It hit me very powerfully last night, and I couldn't stop thinking about the things that this former member of the seventy had said.
In between seeing that for the first time and going to bed, I talked to my roommate about dating, judging, and the people in my life. As she and I talked, I feel like I was being taught by the spirit about what is really important and what is not. Before I fell asleep, I watched the video one more time.
This morning, I woke up with a plan of what I was going to study, so I could prepare my lesson. I had an idea of what I wanted to teach, and I was ready to search and ponder to see what I could develop as far as a lesson plan. Yet, I couldn't get Elder Busche's remarks out of my head. I decided to find the actual devotional talk and read it.
Now that I've read his talk, I know that what I want to teach is not what I'm supposed to teach tomorrow, though I still am not exactly sure what I will actually end up teaching.
Some of the points of his devotional that touched me:
"...we cannot afford to overlook the fact that the Lord is literally telling us that nothing really matters unless we take the Holy Spirit as our guide and avoid being deceived."
That is SO powerful!
That is SO powerful!
"There seems to be, inside of us, the capability to be spiritually illiterate, in spite of the brilliant knowledge that we may have about the facts of the Restoration, the plan of salvation, and the organizational part of the restored gospel. We must never forget that our enemy, the adversary, is also a spiritual being. He knows of spiritual powers, and, therefore, he is out to deceive, when he can—even, sometimes, the very elect."
We can never think we are invincible, not even for a second. It doesn't matter who we are, what out calling is, or how righteous we think we are or we may be, Satan can still tempt us and deceive us.
We can never think we are invincible, not even for a second. It doesn't matter who we are, what out calling is, or how righteous we think we are or we may be, Satan can still tempt us and deceive us.
"I immediately understood that we cannot have a successful mission experience until we learn how to behave or learn what to do so that the Spirit will endow us with power and all the other gifts. None of us can afford to be without them. None of us has enough wisdom, enough intelligence, enough knowledge, enough skills, or enough courage, by ourselves, to master our lives and even to succeed in life unless we learn what it means to surrender ourselves into the arms of the Lord and be filled with the Spirit."
This can be applied to our life. We will not be successful in our mission here on earth until we learn how to live so that the Spirit will always be with us.
This can be applied to our life. We will not be successful in our mission here on earth until we learn how to live so that the Spirit will always be with us.
"...we, as members of the Church, should not be satisfied to be one single moment of our waking hours without the insightful, powerful influence of the Spirit."
It seems like we have it backwards. We get so excited when we have these big spiritual experiences, but in reality we should always be having spiritual experiences.
It seems like we have it backwards. We get so excited when we have these big spiritual experiences, but in reality we should always be having spiritual experiences.
"The Spirit is a divine entity. It therefore gives the ultimate example of politeness. It will not intrude into our lives. It will not force itself into our lives except under circumstances in which we may endanger our salvation—for instance, by breaking a covenant...The Holy Ghost has been given to us as a gift, but it can only become an active part of our lives when we become aware of its dormant state and develop in our souls a desire to awaken the Spirit to life."
The Spirit will not force it's way into our lives. Only we can invite it in. In fact, we must be consistently and actively inviting it to be our constant companion.
The Spirit will not force it's way into our lives. Only we can invite it in. In fact, we must be consistently and actively inviting it to be our constant companion.
"In The Problem of Pain (p. 66), C. S. Lewis gave us an interesting insight about this same question when he quoted William Law:
If you will here stop, and ask yourselves, why you are not as pious as the primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you, that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it. [William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life (London: J. M. Dent; New York: E. P. Dutton, 1920), p. 13]"
Sometimes we excuse and justify our way out of things, when really we should humble ourselves and take accountability and strive to change to become better.
Sometimes we excuse and justify our way out of things, when really we should humble ourselves and take accountability and strive to change to become better.
"When we are not satisfied with the world of our own feelings—when we are grouchy and unhappy or we are slothful or sloppy—we must know that we are not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. "
It's easy for us to forget about the impact the Spirit has on us, but we must remember that if we are unhappy it is directly related to how closely we are in tune with the Spirit.
"But there are always hundreds of different desires fighting for supremacy within us. The act of categorizing them is a very painful, but needful act to become, in the eyes of God, a mature person and to be taken seriously...We cannot be light-minded and expect the Spirit to take us seriously."
"The ordinances and principles of the restored gospel are the vehicles to fill us with the Holy Spirit..."
"When we do not do everything in our life in faith or, in other words, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we are missing the mark."
"...it can be said that there are only two elements that separate us from the Holy Spirit: First, our lack of desire to repent, and, second, our lack of desire to forgive."
"Under the influence of the Light of Christ, we can empower our lives to the awareness of our most important needs...I have grown to understand that this is the most important priority in our lives. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will not sin."
"It is also obvious that without constant efforts, it will be very difficult to always be focused on our most righteous desires."
How easily we become distracted by the things of this world! We must keep our focus on things of an eternal perspective.
How easily we become distracted by the things of this world! We must keep our focus on things of an eternal perspective.
"You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ."
This seems to answer the question of why God doesn't answer prayers. I mean, we are quick to say our prayers are always answered, but in His timing, not ours. But if we are not willing to put aside our will, then our communication is in vain and our prayers will seem to go unanswered.
This seems to answer the question of why God doesn't answer prayers. I mean, we are quick to say our prayers are always answered, but in His timing, not ours. But if we are not willing to put aside our will, then our communication is in vain and our prayers will seem to go unanswered.
"God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us—everything will fall into its place."
It's sometimes hard to realize that He knows us better. It's hard to look outside the moment we're in and think, everything will work out as long as I trust in Him. But only when we fully trust and confide in Him will the worry fade away and everything will work out.
It's sometimes hard to realize that He knows us better. It's hard to look outside the moment we're in and think, everything will work out as long as I trust in Him. But only when we fully trust and confide in Him will the worry fade away and everything will work out.
"Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm."
I think we accept these feelings to a certain degree, but they are simply the feelings of the natural man. We have to learn to overcome them just like everything else.
I think we accept these feelings to a certain degree, but they are simply the feelings of the natural man. We have to learn to overcome them just like everything else.
"...the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost."
When I think of things I want to achieve in my life, I've never thought of this. But that truly would be the greatest achievement. Just think of the things you could do, the people you would touch, and the person you would become if you were under the complete influence of the Spirit!
When I think of things I want to achieve in my life, I've never thought of this. But that truly would be the greatest achievement. Just think of the things you could do, the people you would touch, and the person you would become if you were under the complete influence of the Spirit!
"...when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better."
In my personal experience, this is such a hard realization to come to and accept, but it's true. He always knows best, and something better is always waiting.
In my personal experience, this is such a hard realization to come to and accept, but it's true. He always knows best, and something better is always waiting.
"Although it is not possible to be perfect as long as we are in this earthly state, we still have to be perfect in keeping the commandments of our covenants."
"When we are in such a way perfected and are eligible to go in his holy house, the temple, we have the promise that Jesus Christ will take upon him the rest and we can rejoice in being cleansed through his redeeming blood every day of our lives."
I'm so grateful for these simple and profound reminders that Heavenly Father gives us daily to help us to be happy and continue on the path that leads back to Him.
I'm so grateful for these simple and profound reminders that Heavenly Father gives us daily to help us to be happy and continue on the path that leads back to Him.
