I read an article today in reference to the federal government passing gay marriage as legal marriage in all states. The article was written by a Protestant of the Christian faith. It explained so well why Christians are against gay marriage. It was written for those with genuine intent to understand, and it was an enlightening article that reference the Bible as its main source for belief and understanding of God's plan for us. It may be found by following this link: http://www.caintv.com/a-detailed-explanation-of-why
In the article, it talked of how He created men and women with lusts of the flesh, not so we would indulge in sin, but so we could learn to rely on Him and His atonement to overcome our sins. This is the only way to truly be happy -through mastering ourselves through Him.
In the article, it talked of how He created men and women with lusts of the flesh, not so we would indulge in sin, but so we could learn to rely on Him and His atonement to overcome our sins. This is the only way to truly be happy -through mastering ourselves through Him.
As I read, a tiny little light flickered on inside me that clicked, "This is THE way you will be able to overcome your own indulging sins." I remembered when Josh and I were talking and he told me that you cannot succeed to change your desires unless you pray to have those desires change. So, let Him change your heart.
I was running yesterday morning and thinking to myself how much I run and workout. I haven't really struggled too much to get a workout in once I make a plan to do it. Then I thought, "Just imagine how awesome and toned you would look if you were truly disciplined with your nutrition!" It always seems so clear and simple during a good run...
But then, the weakness of the flesh sets in with the hunger post workout.
Sometimes, my optimism towards eating right will last for weeks! But, there's always that one time you choose to indulge, which turns to another and another and then all of the sudden you forget what you ever felt so clearly and strongly about before.
How like that is to our spirituality! We will have a great moment when our spirituality is strong and then we falter because we gave into the weakness of the flesh and after a time of slipping, we become spiritually too tired to remember what we ever got so pumped up about!
Testimonies take work. Faith takes work. I felt inspired to read out of my gospel library while on this flight and thinking about my nutrition habits. My eyes fell upon Elder Kevin W. Pearson of the seventy's talk entitled, "Stay By The Tree"
Within it, he speaks of how even the General Authorities of the church have to pray for help to keep their faith strong and endure to the end. "Enduring to the end is not the same as 'hanging in there.'" He talks of Lehi's dream of the tree of life. There were those who partook of the fruit but then still fell away into temptation. That's how I feel about my eating habits. I have done healthy and balanced for a time and it feels wonderful! I have even convinced myself that I would never go back to eating bad to the point that I start feeling so bad from it. But, then I fall away from that plan and my vision of what I really want becomes murky again.
In this article, he talks about an action plan to help "endure to the end" and to not become "weakened" by "competing priorities." Here are the steps;
1. Don't Forget to Pray
"...Pray for strength to endure to the end...." This is not something I have ever even considered putting to the test. Perhaps, I should pray to my Heavenly Father for the strength to overcome my nutrition weakness, for the guidance to eat wisely, and for the courage and heart to do what is necessary for my health.
2. Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him
"...We can fill our lives with accomplishment and well-doing, but in the end, if we do not enter into sacred covenants to follow Christ and faithfully keep them, we will have utterly and completely missed the mark."
My physical efforts will need to be in line with my spiritual efforts and vice versa. As I keep Him at the center of my life, I am suddenly not only taking care of my body for just me, but for Him.
3. Press Forward with Faith
"There is a path that leads to the tree of life, to Christ. It is straight and narrow, strict and exact. God's commandments are strict, but are not restrictive. They protect us from physical and spiritual danger and protect us from getting lost.
Obedience builds faith in Christ. Faith is a principal of action and power. Consistently following the Savior's example produces spiritual power and capacity. Without the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement, its impossible to stay on the path and endure."
'"Press forward with steadfastness in Christ.'"
1. Don't Forget to Pray
"...Pray for strength to endure to the end...." This is not something I have ever even considered putting to the test. Perhaps, I should pray to my Heavenly Father for the strength to overcome my nutrition weakness, for the guidance to eat wisely, and for the courage and heart to do what is necessary for my health.
2. Come Unto Christ and Be Perfected in Him
"...We can fill our lives with accomplishment and well-doing, but in the end, if we do not enter into sacred covenants to follow Christ and faithfully keep them, we will have utterly and completely missed the mark."
My physical efforts will need to be in line with my spiritual efforts and vice versa. As I keep Him at the center of my life, I am suddenly not only taking care of my body for just me, but for Him.
