At Your Feet

While writing my last post, I was listening to Casting Crowns to drown out the background noise and hopefully provide a source of inspiration... It worked!

One thing I have recently learned is the importance of truly giving your life to God - fully trusting in him and submitting your will to His. This is also something that I have a very hard time with - especially when it comes to relationships. If I love someone - I don't want that to change! I want to be with them, to love them, to give myself to them... and there's nothing worse than being told that a wonderful relationship needs to end - especially when you have no idea why.

The song that struck me is At Your Feet by Casting Crowns. I was typing away, when I heard these lines:

"Here at Your feet I lay my future down
All of my dreams I give to You now
And I find peace, I find peace"

I stopped typing, and just listened. Can I do that? Can I really do that? Can I lay my future down at the feet of the Lord? Can I surrender all my hopes and my dreams? And even if I do - will I really find peace?

I know that this is what I need to do... But why is it so hard? Unfortunately, there's no happy ending to this story yet.

One thing I have learned though from past experience is that, in His own time, God almost always reveals the reasons for everything he asks us to do, and it all becomes crystal clear.

I hope and pray that I will find the strength I need to fully give myself to God, trusting in His infinite wisdom.

The Commandments of God Must Be Fulfilled

"And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them..." ~1 Nephi 17:3

Wow. I'm sure I've never read that verse before.

I've been going through a lot of trials in my life... a precious relationship has come to an end, the war against my inner demons has raged on, and I have not been sure I could make it. I've turned to the Lord and to the scriptures for a source of strength, and this verse was exactly what I needed. The promise here is so simple... If we keep the commandments of God, he will strengthen us and provide a way for us to do what he has asked us to do.

Now, I'm not a wicked evil person, and I haven't committed murder or some other terrible sin, but there's far too much that I have not been doing. In church, we're taught simple things, such as: Pray every day, study scriptures daily, take care of your body by eating right and having a good sleep schedule, etc. etc. Now, I'm a fairly healthy eater, but that's about the only thing in that list I do well. The days I do pray and study the scriptures, there is a very noticeable difference - I feel so much stronger, like I really could do anything.

This week, and for the rest of my life, I am going to make an extra effort to do even the small things. I know that as I do, I will be blessed with the grace of God and be able to do that which I cannot do by my own strength.