How do you feel about your mistakes? Satan wants you to feel bad about your mistakes. Why? So you will stay temporally focused and go deeper into spiritual darkness.
Heavenly Father wants you to recognize that you made a mistake, (temporal focus) turn from that mistake and come unto Him. (spiritual focus) He wants you to recognize that the bad feelings you have are the result of making a mistake and going into spiritual darkness. THe solution is for one to repent & come into the light, where one can receive the gifts of forgiveness, peace, joy, & help.
How does one create worldly sorrow? By focusing on the mistake and feeling about it. (a temporal focus)
How does one create Godly sorrow? By repenting, which requires one to leave the mistake & turn unto God in the spiritual world. And by experiencing the power of the atonement, along with the mental & spiritual anguish for which the Savior went through to pay for the mistakes.
Worldy sorrow keeps one in spiritual darkness. By focusing on the mistake or sin, one will feel bad about the mistake, and then condemn himself for making the mistake. The prices one pays for staying in spiritual darkness are: *feeling worthless, *feeling like junk, *feeling guilty, *feelings of hopelessness, *not feeling like praying, going to church or reading the scriptures, *a need to have others make them feel of worth or value, *a need to avoid all light & truth, * and finally, a need to be left alone, where Satan's influence can be fully acceptable.
Godly sorrow comes from leaving the mistake & coming unto the spiritual world for help, relief & forgiveness. Repentance means to turn back to God & live. (Ezekiel 18:30-31) That is, one needs to recognize he is in spiritual darkness, then take the responsibility to get back into the light. Ask Heavenly Father for help, for forgiveness and for the strength to get back into the light & stay there. One needs to feel some of the pain that the Savior went through to pay for this sin. And he needs to feel the Savior's great love for him personally & to know that this is why the Savior went through the Atonement, for this very sin, for him.
Monday, April 13, 2009
ALMA"S PROCESS to become one with Christ EXERCISING MY FAITH TO KNOW THE SEED IS GOOD Thought Pattern #10
SEE AS HE SEES - Understanding the Truth:
a. For the next week, review this section on Godly Sorrow.
b. Review the life of the Savior & His purpose of coming to earth.
c. Experience emotionally some of what the Savior went through for you. The pain, the suffering & the love.
d. Understand vain regrets. Also how to feel good about your past sins.
THINK AS HE THINKS - Hold the truth in your mind by prayer, throughout the day
a. Focus on the atonement of Christ for each of the next seven days. Seek to increase your capacity for Godly sorrow. Godly Sorrow is a gift of the Spirit.
b. Think of your past sins. See & feel the sacrifice of the Savior paying for your them in full, so you can serve Him out of love. Your gift to the Master is to allow His atonement to pay for your sins in full. Vain regrets for past sins mean that the atonement of Christ is not sufficient to pay for your sins.
FEEL AS HE FEELS - Continue to pray about these truths until you receive a witness by the Spirit that each is good
a. "Father, help me this day to feel the power of the atonement. I am so grateful for what the Savior has gone through for me. So I may be free from my sins & walk in Thy path, and serve Thee. I fully trust in Thy gift unto me. Help me to feel this great love that Thou and the Savior have for me."
Sing throughout each day, "I stand all Amazed."
DO AS HE DOES - OUT OF THE LOVE FELT FOR HEAVENLY FATHER & THE SAVIOR
a. For the next week, review this section on Godly Sorrow.
b. Review the life of the Savior & His purpose of coming to earth.
c. Experience emotionally some of what the Savior went through for you. The pain, the suffering & the love.
d. Understand vain regrets. Also how to feel good about your past sins.
THINK AS HE THINKS - Hold the truth in your mind by prayer, throughout the day
a. Focus on the atonement of Christ for each of the next seven days. Seek to increase your capacity for Godly sorrow. Godly Sorrow is a gift of the Spirit.
b. Think of your past sins. See & feel the sacrifice of the Savior paying for your them in full, so you can serve Him out of love. Your gift to the Master is to allow His atonement to pay for your sins in full. Vain regrets for past sins mean that the atonement of Christ is not sufficient to pay for your sins.
