He respects women, regardless of their nationality and religious beliefs

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ was publicly criticized for mingling with those whom society considered “low class.” He called fishermen as his apostles, ate with publicans, and interacted with the sinners. He treated all those He met with respect, including women. Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman in John 4 proved that He really was no respecter of persons.

On one occasion, Jesus passed through Samaria on His way to Galilee. Feeling fatigued because of His long journey, He sat by Jacob’s well where He met a woman of Samaria who came “to draw water.” Jesus struck up a conversation with her and even asked her for a drink. This seemingly casual conversation caught the woman by surprise. For in those days, “the Jews ha[d] no dealings with the Samaritans (John 4:9)” because the Jews considered the Samaritans “more unclean than a Gentile of any other nationality.”¹

Imagine what the woman may have felt when Jesus initiated a conversation with her and deemed her worthy enough to talk to. At first, she must have felt apprehension that soon enough turned into awe and finally to joy when Jesus introduced Himself to her as the Christ.

By talking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus Christ defied the norms of His time. When the disciples came back from getting meat and found Jesus talking with the woman, John wrote that they “marvelled.” However, Jesus Christ really didn’t care much about what His disciples thought – much less what the world thought of His actions. He cared more about the woman and what she was feeling and what He could do to help her. Jesus Christ did not look at the woman in terms of the world’s standard, based on her gender, nationality, or religious background. He saw her as a daughter of Heavenly Father and as His own sister. This shows that Jesus Christ has great respect for women, especially for His mother Mary.

He takes care of women

Jesus Christ’s relationship with His mother, Mary, also shows how He takes care of women. On two occasions, He was concerned for Mary’s welfare and acted to help her.

The first instance happened at a wedding feast recorded in John 2 where Mary was one of the people in charge. At some point, the supply of wine ran out, leaving the guests unsatisfied. So, she sought the help of her son, Jesus Christ, and the Savior performed His first public miracle – He turned water into wine. This miraculous wine impressed the governor of the feast so much that he asked the bridegroom why they had “kept the good wine until now (John 2:10).”

The second instance was when Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross at Calvary. Even though He was suffering, He still thought of His mother who He would be leaving behind. Seeing His disciple John standing beside her, He told His mother, “Woman, behold thy son (John 19:26).” Then to John, He said, “Behold thy mother (John 19:27).” Because of Jesus’ words, from then on, John took care of Mary. What a display of love and respect in the highest form! Even the excruciating task of atoning for our sins did not prevent Jesus from being concerned for the welfare of His beloved mother. His concern was not limited only to His own mother but also extended to other mothers as well, such as the widow of Nain.

He comforts women

The widow of Nain was facing emotional and financial ruin when Jesus Christ went out of His way to help her. During Jesus’ time, women were uneducated and all their rights to property were connected to the men in their lives – their father, husband, or sons.

In the case of the widow of Nain, because her husband had already died, she was completely dependent on her son for her means of living. However, with her son also gone, all of her possessions would be under the jurisdiction of her nearest male relative. Because the widow of Nain was in this dangerous situation, possibly of life and death, it is no wonder that Jesus Christ immediately stepped in to help.

According to Brigham Young University (BYU) Associate Professor Keith J. Wilson, the travel from Capernaum to Nain was a long, difficult uphill climb that “would have taken at least one or two days.” The reason being Capernaum’s location which is 600 feet (183 m) below sea level and Nain’s location which is  700 feet (213 m) above sea level and 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Capernaum. This long journey implies a certain amount of sacrifice by Jesus Christ and His disciples, including rising very early in the morning and traveling through the night until it wasn’t possible to walk anymore. However, Jesus arrived in Nain just in time to intercept the burial procession and raise the widow’s son from death. He was able to comfort the mother and give her hope that all was well, and that God had not forgotten her.

He forgives women

Another great example of Jesus Christ’s high regard for women occurred when the Pharisees and the Sadducees brought to Him a woman whom they said was “caught in the very act [of adultery] (John 8:4).” In an attempt to provoke the Romans, challenge His authority and His knowledge of the Law of Moses, they asked Him whether the woman should be stoned to death or not. He neither reply with a yes or a no but simply said: “He that is without a sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her (John 8:7).” Convicted by their conscience, everyone left Jesus and the woman alone. When Jesus Christ lifted Himself up and saw no one, He asked the woman the whereabouts of her accusers. The woman answered and said that they were now gone. Then Jesus said some of His most famous words of reassurance and counsel to the woman, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).”

Out of all the people there that day, Jesus Christ had a perfect knowledge of the woman’s sin, but He chose not to condemn her. Instead, He forgave her. To show his sincerity, Jesus Christ even stooped down to the woman’s level on the ground. His act of forgiveness included lifting the woman up from where she was at that time and helping her toward the right path – the one free from sin and filled with happiness.

