Abound with Blessings
Most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ.
Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ desire to bless each of us. The question of blessings CL: list obtain how? has been the topic of many years religion debate and discussion for centuries. Some comment blessings receive must earn, we receive blesings CL:list how? Our works. Other believe God finish decided those(point) blessings. Others not, already decide. Change can’t, finish. Both opinion - perspective are fundamentally flawed. Blessings from heaven are neither earned by intensely receiving “good deed coupons,” nor by helplessly waiting to see if we win the blessing lottery. No, the truth has different meaning but more appropriate for the relationship between a loving Heavenly Father and His potential heirs—us. Restored truth reveals that blessings earned never, but we action faith-inspired actions on our part, beginning and continuing, both important.
Happen we consider blessings from God receive how, allow us think of heavenly blessings same as wood pile massive. Imagine at the center a small mound of sticks use for start a fire, topped by a layer of wood chips. Sticks come next, then small logs, and finally huge logs. This woodpile contains an enormous amount of fuel (potential), wood pile light can also many days heat. Imagine next to the woodpile a single match, the kind with a phosphorus tip.
For the energy in the woodpile to be released, the match needs to be struck and the kindling lit. The kindling will quickly catch fire and cause the larger pieces of wood to burn. Once this combustion reaction starts, it continues until all the wood is burned or the fire is run-out of fs: o-x-y-g-e-n, oxygen.
Striking the match and lighting the kindling are small actions that allow the potential energy of the wood to be released. Understand regardless of the size of the woodpile, if match strike none, nothing happens,. If the match is struck but not applied to the kindling, the amount of light and heat released from the match alone is small (no big deal) and the combustion energy in the wood remains unreleased. If oxygen none, the combustion reaction stops.
In a similar way, most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is a principle of action and of power. First we act with faith, finish power happens—depend God’s want also his time. The sequence is very important. The required action is always tiny when compared to the blessings we eventually receive will.
Remember long time ago bible, the ancient Israelites on their way to the promised land happened fiery flying serpents came. The poisonous serpent bite incredible, die can. Understand person finish bit healed can, how? Moses set up pole CL:f brass serpent they look, heal. How much energy does it take to look at something? All themselves looked, heaven open and they were healed. Other Israelites who were bitten failed to look at the brazen serpent and died. Perhaps they lacked the faith to look. Perhaps they did not believe that such a simple action could start process the promised healing. Or perhaps they willfully hardened their hearts and rejected the counsel of God’s prophet.
The principle of activating blessings that flow from God is eternal. ancient Israelites, same as we must act on our faith in Jesus Christ get blessed. God finish revealed that “long-ago here world form, before\\ have law, finish establish there heaven, cant change. That law decide how cl:list blessings+ give-out. Happen God give-us variety blessing, how receive? That depend obedience > point law.” However, you earn a blessing, not; that idea is false but you must qualify to get blessing. Our salvation happen only with the good qualities and Jesus Christ his grace. The immensity of His atoning sacrifice means that the woodpile is infinite; our puny actions compare to his great sacrifice cant Understand they are no big deal, and they are not insignificant; in the dark, a match that is light can be seen for miles. in heaven light can see also why? simple acts of faith are required God’s promises - to start.
To receive a desired blessing from God, act with faith, striking the metaphorical match on which the heavenly blessing is dependent. For example, prayer reason? is to receive blessings that God himself willing to give but only give if we ask for them. Alma, for example, cried out for mercy and his pains resolved; he was no longer harrowed up by the memory of his sins. His joy overwhelmed his pain—all because he cried out with faith in Jesus Christ. The activation energy “match” needed for us is to have enough faith in Christ to sincerely ask God in prayer and accept His will and timing for the answer.
Often, the activation energy needed for blessings requires more than just looking or asking; ongoing, repeated, faith-filled actions are required. In the middle of the 19th century, Brigham Young command a group of Latter-day Saints to explore and settle Arizona, an dry region in North America. Finish arrive Arizona, the group water ran out and they feared die will They pled with God for help. Soon, rain and snow fell, allowing them to fill their barrels with water and provide for their livestock. Grateful and refreshed, they returned to Salt Lake City rejoicing in the goodness of God. Happen they returned, they inform and explain the details of their journey to Brigham Young and pronounced their decision that Arizona was uninhabitable.
