We should always be seeking correction. That was taught to us by Elder Christofferson of the quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He said:
I love correction. It is painful in the moment, as we should expect it to be. But in the long run, it is what will make us most like Christ. If that is your goal, than should you not willingly accept God's gentle (or not so gentle) stirrings and re-directing? And then in prayer give thanks for God's willingness, because of his love for us, to help us change that when the time comes, we want to be with him and Christ forever.
A willingness to seek correction often must be accompanied by a willingness to follow God's plan especially when the way seems uncertain or is cast in shadows. We see this in the nature of Nephi. I have loved for a long time the account of Nephi when he is going to get the plates. After several attempts that are followed immediately by failure (have we not all been there?) Nephi finally decides to trust in God (since all his own plans have seemed to lead nowhere; another place I imagine we have all been) and he admits:
God knows you. He is intimately familiar with every.single.aspect of your personality and person. He is involved in the minutest details of your very life. From this divine perspective he is able to steer you to perfection. In order for that to be accomplished, not only do we have to seek correction, but we have to realize and accept that change happens when we choose. We are altered when we take the time to realize change must occur and then seek divine assistance in making the necessary changes. You are in charge of who you become. No one else. It is your choice.
How beautiful is the plan of our God!
My brother loves William Ernest Henley. Specifically, his well known poem that the poet wrote in 1875 in his very first published collection of poems. The title is Invictus, which in Latin can be translated to mean Unconquered:
And truly you are the captain of your souls. As Nephi was, when he decided with that mastery to follow God's will even when he did not know how he was being guided.
I recently had an interesting dating experience. When I confronted the man about the way he acted, he said that it was his personality that turns people off. In essence, his excuse for the way he treated me was, "That's just the way I am."
You should not want to stay that way. That is within your power to change. And you should be seeking correction and seeking to change.
We all should.
"I would like to speak of one particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet Heavenly Father's high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction. Correction is vital if we are to conform our lives 'unto the perfect man, [that is,] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.' Paul said of divine correction and chastening , 'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.' Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct."(Sidenote, that talk is one of my favorite because he quotes President Brown's story of the currant bush which I find extremely meaningful. You can find Christofferson's talk here. And his Mormon Message of the same, here.)
I love correction. It is painful in the moment, as we should expect it to be. But in the long run, it is what will make us most like Christ. If that is your goal, than should you not willingly accept God's gentle (or not so gentle) stirrings and re-directing? And then in prayer give thanks for God's willingness, because of his love for us, to help us change that when the time comes, we want to be with him and Christ forever.
A willingness to seek correction often must be accompanied by a willingness to follow God's plan especially when the way seems uncertain or is cast in shadows. We see this in the nature of Nephi. I have loved for a long time the account of Nephi when he is going to get the plates. After several attempts that are followed immediately by failure (have we not all been there?) Nephi finally decides to trust in God (since all his own plans have seemed to lead nowhere; another place I imagine we have all been) and he admits:
"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth." (1 Nephi 4:6-7)How grateful I am for this example. I know of many instances in my own life when this has been my pattern (Don't you love patterns?!)
God knows you. He is intimately familiar with every.single.aspect of your personality and person. He is involved in the minutest details of your very life. From this divine perspective he is able to steer you to perfection. In order for that to be accomplished, not only do we have to seek correction, but we have to realize and accept that change happens when we choose. We are altered when we take the time to realize change must occur and then seek divine assistance in making the necessary changes. You are in charge of who you become. No one else. It is your choice.
How beautiful is the plan of our God!
My brother loves William Ernest Henley. Specifically, his well known poem that the poet wrote in 1875 in his very first published collection of poems. The title is Invictus, which in Latin can be translated to mean Unconquered:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
And truly you are the captain of your souls. As Nephi was, when he decided with that mastery to follow God's will even when he did not know how he was being guided.
I recently had an interesting dating experience. When I confronted the man about the way he acted, he said that it was his personality that turns people off. In essence, his excuse for the way he treated me was, "That's just the way I am."
You should not want to stay that way. That is within your power to change. And you should be seeking correction and seeking to change.
We all should.
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