Accountability
My nightly scripture reading and morning listening is going strong. I've had a second day of successfully kneeling in prayer in the morning, which does add focus and intent and shows greater respect to God. I'm pleased to report that I haven't missed a mini workout yet. Today it was push-ups again with the rest intervals reduced to 25-seconds. I easily got through the first two sets, but in the third set they were challenging and I stalled out at 18. After a brief break I did the final two. It looks like I'll need to stay at 25-seconds rest for a little until I can do better.
Ponderings
In Alma 37, Alma gives the instruction:
46. O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
As I've been implementing these tiny changes I've been impressed with how easy it has actually been to make small adjustments to my life to come into greater harmony with the teachings of the Lord and his servants. I've been getting impressions of things I need to improve on and then beginning to make adjustments toward them.
I think on 1 Nephi 11-13 where it is repeated nine times that Nephi was told to look - and he looked. Sometimes it seems that living the gospel must be hard and we hear of the trials that will follow believers and joining Jesus in being persecuted. Can it really be that with the challenges we face that it can be as simple as looking and living? I'm starting to gain a testimony of this principle. It's not that it's a simple one-time look up and you're good forever, but a repetitive obedience to look each time the Lord calls out direction. We know that things like scripture study, prayers, making and renewing covenants are important, but do we look for ways to daily draw closer to the Lord? Do we look to let Him into our lives and allow Him to heal us?
Earlier in the same chapter, Alma teaches:
6. Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
When we receive a call to look, do we look? It could be as simple as a whispering to be better at getting to bed earlier and arising early. It may be a need to pray with greater frequency, greater fervor, greater urgency. It may be something specific to your own situation - maybe you need to move your vehicle a little further, put something away in a different place, start taking a lesson on a certain topic. Sometimes, it will become evident why, and other times it's simply a matter of looking to the Lord in response to the call to look.
Be strong!
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Comments
Old saying, By the inch it’s a cinch: by the yard it’s hard. Another old one -Work hard and it’s easy : work easy and it’s hard. I am finding that your blog is a helpful part of my day. I think of a farm jack lifting a heavy load. It only lifts a little at a time. I just remembered that Alma said to one of his sons, “Look to God and live.” Thank you, Strength and Honour
A jack is such a good analogy.
What great insights. The comment “There’s no such thing as thing as a small thing.”