Diligent Obedience.

 "Wherefore, I, Nephi, did STRIVE to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence." 1 Nephi 17

I like that in this scripture Nephi doesn't say "I Nephi did keep ALL the commandments of the Lord." He made it clear that each day he did his best. He did "STRIVE" to keep the commandments.

God asks us to do our best to be our best, to do what we can to reach our potential, to become what he sees us becoming.

Some days my best might be 110% and others it's less than 50%...

Since I have been a missionary I have become very familiar with the words 
"EXACT OBEDIENCE"

"I am exactly obedient all the time" said no one.. ever.. except for Jesus Christ. I GET SO HARD ON MYSELF. Some times.. I am lazy and don't keep a rule to the fullest extent.. and some times.. I break rules by accident. AND IT HURTS. HOW COULD I DO SUCH A THING. HOW COULD I BE SO CARELESS.. HOW COULD I FORGET. WHY. HOW. WHY. WHAT. WHAT WAS I THINKING. I AM SO STUPID. I HATE BEING DISOBEDIENT.

SO HOW CAN I.... AN IMPERFECT BEING BE AN EXACTLY OBEDIENT MISSIONARY AND REACH PERFECTION!?!?!?!?!

I CANT. I SIMPLY CAN'T.

(HOWEVER I CAN TRY)

I beat myself up daily over this fact. HOW COULD YOU DO THAT.WHY ARE YOU SO CARELESS... HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.. ARE YOU DUMB!? 

If you have never thought like that teach me how. Because I feel like I am my worst critic. I CAN BE SO MEAN TO MYSELF. I beat my self down so much! and if you do it too....

STOP RIGHT THERE. STOP IT. STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP.

It's time for us to stop being so harsh, it's time to stop cutting yourself down...

"forget not to be patient with yourself. I want to tell you something that I hope you will take in the right way: God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect.
Let me add: God is also fully aware that the people you think are perfect are not."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Take it one day, one step at a time. It will even come down to hour by hour, minute by minute, second by second. Take each moment in that day to improve. 

Be diligent in moving forward, in keeping the commandments. 

I get my self trapped in this pit of despair when I am not perfectly perfect. I forget that diligence is key to success.

Diligence - constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.

  The constant and earnest effort to continually push through. to work hard to become better. To stretch yourself each day to reach a higher level of excellence and obedience. 

 "Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."

unfaltering, resolute, committed, dedicated, unswerving. are you doing your best to stand firm in your beliefs? Are you doing your best to be committed to God? Are you dedicating time to study your scriptures?  are you un bendable in your virtue and ability to stand up for what is right? 

Are you doing your best to repent and make right what you have done wrong??

If so then you are doing enough. You will reach your highest goals if you are continually pushing forward on the path to God. If you are doing that... than you are doing enough. 

Don't look at how many weaknesses you have and how impossible they are to over come. Take each weakness one step at a time.

  57 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto the servant: Pluck not the wild branches from the trees, save it be those which are most bitter; and in them ye shall graft according to that which I have said.

  59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil.

65 And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall not clear away the bad thereof all at once, lest the roots thereof should be too strong for the graft, and the graft thereof shall perish, and I lose the trees of my vineyard.

 74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard, even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard, and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again the natural fruit;  Jacob 5

DON'T BURN YOURSELF OUT ON YOUR IMPERFECTIONS. Your strengths are important too and not to be forgotten. If you focus to much on everything you can't do, don't do, didn't do, should do or shouldn't have dones... you will be one frustrated discouraged mess.  

have Faith in the Lord that each day he can take you in your weaknesses and use you for his great work. He can mend you, graft you, pluck your branches, replace the bad with the good. Even though at times these corrections hurt, let him mold you. you will over come trials, temptations and weaknesses. I promise.

Are you passively believing in Christ? Do you believe Christ. Do you trust that through him you are forgiven, healed, mended and made whole? Can he really help you do this??

YES!!!

HE CAN, I KNOW HE CAN... AND HE WILL. It's just a matter of being humble, being teachable, patience and perseverance. Don't get discouraged when you fall. Don't give up on yourself. keep pushing through with diligence and a mind firm in the faith. Repent daily, it lightens the load. You are enough. God is aware of our imperfections and he loves us through them. no matter what we do. HE LOVES US. FOREVER. HE WANTS YOU HOME WITH HIM. 

KEEP PRAYING. KEEP HAVING FAITH. REPENT ALWAYS. TRUST IN CHRIST AND HIS ATONEMENT AND BE FIRM, STEADFAST AND ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN GOOD WORKS. BEING LED TO GLORIFY GOD :)

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it." 

Mosiah 2

KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS AND YOU WILL FIND TRUE JOY. BEYOND ANY HAPPINESS A MOMENTARY PLEASURE CAN PROVIDE. KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS AND BE BLESSED.   

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27

7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.  Jacob 4:7

dont beat yourself up when you aren't exaclty obedient. Don't push yourself so hard and the beginning of the race that you are hardly crawling to the finish line. Don't run faster than you can walk. Become diligently obedient. Always remember the commandments and then act. Study. Then apply. YOU CAN DO IT! 

DILIGENT OBEDIENCE LEADS TO EXACT OBEDIENCE. PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.