Ponderize Scripture: Hebrews 10:35-36 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
Monday 3/7
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence
"'it isn't over until its over.' It is a reminder that the fight goes on. Unfortunately we must not think Satan is defeated with that first strong breakthrough which so dramatically brought the light and moved us forward." I really like this line..."the Fight goes on". A good reminder to always be looking/seeking the Lord and recognize that the adversary wants me to fail and is always seeking ways to do it. This phrase "calling upon God" was used by both Joseph Smith and Moses when they were being overcome by the power of Satan. They were strengthened and the power was given to command Satan to leave. This is key in the fight against the adversary-to always be vigilant in prayer.
"The reminder is that we cannot sign on for a battle of such eternal significance and everlasting consequence with knowing it will be a fight--a good fight and a winning fight, but a fight nevertheless." I really like this, that good things are always worth fighting for and there always seems to be a fight to reach them.
"With any major decision there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don't give up when the pressure mounts. Certainly don't give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you." This is a great litmus test! If it was right before because you sought it and received an answer, it is still right now. This gives me great conviction to move forward with faith.
Tuesday 3/8
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence Continued...
"God will teach us in a reasonable way and in a revelatory way--mind and heart combined--by the Holy Ghost." I love this. Satan can't counterfeit this. He may pretend to touch our emotions or send thoughts in our minds but he can't do both in bringing the peace and calm and clarity that the Lord can through the Holy Ghost.
"You will need information too, but in matters of great consequence it is not likely to come unless you want it urgently, faithfully, humbly. Moroni calls it seeking 'with real intent.' If you seek that way and stay in that mode, not much that the adversary can counter with will dissuade you from a righteous path."
"...in the process of revelation and making important decisions, fear plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role...after you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine." This is a great reminder of the destructive power of fear. I love these words, move forward, don't hesitate...there is a power in it.
"If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, He will provide the way for you to accomplish it." This is true, I know it!
Wednesday 3/9
Mark 10:43-45, "...whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant to all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." The key is to follow after the Savior...to think more of others, to teach and serve than to seek my own self interests.
Mark 10:47-52 "he began to cry out, and say, Jesus...have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal...thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." A blind man is made whole because he didn't give up; he was persistent and he believed that he could be healed and did everything that he could in order for it to happen. Even more so, he was made whole more than healed. What does being made whole mean? To be strengthened spiritually besides physically more to receive a gift of God?
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." The Savior is there, seeking those that are lost. I am lost; I can't return to my Heavenly Father without the Savior. Do I listen for him calling me? And do I listen? He will save if I come unto him.
Thursday 3/10
Luke 19:26 JST "For I say unto you, That unto every one who occupieth, shall be given; and from him who occupieth not, even that he hath received shall be taken away from him." 'Occupy' means to be engaged, active, progressing, working hard etc... As I am trying to do my best and to improve in developing talents and increasing my station in life I will be blessed for my efforts. The Lord is happy and pleased when I use my time for learning and growth, not for those things which waste time or don't improve my life or others. What things in my life do I feel are time wasters and don't help me to increase? In today's world, media uses up a lot of our time. Are my uses of media acceptable?
Mark 14:7 "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always." Seek the Lord always, first and foremost and then serve your fellowman as you are able. The key is to seek the Lord first. How am I doing with this? Do I want to study and pray first and then everything else comes? I know when this happens how everything else seems to fall into place. Seek the Lord first!
Friday 3/11
John 12:19 "The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him." Such an interesting phrase. The Pharisees were extremely jealous of Jesus. He was taking away their influence and power. How am I like the Pharisees? Do I envy the successes of others or am I happy and supportive of them?
Matt 21:13 "...My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them." This is referring to the temple, a place of prayer and healing. I know this to be true and that I can be healed the more that I go. I also wonder if I can apply this to my home and my mind? They can be temples...places of prayer and healing. How can I make sure that my home and my mind are temples?
Luke 19:47 "And he taught daily in the temple." The temple is a place of learning and of teaching. When I go to the temple, do I go seeking to learn and understand and receive answers? They may come more readily if I have that attitude.
Matt 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Mark 11:23 "..whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed...and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe...he shall have whatsoever he saith...what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Faith cannot coexist with fear. Prayer is the main avenue with God and one of the greatest signs of faith, not to mention one of the greatest growers of faith. The key to faith is to believe or trust that it can come to pass. How can I increase my faith? More sincere prayer and believing that the Lord can and will bless me is a good start.
Saturday 3/12
Matt 22:21 "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." What things are of the world and what things are of God? Interesting how the Savior distinguished a separation. I need to think more about what this means.
Luke 20:38 "For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him." He is living and is moving and speaking and doing. He is there for me and will always be. To me living is progressing. In my life, I need to be striving to always be progressing and he will be there to help me.
Matt 22:37-40 "...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." What is my first priority? What should I do first? Love the Lord-keep his commandments, communicate with him, counsel with him, serve those that he loves...If I keep the Lord as number one in my life then it seems that loving others and myself is a lot easier. How can I do this? Meaningful prayer, scripture study, pondering, attending church, prayer in my heart, talking of Christ, sharing the words of life as Jesus did. Seeking to serve others. How am I doing with this?
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