Reflections

I was pondering in Sacrament Meeting on the Savior and it occurred to me how he has always done the Father's will.  Beginning in the pre-mortal life, it was the Father's will he chose to follow as he accepted the calling to be our Savior; he created the Earth following exactly the Father's instructions and will; he lived his life on earth according to the Father's will, shared his gospel by the will of the Father, in the sacred act of the atonement, though he asked for the bitter cup to pass from him, he said "Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done".  In death and resurrection he did the Father's will, and even now.  And if we are following Christ's example, we must also do the Father's will for us.

"As we do what He would have us do for His Father's children, the Lord considers it kindness to Him, and we feel closer to Him as we feel His love and His approval.  In time we will become like Him..." Elder Bednar.

I have the blessing and opportunity to teach the 4th Sunday Relief Society lessons (based off Conference talks), which is so good for me because I rarely make it through all my classes with Miss Myra.  She is getting very distracting even when she's happy.  So its good for me to study a lesson and be able to stay the full class to hear everyone's comments and have light shed on whatever subject through different view points.  I've been contemplating this idea of doing the Father's will, and the most recent lessons I've taught also touch on this idea.

We often talk about praying for God's will to be done.  So my prayers often go something like this, "bless that thy will be done, BUT PLEASE don't let anything happen to my husband, or my kids, or my husbands job..."

(That's where these conference talks come in. . . )  President Monson says that "joy comes as we recognize that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer and that those prayers will be heard and answered—perhaps not how and when we expected they would be answered, but they will be answered and by a Heavenly Father who knows and loves us perfectly and who desires our happiness."

Knowing that God knows the full span of things, he know what is coming up for me, he knows me better even than I know myself, and that he desires my happiness... I can fully pray "THY WILL be done" without worrying about the trials that prayer may bring upon my family, without  expecting blessings on my time table or giving limitations, because in Elder Bednar's words "His time should be soon enough for us since we know that HE WANTS ONLY WHAT IS BEST."

He loves me, he knows what is best for me, he desires my happiness, (and he does for every person) so that is enough.  It should always be enough, I need to always remember.

President Monson gave his testimony that "the Lord is in all of our lives.  He loves us.  He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help.  As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us."

I think that is such a beautiful thought!

References: "Where is the Pavilion?" by Elder Bednar.
"Consider the Blessings" by President Monson
Luke 22:42