During His lifetime, Jesus Christ showed by His words and deeds just how much He revered women – He respects, He cares, He comforts, and forgives them, just as much as He does for men. Now, as our Resurrected Lord I feel that He is doing the same for all women out there. I testify that He understands perfectly the pressure, discrimination, and persecution we experienced due to our gender. He extends to us His arms to lift us up and guide us home to our Father in Heaven where we will be the happiest. I hope and pray that we will grab His arms and hold on tight, never letting go. For truly, He is the Champion of women.

¹James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 172.

The post Four Ways Jesus Christ Has Shown He is a Champion of Women appeared first on morefaith.ph.

We can read from the scriptures the accounts of great men who appeared as too formidable for their physical and spiritual enemies but who eventually met their downfall due to carelessness. A prolific example was the story of Lehonti, a mighty military leader of the Lamanites in the Book of Mormon.

Poisoned by Degrees

Lehonti and his army escaped to Mount Antipas because they don’t want to obey their king and go to war against the Nephites. The king got angry with them and sent Amalickiah and his men to subdue them. Amalickiah, instead of giving a battle to Lehonti, proposed a secret alliance with him.

Amalickiah flattered Lehonti into believing he can become the hero of the Lamanite army. So, Lehonti relaxed his guard around his supposed ally. Amalickiah took advantage of the situation and “caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died (Alma 47:18).” Such was the end of the mighty leader Lehonti who was fooled and replaced by the cunning Amalickiah.

The Tell-Tale Signs of Spiritual Decline

Scientifically, the human body reacts against foreign objects, such as poison, that enter its parameters. So, in Lehonti’s case, I think he might have felt that something was wrong with his body long before he was poisoned to death. He must have experienced the following tell-tale signs – vomiting, abdominal pain, dizziness, and dehydration. These bodily discomforts though didn’t help Lehonti to save his life because he chose to ignore them or he recognized them too late.

In the like manner, we will experience certain warnings regarding our declining spirituality before it leads to something serious. It is up to us whether we will heed or ignore them.

I have listed here five of these tell-tale signs we need to be aware of if we are to maintain a high level of spirituality.

Focusing on the Cares and Opinions of the World

Jesus Christ counseled us to “be in the world but be not of the world (John 15:19).” What He meant by this was although we live in this imperfect and fallen world, we should not act like fallen people.  We should not give in to “the lust of the flesh [and] eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).”

To be not of the world also means not letting the cares and opinions of the world affect us. Sometimes, we try to please the people around us at the expense of our relationship with God. Elder Massimo De Feo said that so many of us “hesitate to make the right choices because we try to please the Lord without offending Satan.” However, the desire to please everybody, of staying in the middle ground, and being too careful about taking sides often leads us astray.

Without having a firm ground to stand on, we cannot plant our seed of faith. Our spirituality will not flourish. We must learn to stand firm and tall so we won’t be swayed by the shifting opinions of the world.

Procrastinating

An example of a procrastinator in the Bible is the prophet Jonah. He was commanded by the Lord to preach in Nineveh. However, instead of immediately responding to the Lord’s call, he ran away in the opposite direction. The Lord taught Jonah a lesson, and he ended up inside the belly of a big fish (which most people refer to as a whale) for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17).”

Unlike Jonah, we will not be swallowed by a big fish when we fail to immediately follow the Lord’s commandments. However, the effects of our procrastination even in seemingly small and repetitive actions will have a big impact in our future.

Each prayer, scripture study session, sacrament meeting, and ministering effort is a building block of our faith. If we miss them, we will also miss our opportunity to grow more in confidence with God.

Don’t procrastinate an inch only to discover it has become a mile.

Rationalizing

Another not-so-obvious tell-tale sign of spiritual weakness is rationalizing or justifying our unwise actions and decisions. Oh, how easy it is to justify missing church in lieu of meeting with a friend whom we haven’t seen in a long time! Or rationalizing that God will understand even if we don’t say our prayers tonight because we are too tired from work.

The truth about rationalization is that it happens because the person who performed the action or made the decision already knew that what he or she did was wrong. However, the person is just trying to lessen his or her feelings of guilt by saying that the action happened because he or she does not have any other choice. But, in reality, everyone has a choice and no amount of rationalization can justify a wrong action.

We all need to understand that what’s wrong can never be right even with seemingly “acceptable reasons”.

Murmuring

The rival nations of Lamanites and Nephites in the Book of Mormon were descendants of real-blood brothers – Laman and Lemuel for the Lamanites and Nephi and Sam for the Nephites. These four brothers used to have a good relationship with each other. What divided them apart was Laman and Lemuel’s choice to murmur against their father Lehi, a prophet who was commanded by the Lord to leave Jerusalem during the reign of King Zedekiah.

