The Enabling Power

In this post I am going to be talking about Romans chapters 1-8. So when I just reference a chapter and verse you know what book we are in.
After reading these chapters I was trying to decide what I wanted to focus on from them. After some thinking and studying I realized that grace and the Atonement (Christ's sacrifice) was a big part of the entire eight chapters. Because of His sacrifice we can literally do anything that we set our minds to. I have said this a million times, but if it is important to you it is important to Him. That is how much He loves us.
Chapter 5 starts out strong with talking about how through faith we can be at peace with God. Can you imagine being at peace with God? Or what that would even mean? Many who believe that there is a judgment after this life tend to fear how they will measure up. Are they going to Heaven? Will they be cast down to Hell unwillingly? In the gospel according to Madi, being at peace with God means that you can stand before Him at the judgment day and be confident that you are going to be able to live with Him again in heaven. In this verse we are taught that if we are faithful to Christ we can do that. How relieving would that be? The verse continues on to say that this is possible because of what Jesus Christ did for us.
As I kept reading the verses just kept getting better. In verse two it goes on to say that through our faith in Jesus Christ we have access to His grace.
Grace can mean a few different things when talked about in conjunction with the Atonement, or Christ's suffering. In a talk that was given by David A Bednar, he mentioned that grace is the enabling power. So if we reword that verse it says, "By whom also we have access by faith into this [enabling power] wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Christ literally enables us to become anything we want to be. He gives us strength, He helps our weaknesses, He guides us to the path that will get us where we need to go and SO many more things. And all it takes is believing that Christ will help us.
The interesting thing is that faith is an action word. Yes we need to feel it, but when we have faith in Christ we follow Him and do as He has commanded us. That isn't always easy, but He knows our hearts. I love that we don't need to sit around and mope about what we have done wrong. We can ask for forgiveness from Christ, and anybody that our mistake may have hurt, and then move forward. Christ promised us that if we forgive others He will forgive us. We can trust that promise because of our faith in Him. When we apply the Atonement and repent we can move on from our mistakes. We can be at peace with God again, and grow closer to Him. That is one of the biggest blessings of the sacrifice of our brother.
There is so much that the Atonement can do for us. When we use our faith the Savior will show us just how powerful His sacrifice was. Show Him your gratitude for what He did by turning to Him.

One last thing before I finish up. In chapter 8:16 it says, "the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."  We are God's literal children and He wants us back home. So does our older brother Jesus Christ. Use the faith that you have and let them show you the way home.
Skeeter

Confidence Boost

Hey it's me again! This week I was reading in 1 Corinthians 12 when I had a thought. The majority of us base our self worth  on our image, talents, and the amount of friends who follow us on social media. How does that work out for us? It doesn't. We all have terrible hair days, lose followers as time goes on, and possibly stop having time for our talents. We all put ourselves through this in one way or another. I am sure most of us hate it too. I would love to be happy with my big feet and 10 followers that I have on stalkbook. But satan comes in and makes us think that what we are and what we have isn't good enough.
Wouldn't it be amazing if we could see all of the things that make us great that don't include how we dress or who "liked" our last post on instagram? I wish we could see ourselves the way others do-especially the way the Savior does. Obviously there was something special enough about each of us that He decided it was worth it to die for you. You specifically made Him decide that suffering was worth it if it meant you got to live with Him again. That is how badly He wanted to make sure we lived with Him again. What a nice brother!
We all know he doesn't care what we look like or how popular we are. So what made us so great? All of our many talents that go beyond instruments and sports, that's what.. In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 it talks about spiritual gifts. These gifts are things that not only bless our lives but the lives of those around us. Some of us are knowledgeable, others have wisdom (the application of that knowledge), others faith. Some have the gift of knowing what is right and wrong. There are many more and each one of us has at least some of these.
When you are having a rough day, look in the scriptures in this chapter and in Doctrine and Covenants 46:12-26 (Here is the Link to the second set of scriptures for those who don't have access to the Doctrine and Covenants). Sit down and read both of these chapters. I know you will be able to see some of the most important things about yourself that make you lovable.
Also, the great thing about these gifts is that we CAN have them all! If there is one we want, but don't have, work on it! Heavenly Father will give it to you if you want it.
These are the things that will make us truly happy in this life. I promise you that.
Skeeter

Its Been Awhile

Back at it again for a class. This round of entries will be things that I learned from my New Testament class I am taking this semester. I would love comments and feedback from anyone who reads.

This week I read in Acts chapters 9-16. The chapter and verse I want to focus on is Acts 14:8-10. Paul was out working and he found a man who could not use his legs. Because Paul saw that the man had faith to be healed he told him to stand and walk.

How many times do we think we need something and then ask God for the help to receive it? In the bible dictionary it talks about how prayer is part of the effort it takes to see miracles. Prayer is us showing Heavenly Father that we have faith that He will help us. That faith is the key to seeing miracles, great and small, in our lives. Without faith we can't receive much help from our Father in Heaven.
One thing that stood out to me was in verse 11. It said that the people saw the miracle that was done and started to say "The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men." Two thoughts: 1) We have prophets and apostles that lead us, the same way the people of the New Testament did. That is not a coincidence. We can have the faith that these men work for Christ everyday. 2) We can be an answer to someone else's prayer. If we follow those small thoughts to text someone and let them know they are loved, or that thought to make sure Mrs. Johnson down the street is doing ok, we can literally answer prayers and strengthen our faith as well as others.

We can be seeing miracles every day if we put forth the effort and have faith.

So some things to think about:
How do I strengthen my faith?
What do I need to change in my life to show God I want His help?
Why am I not seeing miracles every day?
What do I need right now in my life?

This post is kind of all over the place, but I hope that it gets you thinking about how you can grow your faith and become a better follower of Christ.

Skeeter