FEEL AS HE FEELS - Continue to pray about these truths until you receive a witness by the Spirit that each is good
a. "Father, help me this day to feel the power of the atonement. I am so grateful for what the Savior has gone through for me. So I may be free from my sins & walk in Thy path, and serve Thee. I fully trust in Thy gift unto me. Help me to feel this great love that Thou and the Savior have for me."
Sing throughout each day, "I stand all Amazed."
DO AS HE DOES - OUT OF THE LOVE FELT FOR HEAVENLY FATHER & THE SAVIOR
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
THOUGHT PATTERN #5 PRAYER SAMPLES
-Father, I am grateful unto Thee, that Thou has given me my agency. Help me this day to take charge of what I think, what I feel & what I do.
-Father, I have given the power Thou has given me to (whom or what), help me to take it back. In fact, help me take back the power or agency from all people. I will give no one the power to judge me or decide my value or worth. For that is my job to create high value and worth within my temple. Only Thou can judge me, and Thou always does that with love and through chosen servants.
-Father, my son is late. Help me to focus spiritually, so my faith will be sufficient to bring him home safety. I choose to stay up until he gets home. I choose to use this time to grow spiritually. I use this time to be steadfast in Christ. Help me Father to overcome this problem. Thou hast given me this stewardship & I desire to fulfill it because I love Thee. The tiredness I am feeling, the long hours I must wait, the unfairness of his lateness, I am willing to suffer for Thee.
NOTE: The parent who chooses to focus temporally, will worry. How? He will see the son being kidnapped, on drugs, in a car accident, picked up by the police, etc... By the time the son gets home, he is an emotional wreck, and who gets all the blame? The son, for making him worry (DISOWNING). By the way, disowning is very hard some people to give up because it makes them responsible for what they do, think, and feel. But the good news is that when one take this power of agency back, Heavenly Father can now expand that power of agency to overcome all things.
What the Prophets say;
"But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ...Faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ is absolutely essential for us to maintain a balanced perspective through times of trial and difficulty."
(M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov 1992, pp. 32-33)
"After all, you have the right to make your own choices. That is correct. You have that right. It is your agency. The secret to solve problems in your life will be found in understanding and using the eternally beneficial interaction of your agency and His Truth... Simply state, one must use his energy to obey truth...Please understand that no one can change truth. Rationalization, overpowering self interest, akk of the arguments of men, anger, or self will cannot change truth. Satan knows that, so he tries to create an atmosphere where one unwittingly begins to feel that he can not only choose what to do, but can determine what is right to do. Satan strives to persuade us to live outside truth by rationalizing our actions as the right of choice. But our Heavenly Father defined truth and established what is right and wrong before the creation of this earth. He also fixed consequences of obedience and disobedience to those truths...Satan would try to persuade some to live without fixed standards in life so that decisions would be based on current circumstances, what appears convenient, or what provides the greatest personal return. In this way, Satan removes the power of truth from one's life so he can take that soul captive."
(Richard G. Scott, Nov 1992, pp. 60-62)
"We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask someone to define 'moral agency', the answer will probably be something like this; "Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself." Often overlooked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency offers the same privilege of choice to others. At times we will be affected adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency. Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he allows his children to exercise it, either for good or evil...
We mortals have a limited view of life from the eternal perspective. But if we know and understand Heavenly Father's plan, we realize that dealing with adversity is one of the chief ways we are tested. Our faith in our Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is the source of inner strength. Through faith we find peace, comfort, and the courage to endure. As we trust in God and His plan for our happiness with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding, hope is born. Hope grows out of faith and gives meaning and purpose to all we do. It can give us comfort in the face of adversity, strength in times of trials, and peace when we have reason for doubt or anguish."
(M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1995, pp. 23-24)
-Father, I have given the power Thou has given me to (whom or what), help me to take it back. In fact, help me take back the power or agency from all people. I will give no one the power to judge me or decide my value or worth. For that is my job to create high value and worth within my temple. Only Thou can judge me, and Thou always does that with love and through chosen servants.