At first, Laman and Lemuel’s murmurings proved to be harmless. No matter how reluctantly, these eldest sons of Lehi were still obeying the Lord’s command  – to return to Jerusalem together with their younger brothers Sam and Nephi and get the brass plates. However, as the task became difficult, their murmurings got the best of them to the extent that they physically harmed their younger brothers.

Are we sometimes like Laman and Lemuel who constantly murmur but still obey the commandments of God and our church leaders? Like them, have we thought that there’s no harm in murmuring because they are just words? And, like them, are we also sometimes surprised to find out how our murmurings quickly escalated into unwise actions?

Murmuring is not as light as you think it is. It usually leads to negative thoughts, to doubt and weakening of faith, and to separation from God. May we learn a lesson from the life of Laman and Lemuel of how the small act of murmuring resulted in the tragic divide of a nation!

Being Complacent

The last tell-tale sign of spiritual weakness is being complacent regarding our spirituality. This word is sometimes confused with the word content. Being content means being grateful to God for all that He has given us. It means being a proactive and worthy steward of the temporal and spiritual blessings as well as the talents that He has endowed us with. On the other hand, being complacent means being self-satisfied with how things are but making no effort to improve them (Merriam Webster, 2019).

To give you a clear example of the contrast between being content and complacent, I will use the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. The five wise virgins were content. They were happy and excited to be part of the wedding of an important bridegroom. They dressed nicely for the occasion and brought the necessary materials – lamps and oil. Knowing that they will wait for a long time, they were wise enough to buy extra oil. They knew the importance of their part in the wedding, and they were proactive in showing that they were prepared to be there.

In contrast, there were five foolish virgins. They wore the same beautiful attires and had the same lamps and amount of oil as the five wise virgins. But, unlike, the other five, they weren’t wise stewards of the things given to them. They were too complacent.

While the other five wise virgins thought of buying extra oil, they remained behind and probably idled their time away while waiting for the church doors to open. They soon ran out of oil and were not permitted to attend the wedding.

Sometimes, we mistakenly thought we are content with our lives when we are just being complacent. We light our lamps until we ran out of oil, without thinking of buying or bringing some extra.

There’s nothing wrong with being grateful to God for our blessings. But, if we are not using these blessings to achieve righteous purposes then we are in danger of being complacent. We can show God that we are grateful and contented by using the blessings He showered upon us to improve our own lives, have spiritual growth, and enrich others.

Let us avoid a gradual spiritual decline by staying away from these five tell-tale signs. Let us, instead, fortify our spirituality by being proactive disciples of Jesus Christ.

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Why is Jesus’ name important?

The announcement of Jesus’ birth was anything but ordinary (Matthew 1:18). An angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary to inform her that she would bear the Only Begotten Son of the Father. Despite being a virgin, she conceived a child through the Holy Spirit. This unborn child would play a significant role for all humankind, the angel promised. But, the prophecy did not stop there. The angel told Mary to name the child as Jesus (Matthew 1:21).

Have you ever wondered why, of all the things he could have told Mary, the angel focused on the child’s name? The angel could have told her seemingly more important details, such as what food the child should eat, what clothes to wear, what education and training the child should receive to prepare him for his future role.  However, he chose to dwell on the name of the child – as if knowing the name was enough, as if everything depended on it.

Angel Gabriel did not insist on naming the child Jesus out of personal preference. It was a directive from Heavenly Father (Doctrine and Covenants 18:23). This name would eventually become a significant part of the Savior’s being and would be known as the only name whereby salvation can come (Mosiah 3:17). There is no doubt that the name chosen by Heavenly Father and used by the Savior, Jesus, contains power in the most real sense.

What is the meaning of Jesus’ name?

Did you know, though, that the name Jesus is not unique to the Savior’s time? A number of people have had the same name. Said to be the Greek form of Joshua or Jeshu, the name means “Savior” or “God is help.” It was a beautiful name with a beautiful meaning, a name most fitting for the prophesied Savior of the world.

The Savior is not only known by His birth name, Jesus. He has various titles of which the most popular is Christ, meaning “the anointed” or “Messiah.” The title Christ is almost always put after the name Jesus, making the Savior known to many as Jesus Christ. This is a perfect combination of a name and a title describing accurately the role of the Savior.

When is it appropriate to use Jesus’ name?

The respect and reverence we have for our brother, Jesus Christ, should extend to His name. We should use the Savior’s name in appropriate places and situations only. We must refrain from using it in vain (Exodus 20:7). Here are some examples where we can use the name of Jesus Christ correctly:

• Saying a Prayer

End your prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. He is our mediator with the Father. If we use His name, He will deliver our messages to the Father.

