Move Forward in Faith

 

My friend shared this with me in the weekly e-mail that all missionaries tend to send out Although this is just the summary and not the actual devotional, I still thought it emphasized good points and wanted to share it. This has always been a big thing to me – moving forward in faith. Many people now a days seem to become scared by what’s ahead, and always afraid to take the next step. I know I’ve been there before…but I try not to live my life that way at all anymore. I move forward in faith, trusting that God will guide me, and so far with everything in my life, he has. When it’s wrong, he’s changed my path. When it’s right, he’s let me continue forward. But it’s all about us making the decision, going forth, and asking for God’s confirmation – not waiting for God to tell us what to do.

This is a lesson I’ve definitely had to learn. Many times have I prayed and prayed and prayed, and fasted and attended the temple in attempt to gain answers to my prayers about certain aspects of my life – such as which college to go to or where to work, who to date, etc. But in trial and error, I’ve learned that God isn’t simply going to tell us how to live our lives. What’s the point of having choice and free agency if he’s going to do that? The thing to remember is there are many paths we can take – and there may be many that would be WONDERFUL for us. But God isn’t going to tell us which one will be best and which will be worst – sometimes there isn’t a best one and any of the paths will work. It’s our choice what WE want to do and what path WE want to take. That isn’t to say keep God out of it, of course not. But it’s making a decision, going forward in faith, and trusting that God will guide you – if it’s wrong, He’ll let us know, as He has to me in many cases. If it’s right, there are different ways of Him letting us know –such as things will simply work out as they are supposed to – there won’t necessarily be any revelation or confirmation of the spirit, simply God will provide our way. In other cases, however, there will be small confirmations, and sometimes revelation if needed.

So I guess here is what I’m trying to get at: don’t get hung up on waiting for God to tell you what to do. And don’t get hung up on waiting for God to give you a definite answer. In some cases, yes, that does happen, but more often, that won’t happen. He will guide us in small, simple ways. He wants us to choose our paths for ourselves – and He will be our counselor, there to guide us through whichever path we take.

Anyway, sorry to get off on that little tangent. Here’s the article:

 

BYU-Hawaii devotional: Move forward in faith

By Jessica Black
Church News staff writer

Published: Tuesday, May 24, 2011

LAIE, HAWAII

Elder Brent H. Nielson of the First Quorum of the Seventy and first counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency spoke to BYU-Hawaii students in a devotional May 24, encouraging them about not getting stuck in the "roundabouts" of life.
Elder Nielson likened the roundabouts common at New Zealand intersections to the decisions in our daily life that cause members to get "stuck" and makes it hard for them to see what path they should take. He described five different "roundabouts" that members often find themselves trapped in.
The first roundabout is when they forget who they are and what Elder Nielson said was their "failure to understand their divine identity."
Elder Nielson said, "In all of your learning, understand that the most brilliant minds of our day are only discovering and inventing what God already knows and has created."
He went on to explain that throughout all of God's knowledge, and all that He has power over, He created man as His most prized and divine creation. He reminded students that even though man has achieved great and magnificent inventions, they should not to fall into thinking that there is no longer a need for God. He emphasized that everything surrounding them constantly testifies of God including our own existence.
The second roundabout he described is the "roundabout of sin." He encouraged the assembly to overcome sin and move forward with faith in Christ. He explained that in order to do this, they must do the things the Savior has done and submit their own will to His.
"The Savior does not want us to sit trapped by our sins," Elder Nielson said. "When we do that we miss the indescribable joy and happiness that the Atonement can bring to us."
The third roundabout he covered was the decision to serve a honorable full-time mission. He stressed that missions serve to change and help the lives of others, as well as the lives of the missionaries. Using his own experience, he told members how in his own mission to Finland, he became one of the converts and learned for himself that the Church was true.
He testified that the Lord will send missionaries to missions that are specifically tailored for them where they can learn and develop the skill necessary to become a good husband, wife, parent, and an "outstanding member of the Church."
Elder Nielson said, "The Lord needs you on a mission, but perhaps even more important you need a mission for yourself."
The fourth roundabout he mentioned was marriage and how many young single adults find themselves trapped by a world that encourages young them to get their education before they marry. He stressed that these ideas are not God's and that it is within marriage that happiness is found. He said members must not let education or other worldly pursuits come before the marriage step.
The fifth and final roundabout that he spoke on was deciding upon one's future occupation and education. He encouraged the students to simply find something that interests them and move forward in faith. He promised that as this is done, even though they might not end up in the same department they started in, as they move forward in faith new doors will open, and opportunities will present themselves.
He closed by reminding members of the audience that if they follow the commandments, the Lord is bound to bless them and help them in anyway He can. He said if they want the help of the Lord, they simply need to keep His commandments and move forward in faith