Five Messages for All of God’s Children
If you desire it, God will guide you as you love Him with all your heart and strive to bless others.
Each of us is unique and has been shaped by a distinctive set of experiences. We also have one most significant attribute in common—we all are God’s children.
Though our circumstances may be different, there are certain messages that all of God’s children need to hear. I’d like to share five of these messages with you—messages I hope you will feel are for your individual circumstances and situations in life, given through the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, just for you.
1. Move Toward the Light
The sun never changes its course. It holds its position, steadfast in the heavens, providing warmth and light to the earth.
Similarly, God is in His heavens. He never changes or alters His course, but we do.
We all need God’s light in our lives, and yet we all have periods of time when we feel that we are in darkness. When those times come, be assured that God, like the sun, is always there. When you turn your heart to Him, He will embrace you and fill your soul with light, warmth, knowledge, and guidance. He is always there.
2. You Are Better than You Think You Are
The Lord has always used the small and weak things of the world to bring about His glorious purposes. He often accomplishes the most with those who feel the least accomplished.
Perhaps, you may see yourself as a little less than you are. Unworthy. Untalented. Nothing special. Lacking the heart, mind, resources, charisma, or stature to be of much use to God.
You say you’re not perfect? You’re not good enough? Well, welcome to the club! You may be just the person God is looking for.
For “what is impossible with man is possible with God.”
God will take your talents and abilities and multiply them—even though they may seem as scarce as a few loaves and fishes. If you trust Him and are faithful, He will magnify your words and actions and use them to bless and minister to multitudes!
God does not need people who are flawless. He seeks those who will offer their “heart and a willing mind,” and He will make them “perfect in Christ.”
3. Learn to Love God and Your Neighbor
When a Pharisee asked Jesus which was the greatest of the commandments, the Savior established once and for all what our priorities as individuals and as a Church should be:
When we meet the Savior at the judgment bar, we will account for how we lived the two great commandments.
Did we truly seek God? Did we love Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength?
Did we love our families, friends, and neighbors? How did we manifest that love?
We must always remember that “all the law and the prophets” point to the two great commandments.
This is the bull’s-eye of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the foundation of who we are as His followers.
4. Conflict Is Inevitable and Contention Is a Choice
Sometimes you may think how pleasant life would be if only there was not so much opposition, but conflict is inevitable. It is a condition of mortality and part of our test. Contention, however, is a choice. It is one way that some people choose to respond to conflict.
Our world overflows with contention. We have 24/7 access to it: on the news, on social media, and even, at times, in our relationships with those we love.
We cannot adjust the volume on others’ bitterness, wrath, or rage. We can, however, choose our response. We can choose a better way—the Lord’s way! Of course this is easy to say and difficult to do.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we follow His example. We do not shame or attack others. We seek to love God and serve our neighbors. We seek to joyfully keep God’s commandments and live by gospel principles. And we invite others to do the same.
We cannot force anyone to change. But we can love them. We can be an example of what the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. We can invite all to come and belong. And we do that through learning to love God and reaching out to bless others.
The Way, by Jeanette Borup
5. Our Heavenly Father Is a God of New Beginnings
As long as we mortals live on this wonderful and beautiful planet, we will make mistakes.
This is not a surprise to God.
He sent His Only Begotten Son to live a perfect life and make a grand, eternal sacrifice that cleanses us from sin and opens the door to holiness, peace, and glory throughout eternity as we repent, change our ways, and have faith in Him.
Our Heavenly Father is the God of new beginnings. Just as each sunrise signals the beginning of a new day, each time you repent, you make a fresh start on your path of discipleship. You can begin again. Over and over, day after day, you can begin again.
No matter your shortcomings, no matter your flaws, God can heal, inspire, and cleanse you. For He is the God of new beginnings.
My dear friend, I pray that you may find hope, strength, and joy in your journey, that you may find God and love Him with all your heart, and that you may strive to bless the lives of others.