“Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life?” -President Russell M. Nelson (October 2020)
We could pick any set of chapters within the scriptures and make this our weekly challenge. These three words sum up what the Lord is asking us to do. Through our seeking, praying, and pondering we will learn how to allow God to prevail in our lives. As we just listened to the wonderful October 2020 General Conference where President Nelson simplified the meaning of being covenant Israel into these three words: “Let God prevail”, I figured this week is a perfect week to take our Come, Follow Me chapters and see how we can better allow God to prevail in our lives. “He will “fight [our] battles, and [our] children’s battles, and our children’s children’s [battles] … to the third and fourth generation”! (“Let God Prevail” October 2020 by President Russell M. Nelson)
“My people shall know my name.” (3 Nephi 20:39) Let’s start with representing God fully. President Russell M. Nelson has implored us to call the gospel by its name, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”, instead of using nicknames that have become common over the decades, but eliminate Christ. “They who were baptized in the name of Jesus were called the church of Christ.” (3 Neohi 26:21) We have changed our logo to have Christ as the image to be seen. These are all fantastic changes, but they represent changes that we need to make in our own individual lives as well. We need to make sure that we live Christ-like in everything we do and everywhere we are. “Heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.” (3 Nephi 20:22) We need to be Christ’s people who will shine the light to others, so that they too will know whom they must turn to for peace and comfort.
As we turn our lives over to God, we need to be doers of the word and not hearers only! “They arose up and stood upon their feet.” (3 Nephi 20:2) “Awake, awake again and put on they strength.” (3 Nephi 20:36) “They did all things even as Jesus had commanded them.” (3 Nephi 26:20)
In order to keep the lines of communications open with heaven we will need to pray constantly. It is not enough to say a prayer in the morning and evenings, we need the Lord’s guidance all day long. “They should not cease to pray in their hearts.” (3 Nephi 20:1)
The scriptures have been given to us to help us with that communication. I find that with prayer and scriptures combined the heavens are opened and I can receive clearer personal revelation. “We have them before you, therefore search them.” (3 Nephi 20:11) “A commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.” (3 Nephi 23:1)
We have a living prophet. What an incredible blessing. We should obey with exactness every word that precedeth from his mouth. God can only prevail in our lives when we are willing to listen to him. “Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice.” (3 Nephi 20:32) “Whosoever will hearken unto my words and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.” (3 Nephi 23:5) “When Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them.” (3 Nephi 23:14)
If we desire for God to prevail, we must pay an honest tithing. “Will a man rob God?” (3 Nephi 24:8) “Bring Ye all the tithes into the storehouse..probe me…if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (3 Nephi 24:10)
God can’t prevail in our lives if we are involved with unclean things, including friends, books, movies, and memes. “Depart Ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch not that which is unclean; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.” (3 Nephi 20:41) “you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall.” (3 Nephi 25:2)
We need to gather together in family council, attend church, be a good neighbor, minister, and share the gospel. “Then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them.” (3 Nephi 20:13) “I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.” (3 Nephi 20:18)
We need to utilize the miracle of the blessings of the sacrament. “He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.” (3 Nephi 20:8) “When the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard.” (3 Nephi 20:9)
As the Lords’s covenant people, we have a great responsibility, “I finish the commandment which the Father hath commanded me concerning this people, who are a remnant of the house of Israel.” (3 Nephi 20:10) “I will establish my people, O house of Israel.” 3 Nephi 20:21) “Then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.” (3 Nephi 21:25) Ye are the children of the covenant.” (3 Nephi 20:26) “Offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (3 Nephi 24:2) “Return unto me and I will return unto you.” (3 Nephi 24:7)
We need to fight for the freedoms of America which were only ever accomplished through the guidance and power of God. He will continue to guide us, as we allow Him to be our God, and as we covenant to be His people. “It is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel.” (3 Nephi 21:4)
Even through these turbulent times, we need to keep our trust and faith and know that “God reigneth!” (3 Nephi 20:39) “The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward.” (3 Nephi 20:42) His “wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.” (3 Nephi 21:10) “For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work.” (3 Nephi 21:9) “My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.” (3 Nephi 22:10) “I will come near unto you.” (3 Nephi 24:5)
Let’s ask ourselves this week: ”Are you willing to let God prevail in you life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs me to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?” (President Russell M. Nelson-October 2020)
Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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