Journal Entry November, 2011
I have pondered this morning over the words of Nephi. In 2 Nephi 4: 16-35, Nephi pours his heart out in a psalm to God. In verse 16 Nephi says, "Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."
When we study the things of God with a sincere heart every day we become closer to our Father in Heaven and whats more, we become closer to ourselves. As I study the scriptures every day, I feel close to Heavenly Father. I feel His love and feel love for myself, which opens me up more to receive greater truths.
What we think and feel about ourselves makes a huge difference in our faith in a loving Father in Heaven and His divine plan for each of us individually. There is a great tie between how we feel about ourselves, and how much this affects our level of faith. When we love who we are as divine children of a loving Father in Heaven, we become more aware of the love He has for us. The veil becomes more thin and we may more fully enjoy the life we chose to come here for.
In verse 17-18 Nephi continues, "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me."
Nephi was a good man. He had much faith, but he also is expressing a knowledge and humility over his weaknesses. How many times I have beat myself up over my own personal weaknesses. While we should have proper remorse for those things, which are more grievous, many spend a lot of time wallowing over past mistakes and not putting proper trust and faith in the power of the atonement. While the Lord may have forgiven, many find it difficult to truly forgive themselves and move on in high positive energy/light. This only keeps us stuck in negative patterns and puts us exactly where the adversary wants us. Heavenly Father loves us so much. He does not want us to continue to look to the past in such a way. He wants us to learn, grow, and move upward. We are not meant to stay where we are.
What is so beautiful are the profound truths of what he says next. In verses 19-25.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
24And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
Heavenly Fathers love is so great! Nephi although troubled by his weaknesses had faith in a loving Father in Heaven. He knew to take his troubles to Him. He sought Him in prayer, he received revelations, and He called upon heavenly angels to come down and assist Him. He was filled to the brim with His love! He knew Heavenly Father loved Him unconditionally. He had a very personal, close relationship with our Father.
There is much to learn from Nephi and what we could do to stay in Christ's light. We are encouraged always to pray and not faint. As I was teaching my sweet little primary kids today, I was thinking about the many covenants we make with our Father in Heaven. As we pray to Heavenly Father we make a covenant with Him. We promise to come to Him in prayer and do what He asks us to do and He promises to answer our prayers according to our faith and His will. We have the ability to take our garbage and give it to our Heavenly Father. As I have personally done this, I have been as Nephi consumed by the burning warmth of my flesh from the feeling of love from our Father in Heaven. Every day as I have felt this close relationship with Him, I have felt a greater understanding of each of our individual purposes. Scripture study has been more understood and my abilities to receive greater knowledge has increased dramatically.
We have the ability within each of us to call upon angels to assist us every day. Things don't have to be as difficult as we make them out to be at times. Whether we have sinned and are wanting to find our way back, or we are needing some reprieve from overwhelming daily responsibilities, we have the innate power within ourselves to call upon Heavenly Father and to ask for heavenly assistants. Yes, I meant to say "assistants." Each of us as children of God have heavenly angels to assist us in our every day needs and even wants. They are there. Call on them! I promise they will be there. We also have many angels here on earth, who can assist us as well. All we have to do is ask.
Heavenly Father loves us! He really does. He loves the sinner and He wants us back home with Him again.
Nephi knew how to stay in Christ's light. He knew he was a Son of God. He knew and had faith in this knowledge. Nephi continues to praise Heavenly Father in further verses. He continues to ask why he should be sad or why he should "droop in sin" when he has the knowledge that He is Heavenly Fathers son and knows He will be there for Him.
Why should we stay sad? Why should we continue holding onto all the sadness of the past? Why should we hold onto sins of the past? We can call upon God, He will help us, and through the atonement we can feel complete and whole in all things. Then once we have realized our wholeness, we can choose to stay in a happy state. Continuously striving and reaching for eternal exaltation.
These are some of the glorious lessons we can learn from Nephi! I am so grateful for the scriptures! :)
There is much to learn from Nephi and what we could do to stay in Christ's light. We are encouraged always to pray and not faint. As I was teaching my sweet little primary kids today, I was thinking about the many covenants we make with our Father in Heaven. As we pray to Heavenly Father we make a covenant with Him. We promise to come to Him in prayer and do what He asks us to do and He promises to answer our prayers according to our faith and His will. We have the ability to take our garbage and give it to our Heavenly Father. As I have personally done this, I have been as Nephi consumed by the burning warmth of my flesh from the feeling of love from our Father in Heaven. Every day as I have felt this close relationship with Him, I have felt a greater understanding of each of our individual purposes. Scripture study has been more understood and my abilities to receive greater knowledge has increased dramatically.
We have the ability within each of us to call upon angels to assist us every day. Things don't have to be as difficult as we make them out to be at times. Whether we have sinned and are wanting to find our way back, or we are needing some reprieve from overwhelming daily responsibilities, we have the innate power within ourselves to call upon Heavenly Father and to ask for heavenly assistants. Yes, I meant to say "assistants." Each of us as children of God have heavenly angels to assist us in our every day needs and even wants. They are there. Call on them! I promise they will be there. We also have many angels here on earth, who can assist us as well. All we have to do is ask.
Heavenly Father loves us! He really does. He loves the sinner and He wants us back home with Him again.
Nephi knew how to stay in Christ's light. He knew he was a Son of God. He knew and had faith in this knowledge. Nephi continues to praise Heavenly Father in further verses. He continues to ask why he should be sad or why he should "droop in sin" when he has the knowledge that He is Heavenly Fathers son and knows He will be there for Him.
Why should we stay sad? Why should we continue holding onto all the sadness of the past? Why should we hold onto sins of the past? We can call upon God, He will help us, and through the atonement we can feel complete and whole in all things. Then once we have realized our wholeness, we can choose to stay in a happy state. Continuously striving and reaching for eternal exaltation.
These are some of the glorious lessons we can learn from Nephi! I am so grateful for the scriptures! :)
WOW! Just what I needed to today! Thank you so much for sharing your inspirations and insights!
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