Day 4 - Mosiah 3:19 "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
"How old do you picture the "little child" mentioned in this scripture? A tiny infant" A two-year-old? Remember that two-year-olds aren't to good at "yielding" or submitting." Write about how young a child you are willing to become to your Heavenly Father and just how far you are willing to submit in all things that He might see fit to "inflict" upon you."
What is it about an adult, what it is that has to change to become like a little child so we can be submissive and meek and humble, etc? Well, we could lose that ego and pride. Ego and pride are a couple of layers we gain as we "grow up". How about layers of distrust, resentment, guilt, damaged esteems, negativity...the list goes on. Maybe we don't really grow up as much as we become more mortal? Maybe being a child was closer to being celestial? The only way I know of to deal with all these complications, these layers we gain, is to bring in the Spirit. Because we simply cannot will them away by only our desire, nor by ourselves. The Spirit is the only power to actually change a heart. Being submissive is another way of saying we are at peace inside. And we're willing to bear all things because we trust the Lord. Trust is confidence and thus a strength. So the qualities of meek, willing, "as a child", and submissive which initially sound weaker are actually outward symptoms of strength, confidence and direction. We are ensured in our hearts, therefore we can endure.
I know it sounds bad, but I have had too much experience with the bad in my life. A child is someone who is willing to endure for love, whatever is asked of them. Becoming like a child, to me, means always remembering to say, "Nevertheless". When we can preface out trials with that one word, and mean it, than we are on our way toward becoming the people we need to be. I look at the pioneers for an example of "Nevertheless". Their trials were HUGE. I am sure there were even a few complaints now and then, but they endured it anyway and kept walking, one foot in front of the other. A child is willing to trust that somehow things will be better later.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Patty Ann. God bless, Lloyd
ReplyDeleteAre there going to be anymore posts? (I've copied out the ones you have so far, so am wondering...)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, how long have you lived in Grants Pass?
Karilyn, I don't have notification for comments on this blog and did not read this until today. I should do more and will start up again this weekend. Thank you so much for your comments!
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