"And now I would that ye should be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."
Alma 7:23-24
I want to always abound in good works, don't you? It sounds so simple sometimes... and yet, all of these things require us to overcome ourselves to a certain extent. To choose our desires and our emotions more carefully, rather than just letting them happen. We have to work on our relationship with God, every day... we can't ever just let it coast. And I think that it gets easier as we practice sublimating our surface emotions and desires and bringing out our truer, deeper selves that are better and more refined by God... but it certainly isn't something we can accomplish overnight. :)
Today, let's not be overwhelmed with all the improvements we need to make, and let's not try to be perfect at everything on the list... let's just work on maintaining the good that we have, and pick one thing on the list to try to do better. Maybe being submissive if we have a problem with being deferential to a leader or a boss. Maybe gentle if we've been getting angry too much lately. Whatever we choose, let's also include God in our attempt. Ask him to help, thank him for blessing us with so much. And, as we learn, we'll start abounding in good works more and more. Maybe we won't get to "always" today... but if we're working on it, we'll get closer rather than further away.
And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."
Alma 7:23-24
I want to always abound in good works, don't you? It sounds so simple sometimes... and yet, all of these things require us to overcome ourselves to a certain extent. To choose our desires and our emotions more carefully, rather than just letting them happen. We have to work on our relationship with God, every day... we can't ever just let it coast. And I think that it gets easier as we practice sublimating our surface emotions and desires and bringing out our truer, deeper selves that are better and more refined by God... but it certainly isn't something we can accomplish overnight. :)
Today, let's not be overwhelmed with all the improvements we need to make, and let's not try to be perfect at everything on the list... let's just work on maintaining the good that we have, and pick one thing on the list to try to do better. Maybe being submissive if we have a problem with being deferential to a leader or a boss. Maybe gentle if we've been getting angry too much lately. Whatever we choose, let's also include God in our attempt. Ask him to help, thank him for blessing us with so much. And, as we learn, we'll start abounding in good works more and more. Maybe we won't get to "always" today... but if we're working on it, we'll get closer rather than further away.
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