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Spiritual well-being involves finding
and achieving meaning, vision, and value in life. It is discovering
who we are and what we can be. It involves building our relationship
with God, acquiring His characteristics and learning His ways. As
Heavenly Father’s children we are to grow and develop to be more and
more like Him. As we learn the laws (principles) upon which
blessings are predicated, all of the world’s abundance become more
and more available to us and others.
There is a law, irrevocably
decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which
all blessings are predicated – and when we obtain any blessing from
God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.
(D&C 130:20-21)
We need to view and plan our lives
through spiritual eyes in order to see everything in correct
perspective.
Wherefore, verily I say unto
you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have
I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the
children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created. (D &
C 29:34)
As stated by Paul in Romans 14:17 For
the kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Jesus came to earth to show us
how to do this. As we study the life of Jesus Christ and seek his
guidance, we become more and more like him, and he is like the
Father. Paul wrote that we can grow step by step toward our desired
likeness to Jesus Christ.
... we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the
same image from glory to glory. Even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
We are to seek the kingdom of God, but
the kingdom is not somewhere outside of us we can travel to. It is
has to be built step by step within us:
Luke 17:20-21 And when he was
demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he
answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo there! For
behold the kingdom of God is within you.
We wish to return to Heavenly Father and
live in his presence, but to do so we have to have His kingdom built
within us. Think of the joy of living with God and His other
children who have all established the kingdom of God within them.
Think of the joy on this earth of living with others as they more
establish their inner kingdoms of God. What could be more important
for you and your loved ones this year! What about material and
temporal things? They will be added to you.
Let’s talk awhile about how hard you
should try to enter into His Kingdom. In Matthew 7:7 the Lord says
concerning seeking the kingdom: Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.
At first, I thought these were three separate things, but as I
examined the topical guide for ask, seek, and knock I found
all three referred to the same thing. Then it dawned on me. The Lord
was using the Jewish language and culture to emphasize how hard he
wanted us to try. In the Jewish language and culture they didn’t use
our word forms like good, better, and best to indicate relative
values. They simply repeated what they wanted emphasized three
times. For example, Holy, Holy, Holy meant not just Holy, not just
better than Holy, but total complete Holy. When Moroni visited
Joseph Smith in his bedroom he came 3 times and repeated the same
message each time. This meant his message was not just important,
not just more important than that, but it was totally important to
the utmost degree.
So, let us assume you are at the door of
the Kingdom and you wish to enter. You are to ask, seek, and knock.
In other words, you are not just to try to enter, you are not just
to try better and harder than that, but you are to try your total
best without reservation. You might role play this. Knock on a door
as if you meant it. Now, knock on the door even more forcefully. The
third time, knock on the door with your utmost force and intent and
don’t stop.
Now, for the beautiful part. As you are
knocking on the door with your total utmost to be let into the
Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ is on the other side of door knocking
for you.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at
the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I
will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
There is space on each calendar month
with the words: ask & receive – seek & find – knock & enter.
Use this space to ask questions you want answered or for direction
in your life.
Notice that Sunday Spiritual
Refreshment is the largest day space on the calendar. That is
because it is the most important day of the week. Success on
Sunday not only gives you the Lord’s refreshment, but the
perspective to lead you through the rest of the week. Plan carefully
how you can truly make Sunday the Lord’s Day.
You will also notice one character trait
listed each week you may want to consider appreciating and
strengthening in your own life and within your family. That could be
your theme for the week.
The
"2007" Spiritual Calendar |
