Yesterday I studied about discontent and how to know when I’m doing enough.
Today I want to expand on that by reading the talk titled, “What Lack I Yet?” by Elder Larry R. Lawrence.
We came to learn and improve until we gradually become sanctified or perfected in Christ.
The goal is to become perfected in Christ. What does that mean?
The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a “course of steady improvement.”2 As we travel along that strait and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher.
I really like this suggestion:
…we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like “What do I need to change?” “How can I improve?” “What weakness needs strengthening?”
I can’t coast and feel that “all is well.” I need to ask questions and always be assessing my situation and the direction I’m facing.
We must be willing to act when we receive an answer.
That’s tough. What does it feel like to receive an answer versus has thoughts or ideas or feelings of my own will?
I think the answer lies in ongoing study, prayer and meditation. If I’m honestly striving to be humble and teachable, I will continue to feel what is right and will get answers in different forms.
Elder David A. Bednar once observed: “Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for saints—for good men and women who are obedient, worthy, and conscientious and who are striving to become better.”8
That’s one blessing I feel I’m understanding better as I try, one day at a time, to live in recovery – that the Atonement is for me, now, today, not just when I sin or mess up.
The Atonement can and will “strengthen me, help me, and cause me to stand.”
The Atonement will help me bear the burdens I’ve been given.
The Atonement will help me surrender my will to God’s.
I feel that writing a book with Becky about addiction recovery is something I need to consider more seriously. I don’t know how or when or why, but I feel this will be something I won’t regret.
Even if we never actually get the book published, it will be a connecting experience, it will cause me to think and study and pray and write, and it will help me continue to rely on the Atonement one day at a time as I think about what I’m learning and how recovery has impacted my life.
What is keeping me from progressing?
When I think about this question, in regard to work, I feel the answer is pretty clear as well: I need to humble myself and hire a real project manager. I need to search diligently for the right person. I need to be clear in expectations.
If I were looking for the ideal project manager, they would need to do these things:
- Great organizational skills
- Work pro-actively on projects
- Not afraid to bring new ideas to the table
- Educated in WordPress
- Educated in online marketing
- Experience with running multiple projects at the same time
- Goal oriented
- Good ability to connect with clients
- Patient
- Hard working
- Ideally, local, but not mandatory
I will consider the next steps I can take on this and begin the process.
President Kimball said the following:
I have learned that where there is a prayerful heart, a hungering after righteousness, a forsaking of sins, and obedience to the commandments of God, the Lord pours out more and more light until there is finally power to pierce the heavenly veil. … A person of such righteousness has the priceless promise that one day he shall see the Lord’s face and know that he is.10
I’m grateful for this study today.
I’m grateful to be living in recovery.
I want to have an effective day in recovery and not cross any boundaries today.
I look forward to taking things one moment at a time. I look forward to being aware and ready to act, not be acted upon.
I feel one other impression I had was to reach out to Bishop and tell him I’m helping run one of the local SA meetings in Spanish Fork; let him know that we’d love to have people that are struggling with addiction stop by on a Saturday morning.
I hope to act on this impression today too.
Hasta luego!
Nate
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