3. Press Forward with Faith
"There is a path that leads to the tree of life, to Christ. It is straight and narrow, strict and exact. God's commandments are strict, but are not restrictive. They protect us from physical and spiritual danger and protect us from getting lost.
Obedience builds faith in Christ. Faith is a principal of action and power. Consistently following the Savior's example produces spiritual power and capacity. Without the strengthening and enabling power of the Atonement, its impossible to stay on the path and endure."
'"Press forward with steadfastness in Christ.'"
Even as I write this, I get a little nervous because of my own weaknesses -especially in this area. I feel weak and vulnerable because I have failed so many times to truly eat well consistently. However, I have experimented upon the words of Christ in other areas of my life and have found the Atonement to be the most amazing tool to help me overcome other weaknesses of mine that seemed, at the time, to be unconquerable.
Now, as I approach this differently, I must build my faith through obedience and exercising faith in Him to help me defeat my indulgent desires.
4. The Book of Mormon is Key to Spiritual Survival (Scriptures are key to spiritual survival)
"Life's journey is challenging. It's easy to be distracted, wander off the path, and get lost. Tribulation is an inevitable and indispensable part of our eternal progression. When adversity comes, don't let something you don't fully understand unravel everything you do know. Be patient, cling to truth; understanding will come. Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Unless we are 'continually holding fast' to the word of God and living it, we will be spiritually blinded rather than spiritually minded. Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It's the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost."
Every day must be a spiritually minded day. If I lose focus on "the tree" I will lose my way and wander off the path. I can be deceived and forget what I really want to find at the end of the path! It's tough to avoid those "competing priorities." I've heard that daily affirmations and reminders are important to helping people achieve their weight loss goals. I believe that to be true. I think having a daily dose of "health thoughts" as well as daily scripture study can prove to be helpful in staying on the path of righteous eating.
5. Don't Be Distracted and Deceived
"To heed is to give careful attention. Heeding those who do not believe in Christ will not help you find Him. Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge will not lead you to truth. It's not posted there. Only the Savior has 'the words of eternal life.' Everything else is just words. The large and spacious building symbolizes the 'vain imaginations and the pride' of the world -in other words, distraction and deception. It's filled with well-dressed people who seem to have everything. But they mock the Savior and those who follow Him. They are 'ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' They may be politically correct, but they are spiritually lost."
This is both spiritually accurate and physically accurate. There are so many diets and fads out there it is very confusing and can distract me from my goals of true health. It can be so tempting to fall into the trap of leaning on the latest diets instead of following a balanced diet because I want to be like those people who "seem to have everything" figured out.
I also get easily distracted in social settings and forget my dietary goals or deceive myself in thinking it is okay to eat the way my friends or family do. Even though, they do not necessarily have the same "trials of the flesh" as I have.
6. Stay By the Tree
"Lehi's message is to stay by the tree. (Visit this link to read the full story of "The Tree of Life" from the Book of Mormon online: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng) We stay because we are converted unto the Lord. Alma taught, "Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.' As we yield our hearts to God, the Holy Ghost changes our very natures, we become deeply converted unto the Lord, and we no longer seek the spacious building. If we stop doing those things that bring about deepening conversion, we regress spiritually. Apostasy is the reverse of conversion....
....If you lose the Spirit, you are lost. Don't be distracted and deceived.
True disciples continue to awaken unto God each day in meaningful personal prayer, earnest scripture study, personal obedience, and selfless service. Stay by the tree and stay awake....
Once we enter into covenants with God, there is no going back. Giving in, giving up, and giving out are not options. In the kingdom of God, there is a standard of excellence for exaltation. It requires valiant discipleship! There is no room for average or complacent disciples. Average is the enemy of excellence, and average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end.
If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and life its teachings every day, every day, every day! I testify of the profound power in the Book of Mormon that will change your life and strengthen your resolve to follow Christ. The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see 'things as they are really are.' He will show you what you need to do next. This is Nephi's promise to you:
'And I said unto them...whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
Wherefore, I ....did exhort them ...that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things.'
Brothers and sisters, enduring to the end is the great test of discipleship. Our daily discipleship will determine our eternal destiny. Awaken unto God, cling to truth, keep your sacred temple covenants, and stay by the tree!..."
As I read this article with a new purpose in mind; to overcome this specific weakness of mine. I felt a an awakened desire to lean on my Father in Heaven for His help to become better, not the spiritually but physically. After all, isn't the gift of having an imperfect body all for the practice of learning to lean on Him completely and to become "perfected in Him"?
