I shared my testimony in Sacrament Meeting, which I haven't done in over a year. I talked about my testimony of obedience and that by doing the things we've been asked to do we find true happiness. I truly believe this and have felt such an increase in faith and spiritual strength over these past 2 years of daily scripture reading with the family and by myself, and through our consistency with family prayers morning and night and weekly Family Home Evenings.
I have learned that these things are NOT hard to do once we commit to doing them. I don't know why I thought they were hard for so long. I guess I didn't really want to do them and wasn't committed to doing what was asked of us. But now that we have, I KNOW we are blessed daily.
Like everything in life, it is our personal experience with things that teaches us. We can be inspired by the things other people do, but ultimately we have to do them ourselves if we want to test God's promises and know without a doubt that things are true.
Sometimes it feels like there is just too much to do, too many obligations, too many "shoulds" in life, but I think this is one of Satan's ways of running interference and keeping us from doing the things that will bring true peace and happiness. We filter out the nonsense and focus on the things we know will have the most impact and take us where we want to go.
We can choose to have hope, choose to have faith, choose to be obedient, and put those things into practice then see what will happen. The Lord keeps ALL of His promises, we're the ones who complicate things.
**Thoughts??**
17 comments:
This is a beautiful message-
it's so true- obedience to the gospel brings happiness & freedom.
I love the way you interpreted Satan running interference, making us feel too busy etc. I know this to be true & needed the reminder.
I'm so happy you are having such a great Sunday. Thanks for sharing :)
I like the images you used, where do you find them?
These are great thoughts and seem to relate to what I have been reading today in the Oct 08 conference issue of the Ensign. I just read a talk by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge called "The Way". I love how simply he speaks. He says we can either drink of His water or be thirsty. We can either follow His light or we can remain in darkness. We can either accept the blessings of the Atonement or foolishly remain alone. It's so straightforward. (Note: he uses the word "foolish" often)
We're the ones who complicate things! He says "The Lord's way is not hard. Life is hard, not the gospel." Luckily, we usually learn this when we put it to the test, but most of the time we resist or procrastinate for so long we don't learn it as soon as we could or should.
Love that you are beaming with the Spirit today. Love that feeling!
So true about what you said--...The Lord does keep all of His promises--we are the ones who complicate things!
I like what you wrote about Satan running his interferences and keeping us from doing the things of true worth...that happens to me on a daily basis!
You never cease to inspire me, Jill...Just hearing a recap of your Sunday sends happy shivers my way!
Marie said it well. You (and this post!) ARE indeed "beaming with the spirit". I love that high. And I love the thoughts you shared with us. Especially the one about it not being hard when you just DO. Something I need to hear. (and do).
"we're the ones who complicate things" - I couldn't agree with this more. It is a blessing to know that Gods promises are sure.
Thank you fro spending time each Sunday sharing your Sunday thoughts.
I was home today with a sick me and a sick Emerson, so I appreciate you sharing your spiritual beaming today! I was able to crawl out of bed yesterday to take Brynlee to the YW Broadcast, but they were having trouble with our satellite -- it was in a number of different languages (not English!), until they finally got it fixed for President Monson's talk. I felt the Spirit so strongly during his talk, and was sort of hit with the realization (all over again) about how simple the gospel really is and that we are the ones to complicate it. It was good to read the same sort of thoughts here.
Fabulous thoughts (as always). I taught a lesson in RS today that was on the talk "You Know Enough" by Elder Neil L. Andersen. I was reminded of a quote from his talk with your last paragraph--"Faith is not only a feeling, it's a decision." I love the idea that we can use our agency to be more full of faith. Thanks foryour insights!
Amen!
My sister-in-law shared a great quote with me recently that really struck me hard (you probably read it when I shared it on Michelle' blog last week...): "If we're too busy for daily prayer and scripture study than we are busier than the Lord ever intended us to be." Love it!
P.S. I LOVE, love, love that first image! Please tell me where you found it...I would like to buy it/print it and hang it where I can see it daily :)
I loved the last line. It particularly resonates and reminds me that I'm the one complicating things. I have been doubting and not putting faith in practice lately, so thanks!
This is just what I needed to hear today. Thanks.
i am somewhat lost with scripture 'study', in that i don't have a clear idea what i should be doing. should i study as i would a subject for school? how much time do i allow for contemplation? should i write down every little thing i think? do i read through one book continually, or skip around?
it worries me and makes me anxious. i feel somewhat a drift as far as studying the scriptures go. i read them and have good experiences, but the study part perplexes me. what is the line between reading and studying?
Your prayer sounds so much like the one I say on the way to my church each Sunday. I pray to feel the spirit-hear what I need to hear-so glad to go each week and grateful for the things I learn. We are alike in our thinking. Marlyn E
This is perfect! So true. Thanks for sharing!
You WERE beaming! :) I really enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing!
As always, I really love your Sunday thoughts. Especially the part about wondering why you thought daily family prayer and scripture reading were hard. I'm still finding them hard, but I guess I just need to be more committed! Thanks.
I think filtering out the nonsense is key, it would just be good to know what that is. Sometimes I feel it all rolls into one. I totally agree that are experiences teach us, and although they are not always pleasant, I am grateful they have brought me where I am today.
I bore my testimony too. I didn't want to and I had no idea what I was going to say, but when I got in front of the mic I knew exactly why I was up there. An amazing experience that taught me to trust in God.
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