Read: Mosiah 9-11
Mark: Mosiah 9:17, 10:10-11
"The enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. I testify and witness that the enabling power of the Savior's Atonement is real." --Elder David A. Bednar
To ponder:
In what ways do we depend on our own strength? How can we more fully receive the strength of the Lord?
I love that Zeniff was sent as a spy! What a wonderful story! He was sent as a spy so that he might figure out what the Lamanites were up to, and then he finds out that they were up to good things!!! From this, I learn the importance of keeping an open mind and that things aren't always what they may seem to be.
ReplyDeleteI also learn from Zeniff that he became somewhat over-zealous! I can do this too. We are reminded of the importance of keeping a balance in all things.
And then there was the wicked King Noah...We can learn so much from him--about what not to do and what we must avoid: idolatry, setting our hearts upon riches, excessiveness and extravagance, deceit and flattery, promiscuous living, sin of every type that we can imagine! It's all pointed out to us as well as the consequences of these choices.
What can we do to more fully receive the strength of the Lord? We can invite him into our lives every single day, every single moment. We can listen and follow the Spirit!
I'm so glad to know that God can give me the strength I need to accomplish the tasks he wants me to do, because I get so overwhelmed thinking about insignificant I am--what can I possibly accomplish? But I know that God is watching and that he cares. And I know that if there's something he wants me to do that I will sure as heck be able to do it!!!
ReplyDeleteI liked Mosiah 10:11, where we see that the enemy relied only on their own strength. They didn't do so well by themselves! I think about how often I try to do things by my own strengths. It preposterous! We aren't meant to go through life by ourselves! We have family, friends, ward members, missionaries, and even strangers who can be of service to us and lift us higher to accomplish our goals. That's why we're in family units. We were never meant to go through life alone, or by our own strength. And when we ask the Lord for help, and when we ask others for help, that help will be provided and it will be a blessing to all involved.
I think that to more fully receive the strength of the Lord we have to be willing to honestly assess our strengths and weaknesses and ask him in prayer to dedicate our actions to him. When we dedicate our lives to the Lord, he will provide his strength in our actions.
Mom. I literally planned on saying what you said in your first paragraph and what Jenny says in her last! I know that God intended for me to be able to make my own decisions, bit first I must learn all about my options and figure out what could happen if I choose each path. Luckily, I barely have to guess. He has already laid out the answers for me. I just need to learn to use the experiences of others to help me make those good decisions and never forget where all that help and knowledge comes from. I sometimes think that all i'm going through is too heavy for me to bear but when I strive to draw nearer to Christ I can lean on him a bit and find my load is easier to carry.
ReplyDeleteOne minute, one hour, one day at a time. We slowly build our faith. By reading scriptures and praying we learn how to serve Heavenly Father. Zeniff could see that as he obeyed God blessings came for he and his family. By building your faith slowly and studying scripture you are also building up strength in yourself. The Holy Spirit surrounds you with love and joy. You are able to feel the full strength Heavenly Father gave you. You gain strength by working out. You gain strength in your faith by studying and living the gospel.
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