This week’s challenge is…make a change in your life…one that you have been wanting to make. Go fo it!
The purpose of the gospel is to…make bad men good and good men better, and to change human nature. -David O McKay
Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth
The Come Follow Me manual says…
”If something as permanent as a mountain can be flattened, then surely the Lord can help us straighten our own crooked paths”
This is so true! There are some things in our lives that have too tight of a grip on us, we aren’t able to break the cords with our own strength, we need help from Heavenly Father. What in your life do you claim to “never do again”. That is the kind of change we are talking about this week. Digging deep, and changing something in our lives, a habit, that we know we need to change but haven’t been able to on our own. Sometimes will power just isn’t strong enough, but will power combined with the powers of heaven make the impossible made possible. In a literal sense, Nephi was not strong enough to break the cords with which Laman and Lemuel bound him. However, through prayer and the miraculous power of heaven, the cords were loosed and he was set free.
16 And it came to pass that when I, Nephi, had spoken these words unto my brethren, they were angry with me. And it came to pass that they did lay their hands upon me, for behold, they were exceedingly wroth, and they did bind me with cords, for they sought to take away my life, that they might leave me in the wilderness to be devoured by wild beasts.
17 But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.
18 And it came to pass that when I had said these words, behold, the bands were loosed from off my hands and feet, and I stood before my brethren, and I spake unto them again.
That’s exactly what can happen to us with our bad habits, addictions, and sins. The Lord can loosen their binding effects through prayer and faith. The Lord can set us free.
All bad habits, addictions, and sins require hard work to keep them away. Which is why Joseph “fled” from the temptation of sin.
Genesis 39:12 fled, and got him out.
Run …don’t walk, don’t jog…RUN!
Run as fast as you can!
You may already have an idea in your mind of something you need to change. You may suffer from a dark secret, (like eating chocolate hidden in your night stand), or a trapping addiction, (like social media). Maybe you want to be less defensive when taking with your husband, or more patient during bed time routine. Maybe you want to clean your kitchen before going to bed, or take the time to teach your kiddos how to clean the bathrooms. Maybe you want to set a specific time each day to study your scriptures or to run a mile. Maybe you would like to speak more softly at home or sing more hymns. Don’t hesitate! Decide that this is the week to claim championship over your direction of change. Whether your item of change is small or large it doesn’t matter. Change is what life is about. We are never standing still, we are always moving one direction or another, so we might as well make a choice to choose what direction we want to move in.
Sometimes what we want to change isn’t directly related to an act that we ourselves initiated, it can come from a trial. I love the example the Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave of their decision to change their financial status that was brought about by war….
“To this day, I am deeply impressed by the way my family worked after having lost everything following World War II! I remember my father–a civil servant by education and experience–taking on several difficult jobs, among which were coal miner, uranium miner, mechanic, and truck driver. He left early in the morning and often returned late at night in order to support our family. My mother started a laundry and worked countless hours doing menial labor. She enlisted my sister and me in her business. With my bike I became the pickup and delivery service. It felt good to be able to help the family in a small way, and though I did not know it at the time, the physical labor turned out to be a blessing to my health as well.
It wasn’t easy, but the work kept us from dwelling too much on the difficulties of our circumstances. Although our situation didn’t change overnight, it did change. That’s the thing about work. If we simply keep at it–steady and constant–things certainly will improve.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
If you’re not sure what you want to change starting this week, try Wendy Nelson’s Prayer Challenge (link to prayer challenge below). Pray and ask the Lord “what lack I yet?”, and then open the scriptures and read until the answer comes. Recording your answer helps you remember it, and gives you accountability. Then it’s time to work hard and take action. This is the part that requires diligent prayer coupled with listening and following the promptings received.
Jacob 4:7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
Change is possible, even where it seems impossible.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
If you are scared to tackle the change that you desire most, fear not! You are not alone! You are not required to do it alone! Remember Christ will carry you! Trust him!
“If I thought we had to execute this transition relying exclusively upon our own experience and our own judgment, then I would be terrified. But we will have help from heaven. Because we know who is in charge and that we are not alone, then no, I am not scared.”-David A
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