So I don't exactly know what I want to blog about, but a friend reminded me that I should be doing this more often. So here we go!
I'm not usually the person to say something like this. Not too long ago I was pessimistic. But life is incredible. Incroyable! Sometimes I look around and I think, "How can I possibly deserve everything that I have?" What amazing thing did I do to be given so much? I make so many mistakes and I fail so much that I can't possibly have actually earned what I have! There's no way! And yet I know that God wants to give me more. A lot more. He wants to give EVERYBODY a lot more. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing you do, nothing you say, nothing you become will ever cause God to love you less. Who can love so perfectly but God Himself? The Savior Jesus Christ who suffered for everything you will ever go through. Everything He did, does and will do is for the sole purpose of your well-being. Is there anyone else who can truly say that? Parents and family can come close, but we're all human and make mistakes. But God is faithful and all He does is motivated by His love for us. He wants to bless us!
Do you want to know a secret? The more thankful you are for what you have, the happier you are. All true and lasting happiness is a result of gratitude for any blessing in your life. So next time you are feeling down in the dumps, remember something you're grateful for. The greatest happiness comes when we recognize that God is the source of our blessings and not us. When we are humble and grateful, the Holy Ghost is unrestricted in filling us with joy.
Some of my greatest joy has come from seeing what the Lord has molded me into. Without taking credit as the source of any goodness that I have, I can be proud of what God has made me, and not because I did it myself. It's because I realize that I was completely incapable of refining myself on my own that I marvel at what He has shaped me into. I know my weaknesses very well, which is why I know that I was not the source of change. Even with all my weaknesses, I have been blessed to take on small parts of God's Divine Nature. Me? No. It isn't me. It is purely the Grace of God. Speaking of which, do you know what Grace is? Let me tell you!
"It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grave in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts."- LDS Bible Dictionary
Grace is a power beyond our own that is available to us so that we can receive eternal life after all that we do. It is also a power that is given to us every day if we are trying. It takes our best efforts and sanctifies them for the Lord's work. Grace is an incredible strength.When I serve in my church calling, it is by Grace. The reason that imperfect people can have great success in moving forward the sacred work of God is Grace. By Grace we are counted worthy to have the Holy Ghost with us. By Grace our faith and prayers are honored by Heavenly Father. By Grace only is priesthood power effectively exercised. By Grace the 2,000 stripling warriors defeated tens of thousands of Lamanites without losing one soul. By Grace we may find ourselves at times exhibiting Christ-like attributes to a degree that is not normal for us, but that it needed for the benefit of another. Anything that occurs by virtue of one's calling occurs by Grace. Now do yo want to know the cool thing? Grace is directly influenced by gratitude and humility. Someone who is humble and grateful to God is by nature receiving, even exercising Grace. The more we humbly recognize and seek help for our weaknesses, the more Grace we have. The Savior Himself said, "my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) He also said, "my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
Humility is power. Gratitude is power and the gateway to happiness and more blessings. This is true because of Jesus Christ. His suffering, death and resurrection is the source of and reason behind Grace. This brings me to the focal point of this whole post. Everything that I have said can be boiled down to one principle. I know that my Savior lives! I love Him! I love Jesus Christ! Oh sweet, the joy this sentence gives: I Know that My Redeemer Lives!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpFhS0dAduc
Against all odds. The world may reason one way or another saying that God does not exist, that Christ did not actually resurrect, that there is no life after death or any number of hopeless messages. But I promise that against all odds, all reason, all negativity, Jesus Christ gives Hope and life to everyone, and stands ready always to lift the weary, comfort the afflicted and save the meek who follow Him. After what my Savior has done and continues to do for me, I hope to stand with Him as brother Holland says, "Even unto death." Though even that can never repay His sacrifice for me. My friends, this is happiness. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