-Father, my son is late. Help me to focus spiritually, so my faith will be sufficient to bring him home safety. I choose to stay up until he gets home. I choose to use this time to grow spiritually. I use this time to be steadfast in Christ. Help me Father to overcome this problem. Thou hast given me this stewardship & I desire to fulfill it because I love Thee. The tiredness I am feeling, the long hours I must wait, the unfairness of his lateness, I am willing to suffer for Thee.
NOTE: The parent who chooses to focus temporally, will worry. How? He will see the son being kidnapped, on drugs, in a car accident, picked up by the police, etc... By the time the son gets home, he is an emotional wreck, and who gets all the blame? The son, for making him worry (DISOWNING). By the way, disowning is very hard some people to give up because it makes them responsible for what they do, think, and feel. But the good news is that when one take this power of agency back, Heavenly Father can now expand that power of agency to overcome all things.
What the Prophets say;
"But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ...Faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ is absolutely essential for us to maintain a balanced perspective through times of trial and difficulty."
(M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov 1992, pp. 32-33)
"After all, you have the right to make your own choices. That is correct. You have that right. It is your agency. The secret to solve problems in your life will be found in understanding and using the eternally beneficial interaction of your agency and His Truth... Simply state, one must use his energy to obey truth...Please understand that no one can change truth. Rationalization, overpowering self interest, akk of the arguments of men, anger, or self will cannot change truth. Satan knows that, so he tries to create an atmosphere where one unwittingly begins to feel that he can not only choose what to do, but can determine what is right to do. Satan strives to persuade us to live outside truth by rationalizing our actions as the right of choice. But our Heavenly Father defined truth and established what is right and wrong before the creation of this earth. He also fixed consequences of obedience and disobedience to those truths...Satan would try to persuade some to live without fixed standards in life so that decisions would be based on current circumstances, what appears convenient, or what provides the greatest personal return. In this way, Satan removes the power of truth from one's life so he can take that soul captive."
(Richard G. Scott, Nov 1992, pp. 60-62)
"We tend to think of agency as a personal matter. If we ask someone to define 'moral agency', the answer will probably be something like this; "Moral agency means I am free to make choices for myself." Often overlooked is the fact that choices have consequences; we forget also that agency offers the same privilege of choice to others. At times we will be affected adversely by the way other people choose to exercise their agency. Our Heavenly Father feels so strongly about protecting our agency that he allows his children to exercise it, either for good or evil...
We mortals have a limited view of life from the eternal perspective. But if we know and understand Heavenly Father's plan, we realize that dealing with adversity is one of the chief ways we are tested. Our faith in our Heavenly Father and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is the source of inner strength. Through faith we find peace, comfort, and the courage to endure. As we trust in God and His plan for our happiness with all our hearts and lean not unto our own understanding, hope is born. Hope grows out of faith and gives meaning and purpose to all we do. It can give us comfort in the face of adversity, strength in times of trials, and peace when we have reason for doubt or anguish."
(M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 1995, pp. 23-24)
HEAVENLY FATHER HAS GIVEN ME THE POWER TO CHOOSE WHAT I THINK, WHAT I FEEL AND WHAT I DO
Man is free because of several conditions, which Lehi reviews in 2 Nephi 2:26-29. He teaches that man is free because he has been redeemed from the fall and he knows the difference between good & evil. This freedom provides one:
1. The power to choose
2. The power to act
3. The power to know good from evil, light from darkness
Therefore, man is free to become spiritually centered or temporally centered. One can overcome this world, master the body, and qualify for the riches of eternity. But there is one big problem. Satan. He fought agency in the pre-existence, and he is fighting it here. How does he do it?
One of the most effective ways to get each of us to give up this power of agency, is to DISOWN. Disowning is making something or someone else responsible for what I think, how I feel& what I do in the current moment of time. I use blaming or labeling to accomplish disownership.
