"Agency is the ability and privilege God gives us to choose and to act for ourselves. Agency is essential in the plan of salvation. Without agency, we would not be able to learn or progress or follow the Savior. With it, we are “free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27)."
Agency is never free. To every choice there is a consequence. Whether it be rewarding or painful. We are all on earth to make a choice...
What will your choice be? To follow Jesus Christ? Or to wonder a stray?
"19 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."
The natural man... What is the natural man?
To me my natural woman is rushed, anxious, frustrated, the urge to justify for things now. It's the urge to want that which isn't eternally important. To thirst after the things that aren't relevant in the bigger picture. The desire to do that which brings momentary happiness.
"7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.
8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God."
This scripture sums up the natural man. What will one wrong action do? It's only a small sin, God knows it's my weakness. To every choice there is an outcome. God knows our weaknesses true. However he expects us to over come them. Not cave in. He knows we would make mistakes. He put us here to do our best to become better. Not make excuses to falter.
Through my current trials I have learned A LOT. My most recent lesson is the lesson of consequences to my actions.
As I have posted in the past I CAN NOT eat gluten. If I eat gluten I am in for days full of pain and misery.
With Christmas time just passing we all know there are desserts of every kind, meals that are so hearty and comforting. gravy, meats, potatoes, all of my favorites. Every once in a while I see these things and my mouth begins to water and all I can think is if I just have one bite.. Maybe two... maybe this time I wont get sick... Every once in a while I let my guard down and I cave. I cave in and I take that one bite of misery.
I also received packages full of goodies, most of which I couldn't eat. Again every once in a while there would be a favorite cookie, I would do my best to give the treat to anyone around me, however the temptation would still be there in some situations. I would cave into the natural woman and eat the stinking cookie! NOOOOO!.... WHY WOULD I DO SUCH A THING? The silly sugery floury treat done got me again!!!!!!!!!!!!! After that I would be left in pain misery and sorrow for allowing myself to think this time would be different, or for feeling guilty that some one from home spent love and money to buy me this delicious treat I once lived for.
Do you catch what I am saying yet? Let me break it down for you. Satan is sneaky. He will do whaaaatever it takes to get you to cave. He knows your cookies and hearty meals that are also an Achilles heel, or criptonite. I am not speaking in literal cookies, I am speaking in all form of temptations.
He works in baby steps here a little there a little. It's fine to eat just one bite. He makes the things of the world appear fun, enjoyable, he lures you in step by step before long he has you trapped. Alone, miserable, and often times in pain. It doesn't have to be big things he tricks us with. He can also trick us with not doing the small things each and every day that we are supposed to do. You can miss prayer today, you woke up late for work and now you are going to be late! you don't need to go to church this Sunday.. You worked hard all week. Sleep in and go next week. Bottom line is. He does his best to deceive. He doesn't want you happy.
Through this trial I am learning to step up to a higher plain of thinking. No matter the guilt I feel for the treats and preparation that is put forth if it is harmful to my body I NEED TO SAY NO. People will do their best to guilt you into traps set by the greatest tempter. DON'T GIVE IN.
Agency is a beautiful thing when used in the way God wishes we would. Agency is a beautiful thing when we are moved to uplift in righteous ways, when we chose to move away from sin and step into the light. When we choose to use the atonement. When we choose to rely on Jesus Christ and to be freed from the pain of poor choices. To choose to not let Satan have his grasp anymore. Now is our time to choose to follow Jesus Christ.
Never ever be afraid to stand up for what you KNOW/BELIEVE to be true. Always remember who you are and what you can become. You have divine potential. You are amazing. You are of great worth and value.
Jesus Christ lives and He loves you infinitely
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