"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
James 2:19
James is talking about faith and works here, and he says this part to make the point that belief isn't enough. Satan and his followers know exactly who God is, and they believe, but they still work against everything that God stands for. There are many things going on here, but I think it comes back to love. We not only have to believe in God, but we have to love him and his plan and have faith that his way is the right way... and we have to act on that knowledge and support our beliefs with our actions, being obedient and inviting the spirit into our lives.
In saying that, I'm not saying we have to be there already or get there overnight. We can start wherever we are... with a little bit of belief, or a little bit of obedience, whatever. We can start by attending church, or reading our scriptures, or kneeling down to pray. God appreciates every effort, and the more we listen and learn, the more he can help us, and the closer to him we will get. It doesn't matter where we start if we eventually move closer to that wholeness that is becoming like God, and being filled where we once felt empty. It takes time, and effort, but it leads to perfect joy, which sounds pretty worth it to me. :)
Today, let's move beyond just belief and start filling ourselves with all the good that God is offering. If we stick with him, endure our temporary hardships and doing good, he will fill us to overflowing, and when we have no more room for happiness, he will increase our capacity. :)
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