Example:
1. Traffic makes me this mad.
2. My five children cause me to yell.
3. My parents did the same I do.
4. It's the IRS that makes me mad.
5. I do not feel accepted by the ward.
6. Food makes me do it.
7. I just cannot save money.
8. I will never make it to the Celestial Kingdom.
Why is disowning so popular? Because it allows the participant the opportunity to do nothing. His solution is to get others to change so he can feel better without any effort on his/her part. He has given his power of agency to others, to make him happy. The mother will say, "I will sure be glad when Mary gets her grades back up, then I won't have all this stress." She has given her daughter the power to produce stress in her temple. WHICH IS A LIE. The mother is using the daughter's poor performance to produce stress withing her temple, which is spiritual darkness. She does this by focusing on the daughter's poor performance, which is temporal.
1. The power to choose
2. The power to act
3. The power to know good from evil, light from darkness
Therefore, man is free to become spiritually centered or temporally centered. One can overcome this world, master the body, and qualify for the riches of eternity. But there is one big problem. Satan. He fought agency in the pre-existence, and he is fighting it here. How does he do it?
One of the most effective ways to get each of us to give up this power of agency, is to DISOWN. Disowning is making something or someone else responsible for what I think, how I feel& what I do in the current moment of time. I use blaming or labeling to accomplish disownership.
Example:
1. Traffic makes me this mad.
2. My five children cause me to yell.
3. My parents did the same I do.
4. It's the IRS that makes me mad.
5. I do not feel accepted by the ward.
6. Food makes me do it.
7. I just cannot save money.
8. I will never make it to the Celestial Kingdom.
Why is disowning so popular? Because it allows the participant the opportunity to do nothing. His solution is to get others to change so he can feel better without any effort on his/her part. He has given his power of agency to others, to make him happy. The mother will say, "I will sure be glad when Mary gets her grades back up, then I won't have all this stress." She has given her daughter the power to produce stress in her temple. WHICH IS A LIE. The mother is using the daughter's poor performance to produce stress withing her temple, which is spiritual darkness. She does this by focusing on the daughter's poor performance, which is temporal.
**ALL SOLUTIONS TO ALL PROBLEMS ARE FOUND IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD**
The mother tells herself that she is responsible for Mary's poor grades, and a good LDS mother wouldn't have these kinds of problems. All of which are lies. How can one tell? The Holy Ghost does not confirm these statements. What could the mother do to remove the stress? She could go to the spiritual world and seek divine guidance (help). She could review the plan of salvation each morning, pray, read scriptures, and seek spiritual enlightenment until she felt the Spirit. This would confirm that she still is in the strait & narrow path, clean & forgiven, & still a candidate for the Celestial Kingdom. Now that she has hope to be raised up unto Eternal Life, she is prepared to seek divine help with her stewardship to help her daughter, on Heavenly Father & Heavenly Mothers behalf, about her power of agency which can produce results that will bring happiness. She now sees this situation as her opportunity to be steadfast in Christ & practice overcoming the world.
Another example of using one's agency to focus spiritually
Another person who would get mad in traffic, when other drivers would pull in front of him or turn & not signal, or drive too close, or drive too fast, decided to overcome his problem. First, he recognized that he was giving his power of agency to other drivers. Next, he recognized that these drivers were only giving him enticements to see if he would react or respond. He decided to respond. How did he do it?
Whenever a driver enticed him, he would thank Heavenly Father for the reminder, then he would mentally go into the Garden of Gethsemane & feel the sacrifice of the Savior paying for his mistakes, and ask God to help him love the Savior's sacrifice more than the act of the driver. Her heart soften and tears would come to his eyes. He was lucky because he lived around a lot of drivers that would help him go the Garden of Gethsemane. He said that he grew spiritually every time he would drive the car. He felt he had learned how to use the enticements of this world to grow spiritually, and he had learned how to make progress in overcoming this world. One who disowns, would honk, yell, etc... trying to get the other person to change so they could feel better.
-One driver said he overcame the same problem by just picturing the Savior in each car. The Savior had the right of way any time He wanted.
THOUGHT PATTERN #2 PRAYER SAMPLES
-Father, I am Thy son/daughter, born & reared in the courts of glory. I know Thou lovest me with perfect love. Help me feel Thy love this day, as I value myself as Thou valuest me.
-Father in Heaven, help me to feel my great worth this day. I know that it is my responsibility to value myself as Thou valuest me. I know that only I can determine what will become dominant within my temple. I know that as I hold the truth that I am Thy child, that I am born & reared in Thy courts of glory, with Thy help I can make these feelings dominant.
