Confidence, Peace, Joy and Love through Spiritual Experiences

Today as I have been reading in Helaman Chapter 5 & 6 of the Book of Mormon, I have been impressed and have journaled some of my thoughts.  In these chapters the Lamanites who previously have been very wicked, have become a righteous people.  These chapters talk about peace and prosperity that is experienced between the Lamanites and Nephites. Both peoples were blessed immensely through out this time.  Not only were they blessed with spiritual blessings, joy and peace; they were blessed with gold and sliver and many precious metals.  Their land was full and their flocks were abundant.  They truly were living the good life.  But then after a period of time, they became selfish and prideful, and began to set their hearts upon their riches.  They began to get gain so that they would look better than their neighbors.  There pride was their door to wickedness again.

Also, in these chapters, a story of Nephi and Lehi is shared where they are taken to prison.  They were encircled by fire and could not be harmed.  When the Lamanites came to see them, they could see them looking to heaven conversing with angels, and the angels ministered to them.  They asked a spiritual leader Aminidab what was happening, and he told them they needed to repent and believe in God.  As they did this, a dark cloud that was hovering over them was lifted, and the circle of fire was around the Lamanites as well.  They were filled with unspeakable joy, and full of glory.  The Holy Ghost had entered into their hearts--they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak marvelous words.  Then a pleasant voice spoke to them saying:  Peace be unto you, because of your Faith in my Well Beloved.

They went forth and shared their experience with others, they cared and supported one another, and they did rejoice and they had great joy.

My thoughts as I read this were, that Jesus Christ is a God of peace, love and joy.  He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost.  When we live our lives in a manner that will allow him to be with us, we will experience unspeakable joy, a joy not found through material experience.  But a joy felt by the spirit within us.  This joy brings confidence, hope, peace and power to move forward in an unwavering manner in righteous paths.  The strength and power that we received through God will bless our lives.  It is so important for us to share our gratitude each day for these blessings, and in turn share what we have with others to lift, bless and comfort those around us.

It is when we become so worried about our appearance and our possessions, trying to appear confident and better than others, that we should repent, and pray that God will instill upon us his Christlike love, that we might develop this trait which will in turn, keep us humble, charitable and always building and sharing love with others.

I hope these thoughts might touch your life as they have mine.  Enjoy your week.

Marilyn

A Light in the Darkness

"By simple small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." (Alma 37:6)

"There are no accidents in life.  People are placed in our path for a reason and we must be constantly aware of those whose life we were sent here to bless." (Rena Peterson, "Walking With the Savior" pg 154)

"Your influence for good is incalculable and indescribable.  .....You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do" (James E. Faust, "Instruments in the Hands of God," Liahona, Nov 2005, 114-17).

"When we embrace the truth of his words, we will experience the far reaching effects and  begin to see just how much we really need each other.  There are many living in darkness.  Some are walking a lonely path from wrong choices resulting in sin, a serious illness of a loved one, the lonliness from an untimely death of a close family member, the frustration of struggling with a stubborn weakness, the pain of trying to help a wayward child who does not want to come back, depressions from the rigors of  being a full-time caregiver, the anguish of addiciton, the heartache because of an unfaithful spouse, or a devastating financial crisis.  It could be our friendly next door neighbor who masks his pain with a ready smile, our co-worker who always seems to be grumpy, or the mother of our child's playmante who isolates from others.  We are needed for the sacred work of uplifting those who are living in darkness - they need our light.  If we pray for awareness and sincerely look, we will find daily opportunities all around to reach out to the lonely and the brokenhearted."  (Rena Peterson, "Walking With the Savior" pg 154)

Coming Out of Crisis

Strive to be Healthy – (Mind, Body, and Spirit)

Mind:

1.      Study daily in scriptures, inspirational talks, good books

2.      Be open to guidance and counsel

3.      Create a life plan of everything that you might want to experience and accomplish in your life, and ask Heavenly Father what he would like to have in your plan.

4.      Choose one goal a week to focus on.  Be accountable to someone, and reward yourself for your accomplishments.

5.      Cultivate a gift or a talent, something that will enrich your life.  Fill your cup.

Body

1.  Sleep 7-8 hours a night 
2.  Word of Wisdom –Are you following or justifying some of your choices
3.  Body is depleted:  must eat healthy and take vitamins to restore body 
4.   Stretch/ walk or exercise 15 minutes daily 
5.   Hot baths for relaxing
6.  Vitamin D or Sunshine daily
7.  Do something fun everday.  Doesn’t have to be big, extravagant or costly.  Just a simple pleasure.  HAVE FUN EACH DAY!

Spirit

1.      Simplify. 

2.      Be Still, and find some quiet time in each day to sit and ponder – meditate.

3.      Nuture your soul.  Allow yourself to heal

4.      100% obedient to commandments

5.      Pray and Fast

6.      Be aware of those things that don’t allow the spirit to be with you.  Avoid these things like a plague.

7.      Develop Christlike traits everyday, they will instill power and joy in your life.  Start with gratitude and being positive.  Fight to get negativity out of your life.

8.      Rejoice in your uniqueness.  Humble yourself before God, he will make your weaknesses become strong.

Experience Joy Through Gratitude

"It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend...when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that is present--love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us (happiness)--the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth" (Sarah Ban Breathnach, in John Cook, comp., The Book of Positive Quotations, 2nd ed. (2007), 342.

Our days will be filled with joy, peace and happiness as we focus on being grateful for the small things that are ever present around us.  Gratitude is a spirit booster.  It will help up experience Christlike love.  The nature of gratitude is a Christlike trait.  When we take on this trait, we are becoming more like him.  Gratitude carries with it a peaceful power and will invite much joy and happiness into our lives.

Thanks for reading.  Have joy in your day.

Marilyn

It's Up to You

It is Written.....http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/It-is-written/246387715373656