THOUGHT PATTERN #4 - Seeing all things Spiritually
I now count every day unto the Lord, that is, I use each day and the activities of the day therein to become one with Christ. I see all of my activities as stewardships in which I carry them out for Heavenly Father. This helps me to use all my roles, goals & activities for spiritual growth. It makes no difference if I serve Heavenly Father this day in my profession, or with my wife, or with my children or all three. As long as I seek spiritual input to help me select stewardship priorities for the day and then carry each one out for Heavenly Father. it is all the same.
This thought pattern has taught me that my priorities in this life are to develop:
1. A perfect brightness of hope for me to be raised unto eternal life.
2. A steadfastness in Christ (to see, think, feel & do as He does)
3. and to love God & all men with the pure love of Christ.
I discovered that through stewardships I am able to develop all three of these priorities. In fact, this life has been designed perfectly with all the conditions necessary for me to develop these God like attributes.
THOUGHT PATTERN #5 - Using Enticements for Spiritual Growth
I am now learning how to see all things spiritually, while doing all things for Heavenly Father. I have found that spiritual strength that comes from all enticements. I now see them as opportunities to get me to choose between a temporal focus or a spiritual focus. Since I am practicing using enticements for a spiritual focus, I am enjoying each day more because I can see how the enticements are helping me to draw closer unto my Father in Heaven.
THOUGHT PATTERN #6 - How to be Thankful in my Adversities
This thought pattern is critical in helping me to always make the day worthwhile. If I am learning to see more and more things spiritually, and I have experienced the power from using enticements for spiritual growth, then I am ready to learn how to be thankful even in my adversities.
Our goal is to become steadfast in Christ. This is to see, think, feel & do what Christ would do in the same situation.
What some of the prophets have said concerning being thankful in all things.
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." (James 1:2)
"Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks waiting patiently on the Lord...and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord."
(D & C 98:1-3)
"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." (D & C 78:19)
"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church." (D & C 100:15)
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
"If thou art sorrowful, call on the Lord thy God with supplication, that your souls may be joyful... My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom. Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; For my Spirit is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite..."
(D & C 136:29-33)
"Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." (2 Nephi 2:2)
"If thou art called to pass through tribulation...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D & C 122:5-7)
"For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven. Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand." (D & C 58:2-4)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded, that...(nothing) shall be able to separate us from the love of God..." (Romans 8:35-39)
Brigham Young counseled: "By the natural mind we cannot see and understand the things of God, therefore we must then seek unto the Lord, and get His Spirit and the light thereof, to understand His will. And when He is calling us to pass through that which we call afflictions, trials, temptations & difficulties, did we possess the light of the Spirit, we would consider this the greatest blessing that could be bestowed upon us." (JD, p. 303)
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