Ponderize Scripture
2 Nephi 4:35 "Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."
Tuesday 1/5
2 Nephi 4, v.4 "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence." I love this simple, straightforward statement. It is an act of faith on our part to see if that will happen. v.15 "...For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. Behold my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard." A purpose of the scriptures is for learning and growth and profit. I really like profit; it is to benefit whoever reads and ponders the meaning, and applies it to their life. The key is to continually read, study, think about, pray, ponder, and seek to apply, see the blessings that come or further learning and growth that comes. v.18 "I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me." I feel so much like Nephi, in seeking to be like God I fall everyday. To me it feels like it hinders my progress. v.19 "...nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support..." v.35 "Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen." Look to God always. I like how Nephi describes praying; lift up my voice, cry, voice shall forever ascend. It sounds like work, deliberate communication, a pleading, focused and often. How can I better my prayers? It really feels like prayer better helps one to look to God and accept his will.
Wednesday 1/6
David W. Hart Be Excellent: Becoming Who You Are in Today's World "Personal excellence is not about being the best but about being your best at whatever you choose to do." It is essential to not compare oneself with others. The only person I can change is me and the best that I can do is my best. I really like this. 5 ways to be my best: 1) be engaged "give your total effort and attention to whatever you are doing." Be present, focused on the task at hand. In yoga, it is called mindfulness. 2) Seek Absence "We need...absences in order to think and see for ourselves. Indeed, the kinds of thoughts that present themselves in our emptiest moments--the moments when we stare out of the train's windows or hover on a lawn to monitor the sky--are the only thoughts that can deliver a strange new understanding." Suggestions would be to exercise w/o music, ponder the scriptures in a quiet place, go on a walk or a drive, turn off the phone for an hour a day. "Allow yourself a space of quiet, wherein you can add to your knowledge of the Good and learn to curb your restlessness." I really like this. 3) Be Awe-full or be full of awe "Earnestly seek to see and appreciate the Lord's hand in your life, because it is everywhere around you...we all benefit even more when we recognize the Lord's influence in our lives." I want to make a better effort at doing this, 5 things a day that I am grateful for. 4) Be selfless "The less time we spend 'pacing up and down within the cell of our circumstance,' the more likely it is that we will find meaning in what we are doing." This makes sense. I love the line 'Forget yourself and go to work'! "The Lord challenges us to lose ourselves so that we can have the attitudes that will keep us grounded, humble, and open to learning. In losing ourselves, we learn about ourselves..." Being selfless helps me to learn more about myself than focusing on myself. Profound thought. Goal: do at least one act of service a day. 5) Be compassionate "...there are two essential parts to compassion: feeling (empathy) and doing." "The person...must...endeavour, as much as he can, to put himself in the situation of the other, and to bring home to himself every little circumstance of distress which can possibly occur to the sufferer." I really want to do this! Pray for help and put myself in the shoes of the other person. There is no need for judgment. I need to feel and to show my compassion for others. This was fabulous devotional. What can I focus on to be more successful??
Thursday 1/7
Matt 13:10-17 v.12 JST "For whosoever receiveth, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance; but whosoever continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." The key words here are receive and continue to receive. To me receive means to desire and to seek and to welcome what comes. Do I want to receive personal revelation and therefore seek after it and when it comes I welcome it and apply it in my life? It is interesting that I must be consistent in doing this. It is not enough to do it once or twice.
Matt 13:24-30 The Parable of the Tares. v.29 "...lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them." I think how interesting it is that the wheat and the tares must reside together. The tares make the wheat stronger. There must be an opposition in all things as it helps one to become stronger and have more faith. It seems like those things that are the most valuable in life have the strongest opposition. Do I recognize the opposition in seeking after what is most important in my life? What oppositions do I recognize and see?
Friday 1/8
Luke 13:18-19, What is the kingdom of God like? v.19 "It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it." Thoughts-there is always progression here. The tiniest of seeds grows and sprouts into the best of trees. Becoming like God is a process that will take a long time but the end state will be one that is hard to describe. This gives me a lot of hope. Change is possible and real and the end result is worth it. I like how in the end the tree is great so that others can enjoy and profit from it. Learning to be selfless is an attribute that will continue forever. It both makes one better, but it helps to make others better as well. Eternal perspective is extremely important.
Saturday 1/9
President Thomas S. Monson Keep The Commandments "He (our Heavenly Father) understands that when we keep the commandments, our lives will be happier, more fulfilling, and less complicated. Our challenges and problems will be easier to bear, and we will receive His promised blessings." Interesting to think how my life is more fulfilling and less complicated. With no addictions or situations to tie me down it can be less worrisome and easier to live. Though it appears constricting the commandments actually create freedom. "We know, however, that the adversary is committed to our failure...represent a grave and constant threat to our eternal salvation unless we are also relentless in our determination and efforts to achieve our goal." The power of Satan is real. President Monson says that he is constant in his efforts. This is important to realize that to combat him, I must be constantly looking out for him and be constantly fortifying myself (prayer, scripture study, service). Interesting how President Monson uses the word 'relentless' or 'constant vigilance'. That must be the attitude I have towards protecting myself from his lies and influences. "How vital it is that we exercise constant vigilance in order to avoid giving in to such lies and temptations." I love this scripture in Isaiah that President Monson quotes 32:17 "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." I love these promises, keeping the commandments cultivates faith and hope.
Sunday 1/10
Mark 4:35-41, v.39-40 "And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ya have no faith?" The Savior has the power to calm the waves of trouble and gloom. I like how he came when the disciples called unto him. The Savior can fix things in my life if I will but call to him with real intent to change or to submit. Why are ye so fearful? Because of a lack of faith. Fear and faith are exact opposites. This has always been the same question, how do I increase my faith? Come unto Christ and my faith will be strengthened.
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