"Because I Will"
The other day I was watching a movie. The main character struggled with forgiving herself for some events she didn't cause but she still blamed herself for them. By the end of the movie, she's faced with the task to forgive herself. Her "alter ego" I guess, shows up and tells her how horrible she is and how no one will ever forgive her. With the world collapsing around her she finds the truth and she makes a choice. She says "That's not true. I will."
Her words stayed with me. It demonstrates a choice to change, to go against your natural man and do what you know is right. Even if no one in the world would forgive her, she would forgive herself. There are many choices we make in life. These make our character, or reflect our character. Or both. We have the ability to choose, which is something I take for granted.
In talking about Adam and Eve, the prophet Alma said "Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—" (Alma 12:31)
I love the way this scripture talks about how we have the power to act. How often do I think about making decisions as a privilege? We have the power to act, based on our knowledge of good and evil. This is unique to us. We get to choose.
Something else I was thinking about with this is how often we feel our efforts are wasted. Many could come home from their missions or from work or just from talking to someone they are trying to help and think "I did absolutely nothing there" because the person we spoke with doesn't change based on our efforts. But if we choose, we can be changed, and for the better. "Charity never faileth." If anything, we are changed by the love we express. We can grow in testimony and choose the best course of action. We can move, we can grow. It's our choice. It is up to us.
We have the power to act, regardless of what others believe or how they act. We don't have to go with the crowd, we don't have to listen to all the advice we are given. We need to be wise about that, but we have also been given the ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil. It's been given to us and will become more clear as we study our scriptures and pray fervently. The Lord can help us.
I know Christ lives. I feel it in my heart and in my being. He will never leave us comfortless if we come to Him with our hearts willing to listen and to be molded by Him. He loves us - infinitely! That love will never change or lessen. It is perfect. It is REAL.
Her words stayed with me. It demonstrates a choice to change, to go against your natural man and do what you know is right. Even if no one in the world would forgive her, she would forgive herself. There are many choices we make in life. These make our character, or reflect our character. Or both. We have the ability to choose, which is something I take for granted.
In talking about Adam and Eve, the prophet Alma said "Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—" (Alma 12:31)
I love the way this scripture talks about how we have the power to act. How often do I think about making decisions as a privilege? We have the power to act, based on our knowledge of good and evil. This is unique to us. We get to choose.
Something else I was thinking about with this is how often we feel our efforts are wasted. Many could come home from their missions or from work or just from talking to someone they are trying to help and think "I did absolutely nothing there" because the person we spoke with doesn't change based on our efforts. But if we choose, we can be changed, and for the better. "Charity never faileth." If anything, we are changed by the love we express. We can grow in testimony and choose the best course of action. We can move, we can grow. It's our choice. It is up to us.
We have the power to act, regardless of what others believe or how they act. We don't have to go with the crowd, we don't have to listen to all the advice we are given. We need to be wise about that, but we have also been given the ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil. It's been given to us and will become more clear as we study our scriptures and pray fervently. The Lord can help us.
I know Christ lives. I feel it in my heart and in my being. He will never leave us comfortless if we come to Him with our hearts willing to listen and to be molded by Him. He loves us - infinitely! That love will never change or lessen. It is perfect. It is REAL.
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