptures (and even in the hymns):
If we do what’s right we have no need to fear,
for the Lord or helper will ever be near.
In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.
I’m grateful for this study today.
I’m grateful for the movie we went to last night that got me thinking so much about feelings:
- Joy
- Fear
- Anger
- Sadness
I look forward to studying about each of those more.
Hasta luego!
Nate
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