9-26-11 “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 93, day 3

9-26-11    “He did deliver me from bondage” p. 93, day 3

In answer to her question, of course it’s right and necessary to ask God to change our hearts.  There is no other way we can be truly changed. 

Mosiah 5, verse 2:

which has wrought a mighty ^achange in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do ^bevil, but to do good continually.

I am starting to see that it is really not a matter of how good we are, but how much good we DO.  If we have been changed, deeply and truly, then we will bring forth fruits; actions just not intent.  This to me means living my mission and doing those things that will be hard for me to do, but that He has shown me are possible.  Because of this book, and the power of God, I do feel like my heart has “wrought a mighty change and I have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.”  But the thing that is stopping me from moving forward isn’t my disposition or intent to do them, it’s the negative voices in my head that tell me I’m not doing enough or not good enough.  They try to get me down and trying to keep me from breaking free.  Yes, I am free from my pit. But now it’s time to truly show I’m free and spread my wings to fly. 

The thing that is most curious to me is that Mosiah is teaching us how to live an abundant life: to always rejoice and retain a remission of our sins.  This means that these cycles are not required; I do not have to suffer under them as a victim but I can rise above them.  Through this power I can always rejoice.  There is definitely something more here I need to learn how to do.  These are the things he says to always remember in order to achieve this state of mind:

Mosiah 4:11

• The Greatness of God
• Your own nothingness
• His goodness and long-suffering toward me, an unworthy creature
• Humble yourselves even to the depths of humility praying daily
• Standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come

If we do these things, then the promise is:

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the ^alove of God, and always ^bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the ^cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

Alma Ch. 5: 6

• Sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers
• God’s mercy and long-suffering towards them
• That He hath delivered them from hell

I want to get out from under these cycles and move forward to my vision.  I don’t know how much of that desire is realistic.  Part of me says that it’s a part of life to accept.  Another part of me hopes in this scripture that someday this may not always be the case.