Brigham Young listen report finish asked a man in the room what he thought about the journey his experience and the miracle. That man, Daniel W. Jones, answered, “myself would have filled up, went on, and prayed again.” Brother Brigham put his hand on Brother Jones and said, “This is the man that will take care of the next trip to Arizona.”
We can all remember times when we have continued on no matter difficult and prayed again—and blessings happened. The experiences from Michael and Marian Holmes demonstrates these principles. Michael and I served together as Area Seventies. when he was called on to pray in our meetings I was always thrilled why his deep spirituality easy recognize; himself finish knew how to speak with God. I loved to hear him pray. Early in their marriage, though, Michael and Marian were not praying or attending church. They were busy with three little children and a successful construction company. Michael feel himself religious man not. One evening in 1963, their bishop came to their home and encouraged them to begin praying.
After the bishop left, Michael and Marian decided that they would try to pray. Before going to bed, they knelt at their bedside, and, uncomfortably, Michael began. After a few awkward words of prayer, Michael abruptly stopped, saying, “Marian, I can’t do this.” Happen he stood and began walking away, Marian, grabbed him by the hand, dragged him back to his knees, and said, “Mike, you pray can. Try again!” With this encouragement, Michael finished a short prayer.
Michael and Marian began to pray regularly. neighbor’s invitation to attend church they accept Happen they walked into the chapel and heard the opening hymn, the Spirit whispered to them, “This is true.” Later, without being asked or noticed by other people, Michael helped haul some trash from the meetinghouse. Happen he dropped off trash, he felt a strong impression, “This is My house.”
Michael and Marian Church callings accept and served in their ward and stake. They were sealed to each other and their three children. They had more children, bringing the total to twelve. Those two served as mission president and companion—twice.
The first prayer awkward was no big deal but faith-filled action that start the blessings of heaven. Those two attending church and serving faith increase little by little. Their dedicated discipleship over the years has led to a raging inferno that inspires to this day.
A fire, however, must receive a constant supply of oxygen for the wood to ultimately release its full potential. Same demonstrated by Michael and Marian Holmes, faith in Christ requires ongoing action for the blaze to continue. Small actions support our ability to walk along the covenant path and lead to the greatest blessings God can offer. But faith continues to grow only if we figuratively keep moving our feet. Sometimes we need to make a bow and arrow before revelation comes related where we should search for food. Sometimes we need to make tools before revelations come as to how to build a ship. Sometimes, at the direction of the Lord’s prophet, we need to bake a small cake from the little oil and flour we have to receive an unfailing pot of oil and barrel of flour. And sometimes we need to “be still and know that [God is] God,” and trust in His timing.
When you receive any blessing from God, you can understand that you have act related to an eternal law acted in accordance of that blessing. But remember that the “irrevocably decreed” law is his time not our time, meaning blessings happen God’s his time. Same ancient prophets in search of their heavenly home “died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off … were persuaded … and embraced them.” If a desired blessing from God has not been received—yet—you do not need to worry, stress, wondering what more you need to do. Instead, heed Joseph Smith’s counsel to “cheerfully do all things that lie in [your] power; and then … stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the … arm [of God] … revealed.” Some blessings are received later, even for the most valiant of God’s children.
Six months ago, new program/curriculum introduce: Church centered home, Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and help strengthen individuals and families. President Russell M. Nelson finish promise the changes can help us continue strong spiritually, gospel joy increase, our conversion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ also increase++. Understand get these blessings, up to us. Each of us responsible to open and study Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, along with the scriptures and other Come, Follow Me material. We need to discuss them with our family and friends and organize our Sabbath day to light a metaphorical fire. Or we can leave the resources sitting in a pile in our homes with the potential energy trapped inside.
I invite you to faithfully activate heavenly power to receive specific blessings from God. Exercise the faith to strike the match and light the fire. Supply the needed oxygen (continue in faith) while you patiently wait on the Lord. With these invitations, I pray that the Holy Ghost will guide and direct you, so that you, like the “faithful person” described in Proverbs, will “abound with blessings.” I testify that our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, live, are concerned with your physical and spiritual needs, also delight to bless us, with the name of Jesus Christ, amen.