-I know that that Thou lovest me beyond any measure. It is y responsibility to feel Thy love for me, moment by moment, for Thou never stoppeth loving me. Thy love for me is not based upon what I do, what I say, what I think, or how I feel. It is perfect love. I accept full responsibility to feel my great worth & sustain very high self esteem within me.
-I know that I am born & reared in Thy courts of glory, by Thee 7 Heavenly Mother, that I am a noble, faithful spirit. I was faithful in the pre-existance & was given the right & privilege to come unto this earth life in this most glorious age in the history of man upon the earth. I was not sent to this earth to prove my worth, but to feel my great worth as Thy son.
-I know Thou art my Father. I know that Thou lovest me. I know that Thou & Heavenly Mother value me beyond any measure. I know that Thou hast given me my eternal intelligence spirit form, just as my earthly mother & father have given me a mortal body. I know that I am unique, one of a kind, made of eternal intelligence which gives me a claim upon eternal life.
-Help me Father to see myself & my family with my spiritual eyes, to see their greatness, to see their godliness, to see them in Thy presence. As I feel Thy perfect love for me, I will be able to feel Thy perfect love for them. As I treat myself with awe 7 respect, I will be able to treat my family with awe & respect.
-I see all others as great spiritual beings, born & reared in the courts of glory by Thee & Heavenly Mother. These feelings are sustained not by what they do, nor by what they say, nor by how they treat me, but by my knowledge & testimony of who they are & what they can become, if they so choose. I know that most people act contrary to their true identity, but I know who they are & what their destiny can be. I treat all people, including myself, as Thou wouldst have me do according to our true identity, and not how they treat themselves nor how they treat me.
-Father in Heaven, help me to feel my great worth this day. I know that it is my responsibility to value myself as Thou valuest me. I know that only I can determine what will become dominant within my temple. I know that as I hold the truth that I am Thy child, that I am born & reared in Thy courts of glory, with Thy help I can make these feelings dominant.
-I know that that Thou lovest me beyond any measure. It is y responsibility to feel Thy love for me, moment by moment, for Thou never stoppeth loving me. Thy love for me is not based upon what I do, what I say, what I think, or how I feel. It is perfect love. I accept full responsibility to feel my great worth & sustain very high self esteem within me.
-I know that I am born & reared in Thy courts of glory, by Thee 7 Heavenly Mother, that I am a noble, faithful spirit. I was faithful in the pre-existance & was given the right & privilege to come unto this earth life in this most glorious age in the history of man upon the earth. I was not sent to this earth to prove my worth, but to feel my great worth as Thy son.
-I know Thou art my Father. I know that Thou lovest me. I know that Thou & Heavenly Mother value me beyond any measure. I know that Thou hast given me my eternal intelligence spirit form, just as my earthly mother & father have given me a mortal body. I know that I am unique, one of a kind, made of eternal intelligence which gives me a claim upon eternal life.
-Help me Father to see myself & my family with my spiritual eyes, to see their greatness, to see their godliness, to see them in Thy presence. As I feel Thy perfect love for me, I will be able to feel Thy perfect love for them. As I treat myself with awe 7 respect, I will be able to treat my family with awe & respect.
-I see all others as great spiritual beings, born & reared in the courts of glory by Thee & Heavenly Mother. These feelings are sustained not by what they do, nor by what they say, nor by how they treat me, but by my knowledge & testimony of who they are & what they can become, if they so choose. I know that most people act contrary to their true identity, but I know who they are & what their destiny can be. I treat all people, including myself, as Thou wouldst have me do according to our true identity, and not how they treat themselves nor how they treat me.
**HOW I FEEL ABOUT OTHERS IS ONLY A REFLECTION OF HOW I FEEL ABOUT MYSELF**
HIGH FEELINGS OF SELF WORTH
What is your main source for feelings of self worth? Are your sources from the temporal or spiritual world? Review the list below to see if you are using these sources for your feelings of self worth.