To read the article in its entirety or hear this given in an address, follow this link: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/stay-by-the-tree?lang=eng#6-12565_000_52pearson
Now, as I approach this differently, I must build my faith through obedience and exercising faith in Him to help me defeat my indulgent desires.
4. The Book of Mormon is Key to Spiritual Survival (Scriptures are key to spiritual survival)
"Life's journey is challenging. It's easy to be distracted, wander off the path, and get lost. Tribulation is an inevitable and indispensable part of our eternal progression. When adversity comes, don't let something you don't fully understand unravel everything you do know. Be patient, cling to truth; understanding will come. Trials are like great mists of darkness that can blind our eyes and harden our hearts. Unless we are 'continually holding fast' to the word of God and living it, we will be spiritually blinded rather than spiritually minded. Search the Book of Mormon and the words of the living prophets every day, every day, every day! It's the key to spiritual survival and avoiding deception. Without it, we are spiritually lost."
Every day must be a spiritually minded day. If I lose focus on "the tree" I will lose my way and wander off the path. I can be deceived and forget what I really want to find at the end of the path! It's tough to avoid those "competing priorities." I've heard that daily affirmations and reminders are important to helping people achieve their weight loss goals. I believe that to be true. I think having a daily dose of "health thoughts" as well as daily scripture study can prove to be helpful in staying on the path of righteous eating.
5. Don't Be Distracted and Deceived
"To heed is to give careful attention. Heeding those who do not believe in Christ will not help you find Him. Searching #spaciousbuilding for knowledge will not lead you to truth. It's not posted there. Only the Savior has 'the words of eternal life.' Everything else is just words. The large and spacious building symbolizes the 'vain imaginations and the pride' of the world -in other words, distraction and deception. It's filled with well-dressed people who seem to have everything. But they mock the Savior and those who follow Him. They are 'ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.' They may be politically correct, but they are spiritually lost."
This is both spiritually accurate and physically accurate. There are so many diets and fads out there it is very confusing and can distract me from my goals of true health. It can be so tempting to fall into the trap of leaning on the latest diets instead of following a balanced diet because I want to be like those people who "seem to have everything" figured out.
I also get easily distracted in social settings and forget my dietary goals or deceive myself in thinking it is okay to eat the way my friends or family do. Even though, they do not necessarily have the same "trials of the flesh" as I have.
6. Stay By the Tree
"Lehi's message is to stay by the tree. (Visit this link to read the full story of "The Tree of Life" from the Book of Mormon online: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng) We stay because we are converted unto the Lord. Alma taught, "Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.' As we yield our hearts to God, the Holy Ghost changes our very natures, we become deeply converted unto the Lord, and we no longer seek the spacious building. If we stop doing those things that bring about deepening conversion, we regress spiritually. Apostasy is the reverse of conversion....
....If you lose the Spirit, you are lost. Don't be distracted and deceived.
True disciples continue to awaken unto God each day in meaningful personal prayer, earnest scripture study, personal obedience, and selfless service. Stay by the tree and stay awake....
Once we enter into covenants with God, there is no going back. Giving in, giving up, and giving out are not options. In the kingdom of God, there is a standard of excellence for exaltation. It requires valiant discipleship! There is no room for average or complacent disciples. Average is the enemy of excellence, and average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end.
If you are struggling, confused, or spiritually lost, I urge you to do the one thing I know will get you back on track. Begin again to prayerfully study the Book of Mormon and life its teachings every day, every day, every day! I testify of the profound power in the Book of Mormon that will change your life and strengthen your resolve to follow Christ. The Holy Ghost will change your heart and help you see 'things as they are really are.' He will show you what you need to do next. This is Nephi's promise to you:
'And I said unto them...whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.
Wherefore, I ....did exhort them ...that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things.'
Brothers and sisters, enduring to the end is the great test of discipleship. Our daily discipleship will determine our eternal destiny. Awaken unto God, cling to truth, keep your sacred temple covenants, and stay by the tree!..."
As I read this article with a new purpose in mind; to overcome this specific weakness of mine. I felt a an awakened desire to lean on my Father in Heaven for His help to become better, not the spiritually but physically. After all, isn't the gift of having an imperfect body all for the practice of learning to lean on Him completely and to become "perfected in Him"?
To read the article in its entirety or hear this given in an address, follow this link: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/stay-by-the-tree?lang=eng#6-12565_000_52pearson
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