Have you ever stopped to take a look at how far you've grown in your faith??? I've been reflecting on this for some time now and I have some thoughts about my own faith development...
On a day-to-day basis, it's so easy for me to forget just how far I've come with God. It doesn't take much for me to feel like He is soooooo far away and that I have soooooo far to go. I often fear my own salvation because of this. However, if I reflect back upon the past 5 years, I can see exponential growth! It's truly amazing!!!
I do believe that we go through seasons in our faith where we definitely feel closer to God and we are carrying out His will in our lives. I find that these seasons occur when I'm devoted to God, reading His Word, and taking the time to pray to Him.
Right now, I'm not in this season...I'm distracted by the ways of this world. I feel as though I'm not walking in Him. I'm constantly bombarded by ideas of sex on tv, the radio and in print. I become jealous of the people around me because I can see God working through them. I don't take the time to read up on God like I used to. I think what's really interesting is that the more I am burdened by these worldly things, my motivation and self-esteem are deteriorating.
But, there's hope. I do have brief moments of clarity and revelation. Now, I just need to focus back on Him so that I may do His work and be restored.
So where are you??? Think about it.
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It happens to all of us. It's part of being human. It's part of this test we call life, to prove that we want to return to Heavenly Father more than anything else, but it's very easy to get distracted. I find when I get distracted, it's time to get back to basics and recommit to simply praying morning and night and reading the scriptures for a set amount every day. Right now I have little reminders stashed everywhere in my home that say, "My family deserves to have a wife/mother who prays morning and night and reads her scriptures daily." It helps me when I really don't feel like doing it. I remember that doing the small and simple things aren't just for me, but they benefit my whole family.
ReplyDeleteI've been focusing on my prayers bc that is the lesson I will be teaching this Sunday. Here are some suggestions from the lesson that may help:
• Reflect on those occasions when we have spoken harshly or inappropriately to those we love the most.
• Recognize that we know better than this, but we do not always act in accordance with what we know.
• Express remorse for our weaknesses and for not putting off the natural man more earnestly.
• Determine to pattern our life after the Savior more completely.
• Plead for greater strength to do and to become better.