9-20-11 "He did deliver me from bondage" p.85


9-20-11

“He did deliver me from bondage” p. 85

Paragraph 1

I totally believe this.  I have seen it in my children’s behavior and the Spirit testifies to me that it is a future pattern: The way I try to discipline them is the same way they will learn to influence others- their own children, friends or otherwise.  It becomes a deep part of their character.  I think this (how we influence others) is the most significant “tradition of the fathers” that gets passed down. 

“Deeply entrenched in the “creeds” of my own parents about how to relate to and influence others (by using shame, blame, coercion, manipulation, and outright force if necessary), I repeated their “style”.

I think the way I parent is the most significant indicator to show if I know and follow Christ.  This is behavior rooted deep in the principles that are believed in the heart.  I am now up against the task of how to change this ‘tradition’.  I have been praying for guidance.  I have been looking for sources to study.  I am trying to change my heart, but still I must wait for these principles to sink deep within my soul.  I started reading “Christ-like Parenting” but it didn’t go deep enough into the principle behind the behavior.  It seemed to be more of a behaviorist changing point of view.   I need something deeper if I want it to sink down to the origins of ‘the traditions of my fathers’.  I think this is my answer, which is ironic because I was looking for something else when the Spirit told me that this is the one right thing that I need to study right now.  Yet another manifestation that when we cast our net in the one place he directs when he directs, then he will fill our boat with fishes to overflowing.  (John 21:6) http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/21.6?lang=eng#5

Like her, it is also amazing to me that I lived so much of my life without really applying the gospel to my life.

“Though I read the scriptures, listened to the modern prophets, and knew well the old adage… I still believed in and applied the methods of behaviorism, rather than the truths of Christ’s gospel.”

The only explanation I can think of is that I was spiritually asleep. 

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This gives me a deep desire to change for the benefit of my children and their children.  I have been trying to understand and apply for a long time D&C121.  I think it is a mystery that has been locked to me.  I want to change and understand it now, and I really think I’m ready.  I see I need to

  • Reprove be times with sharpness on a 7:1 ratio of positive affirmation, focusing and praising the good behavior. 

I noticed yesterday that I must be completely connected to my vision in order to keep my focus on the positive and not the negative.  I became disconnected because I had not done my learning time.  Last night after I read the first few gripping chapters of “Portal to Genius” I felt alive again, and had the power to lift my eyes.  Most of yesterday was spent focusing on the negative and pointing it out to others.  I know this only makes it worse, but I was stuck in the mud and I felt it dragging me down.  It felt like I was trying to move forward with square wheels on the car.  The resistance was so great.  Sluggish doesn’t even begin to describe it.  After my morning scripture study, I did my vision board but I didn’t feel it, not really.  I did my affirmations, but I still felt stuck.  The adversary is trying to drag me down to keep me from living my mission, and I feel God allows it so I can learn to rely on Him in order to have power to break free. 

  • I also see I need to consult the Holy Ghost before reproving with sharpness.  I am getting better at this.  A couple of days ago when someone in my family had a temper tantrum I tried not to revile again.  I tried to speak words of truth afterward, but I should have prayed harder first so that I could have spoken the words of the spirit and not just my own emotions. 

p. 87, 1st paragraph

“Because it means that, just as the prophets have taught, our life is less about what happens to us and more about the way we choose to respond to what happens.”

I LOVE THIS TRUTH!!  It is part of my Z model and I know choice determines which way we go in life- either toward the light or into darkness. 


As an author, I love her metaphors!

 “The answer stands like a solid granite monolith rising from the fog of mortality.”

I am so excited about this chapter.  I think it’s what I have been missing.  Gotta go for today.

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