Think of the difference in wet cement vs. solid, firm cement when you think of your mind.
We must use the truth daily to keep our minds firm. Work to "set" your mind firmly on the higher things of life.
The results can be astounding and are in direct proportion to the degree of mental self-discipline we exercise. Our "natural" (Mosiah 3 ) emotions/feelings are "fickle" and will often change for the worst just when we need positive feelings the most! They are often determined by such variables as sleep, food, other people's moods, "that time of the month", our state of health, etc. Do you want your life's destiny to be at the mercy of things so unpredictable, undependable and vulnerable?!
Start to develop a firm mind by identifying perhaps five of your most frequent negative feelings. (See examples below to get you started!) Choose your favorite opposing scripture verse for each and post them all around your house until you have them memorized. Then choose another five and keep going for a better life for not only you but your entire family.
What a great blessing this will be in your life! I cannot count how many times I have used Isaiah 40:31(see below) when I "felt" like I was perhaps too tired to serve a need in my home or family. And yet after running the verse through my mind, that "feeling" would dissipate and I could continue on doing what I needed to do with renewed strength and energy. (This doesn't work so well, however, if I consistently choose to stay up late or eat poorly!)
Let us beware to not ever mistake our "natural feelings" for the Spirit of the Lord. "Emotion" does not always equal a "spiritual experience" but very likely just an "emotional experience" (which hormones can often play a very large role!) We can and must have spiritual feelings, of course, but they will be positive, uplifting, nourishing and sometimes they may even be a warning. But they will be consistent with a peaceful heart and mind. We must learn to distinguish the difference at all times or we may hurt others and also deceive ourselves!
So what are you waiting for? Change you thoughts and change your life.
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man [or woman] of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery…” Helaman 3:29
What a great blessing this will be in your life! I cannot count how many times I have used Isaiah 40:31(see below) when I "felt" like I was perhaps too tired to serve a need in my home or family. And yet after running the verse through my mind, that "feeling" would dissipate and I could continue on doing what I needed to do with renewed strength and energy. (This doesn't work so well, however, if I consistently choose to stay up late or eat poorly!)
Let us beware to not ever mistake our "natural feelings" for the Spirit of the Lord. "Emotion" does not always equal a "spiritual experience" but very likely just an "emotional experience" (which hormones can often play a very large role!) We can and must have spiritual feelings, of course, but they will be positive, uplifting, nourishing and sometimes they may even be a warning. But they will be consistent with a peaceful heart and mind. We must learn to distinguish the difference at all times or we may hurt others and also deceive ourselves!
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man [or woman] of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery…” Helaman 3:29
If you’re feeling overwhelmed:
…The Lord is able to do all things according to his will for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him. Wherefore let us be faithful to him. ~1 Nephi 7:12
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." ~Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." ~Romans 8:28
If you’re feeling exhausted or fatigued:
“But they that wait upon the Lord [as in serve] shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”
~Isaiah 40:31
If you’re feeling down or unloved:
"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever." ~Jacob 3:2
If you’re feeling discouraged:
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God. ~Ether 12:4
If you’re feeling worried or fearful:
“For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” ~2 Timothy 1:7
“O…greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.” ~Daniel 10:19
If you’re feeling anxious, afraid or impatient:
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” ~Psalm 27:14
If you’re feeling confused or indecisive:
"...feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." ~2 Nephi 32:3
If you’re feeling concerned about the behavior of loved ones:
“It was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with Holy Ghost.” ~Ether 12:14
If you’re feeling doubtful:
“…Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” ~Ether 12:6
If you’re feeling lazy:
"[Jesus] went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."~Acts 10:38
"[Jesus] went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him."~Acts 10:38
“But wilt though know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead.” ~James 2:20
"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."~Mosiah 3:19
If you’re feeling weak, fearful or unconfident:
"...I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." ~Moroni 8:16
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, not be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." ~Deuteronomy 31:6
"...I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear." ~Moroni 8:16
"Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, not be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." ~Deuteronomy 31:6
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you.” ~Matthew 17:20
If you’re feeling self-pity:
“…all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?” ~Doctrine & Covenants 122:7,8
If you’re feeling persecuted or verbally attacked:
“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." ~Isaiah 51:7
“But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you…” ~3 Nephi 12:44
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” ~Proverbs 15:1
If you’re feeling impatient with others:
“…If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail.” ~ Moroni 7:46
And why exactly is all of this SO IMPORTANT?!
"...If ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man (or woman), remember, and perish not."~Mosiah 4:30
Happy mind "exercising"!
"And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life."~Doctrine & Covenants 101:38
If you're feeling tired:
"Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly of heart; for such shall find rest to their souls." ~Alma 37:34
If you're feeling proud:
"...none is acceptable before God save the meek and lowly in heart"~Moroni 7:44
If you're feeling angry:
"And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life."~Doctrine & Covenants 101:38
If you're feeling tired:
"Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly of heart; for such shall find rest to their souls." ~Alma 37:34
If you're feeling proud:
"...none is acceptable before God save the meek and lowly in heart"~Moroni 7:44
If you're feeling angry:
"And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life."~Doctrine & Covenants 101:38
And why exactly is all of this SO IMPORTANT?!
"...If ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man (or woman), remember, and perish not."~Mosiah 4:30
Happy mind "exercising"!
I just loved the post it note, I leave those for myself all the time :)
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