A. Performance:
1. I feel of greater worth when I:
-lost weight, keep the commandments, my children do well, my marriage is going well.
2. I fee somewhat worthless when I:
-I gain weight, break the commandments, my children get kicked out of school, or when my marriage is not doing well.
B. Possessions:
1. I feel of greater worth when my:
-Home & car is as good as my friends, my bills are being paid, my clothes are as nice if not better than others.
2. I feel of lesser value when my:
-Friends can pay their bills & live in a much better home, my car keeps breaking down, and my clothes are always the same.
C. Opinions:
1. I feel I have greater worth when:
-Others praise me, recognize what I do, like my new outfit, accept me just the way I am, appreciate the effort I am making.
2. I feels of lesser value when:
-No one recognizes what I do, as if I do not count nor exist. No one accepts my opinions, and everyone wants me to be different.
D. Honors:
1. I feel of greater worth when:
-I am called into leadership positions, I finish my degree(s) & people look up to my job.
2. I feel of lesser value because:
-I never finish my degree. They keep diving the ward, and I am never called to leadership positions. My occupation is not respected.
A. Performance:
1. I feel of greater worth when I:
-lost weight, keep the commandments, my children do well, my marriage is going well.
2. I fee somewhat worthless when I:
-I gain weight, break the commandments, my children get kicked out of school, or when my marriage is not doing well.
B. Possessions:
1. I feel of greater worth when my:
-Home & car is as good as my friends, my bills are being paid, my clothes are as nice if not better than others.
2. I feel of lesser value when my:
-Friends can pay their bills & live in a much better home, my car keeps breaking down, and my clothes are always the same.
C. Opinions:
1. I feel I have greater worth when:
-Others praise me, recognize what I do, like my new outfit, accept me just the way I am, appreciate the effort I am making.
2. I feels of lesser value when:
-No one recognizes what I do, as if I do not count nor exist. No one accepts my opinions, and everyone wants me to be different.
D. Honors:
1. I feel of greater worth when:
-I am called into leadership positions, I finish my degree(s) & people look up to my job.
2. I feel of lesser value because:
-I never finish my degree. They keep diving the ward, and I am never called to leadership positions. My occupation is not respected.
** ALL THE ABOVE SOURCES CREATE A DEPENDENCY UPON THE TEMPORAL WORLD FOR YOUR FEELINGS OF SELF WORTH, AND THUS CREATE LOW FEELINGS OF SELF WORTH**
****************************************************************************
THE MAIN SOURCE FOR HIGH FEELINGS OF SELF WORTH COMES FROM THE SPIRITUAL WORLD, AND IS FOUNDED UPON TWO CONCEPTS
SPIRITUAL WORTH means for one to value himself as he is valued by his eternal parents and his Elder Brother, Jesus Christ.
(RSC 1980-1981, pg. 140)
SPIRITUAL PERFORMANCE occurs when one centers his heart & mind upon Heavenly Father & serves Him with all his soul.
One's performance determines which kingdom he will spend in eternity, and has nothing to do with his worth. Heavenly Father loves him with perfect love, it never varies. It is never based upon performance, for it is perfect love. One performs to glorify his Father in Heaven. One performs to qualify for His divine grace, his divine assistance. One performs to qualify for His Spirit, and for the riches of eternity. One never uses the good feelings of performance to honor oneself (glorify self). If he does, the Savior says, "you have your reward." When one performs out of the love he feels for Heavenly Father, the act is written in the book of life, if he is on the straight & narrow path. When one performs to create feelings of self worth, the act is not recorded in the book of life.
When a person gets good feelings or bad feelings from the temporal world (through performances, opinions of others, possessions, & from the honors of men) he never uses them to determine his worth. These feelings are conditional and if he uses them to create feelings of self worth, then he is choosing to accept the world's position on worth, that is conditional, and not choosing to accept Heavenly father's position on worth, that one's worth is unconditional.
Spiritual performance is essential for one to create high feelings of self worth, since this type of performance is necessary for one to have the Spirit. And the Holy Ghost is the source that witnesses to him of who he is and how God values him. One must be in the light in order to feel God's perfect love, & keeping the commandments is how one stays in the light.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)