• Performing Sacred Ordinances

In order for all sacred ordinances to be valid, Jesus’ name should be used by one holding the proper authority. These sacred ordinances include, but are not limited to, baptism, marriage, and blessing of the sacrament.

• Sharing the Gospel

Full-time missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are set apart and given the authority to preach the gospel in Jesus’ name for a certain period of time. However, the power to use Jesus’ name in sharing the gospel is not only limited to missionaries. You can also share the gospel in Jesus’ name through your inspiring words and testimonies.

The use of Jesus Christ’s name is not prohibited. You can use it as often as you need to. But, you should exercise correct judgment when doing so. The use of Jesus Christ’s name should bring you closer to Him. It should give you access to His power. Do not use it out of habit so that it loses its sacredness. You should also encourage others to give respect to Jesus’ name. Where and when appropriate, you can also counsel the people around you about the misuse of the Savior’s name.

How to Access the Power of Jesus through His Name?

Just as knowing that a smartphone exists will not be of any help to you if you don’t know how to use it, you will also not be able to access the power of Jesus Christ just by knowing His name. Knowing Jesus’ name and saying it here and there is different from having access to the power of His name. There are certain requirements that you need in order for Jesus’ name to have an effect on your life. Here are some of them:

• You need to call upon His name sincerely

Your desire and intention matter when speaking the name of the Savior. You will also receive your desired answer depending on your faith.

• You need to have Christ-like qualities

First, you need to be humble enough to recognize and accept Jesus Christ in your life. Then you need to use His name “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-42).” You don’t have to be perfect but you must be trying to follow Jesus Christ through your words and actions.

• You should be willing to take upon you the name of Jesus Christ

Having full access to Jesus Christ’s power means being willing to take His name. This means that you must make Jesus Christ a significant part – or better, the focus of your life. You should honor His name and keep its good reputation by acting according to the commandments of God. Taking the name of Jesus Christ means living as the Savior did.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not making a fuss out of a small thing by emphasizing the appropriate use of Jesus Christ’ name in its organization. The Church is going back to the basics, to its core and foundation – Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ’s name, the church loses its meaning. Therefore, it is necessary to make changes, such as updating the name of the website, applications, and social media accounts to show that its focus is on Jesus Christ.

You can gain so much from doing the same thing in your life. Make the necessary changes even if it means getting rid of an established habit, perhaps distancing yourself from family members or friends who do not share the same beliefs and drag you down spiritually, and being born again in the name of Jesus Christ through baptism. As you focus on Jesus Christ and willingly and sincerely take upon you His name, you will feel the influence of His infinite power in your life.

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Experiencing Trials is a Natural Thing

Our time on Earth is our preparation to meet God (Alma 34:32), and this process involves uncomfortable and difficult times called trials. They may come due to sin, unwise choices, or as a natural result of living in a “fallen world.” Or they may come for seemingly no reason at all. No matter the origin of our trials, one thing is sure – they are there to mold us and refine us to become the person God expects us to be. Trials are, in fact, part of Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation. Therefore, as the Apostle Paul said, we should not think of them as something strange (1 Peter 4:12).

Accepting and embracing trials will likely not result in a special immunity to them. We will be subjected to them as much as everybody else. But, in the process, we will gain a different perspective, and we will respond better to circumstances that seem to take our breath and our hopes away. We may even experience joy in the midst of our difficulties.

Trials are Temporary

When trials come, it might feel like time has slowed down – or even stopped altogether. Our pain and negative emotions sometimes make what really are short times seem like an eternity. Don’t let yourself be fooled!  Experiencing trials is just a phase of our lives that will soon pass. They are as temporary as our time on Earth, and, when compared to the eternity ahead of us, they are but a twinkling of an eye. Hang in there, my friend! As God promised the afflicted Prophet Joseph Smith, your trials “shall be but a small moment,” and God will bless you if you endure it well (Doctrine and Covenants 121: 7-8).

All trials can be overcome with God’s help

While it’s good to have a positive mindset about trials and a better understanding of their temporary state, trials are best addressed through proactive efforts on our part. However, our trials sometimes seem more than “we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).” Despite our efforts, our burdens are still sometimes heavy, and we feel far from any relief. With our limited capacity as human beings, we cannot bear our trials alone. We need the help of other people and especially help from God.

When Jesus Christ was performing the most difficult task of all, atoning for our sins, He prayed to His Father in Heaven for help. If someone as grand, great, and divine as Jesus Christ needed help, how much more should we ask heaven to help us bear our trials? Like Jesus Christ, may we not just ask our Father in Heaven to help us in our trials, but may we also be humble enough to accept the Father’s will and utter “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).” I know that our loving Father in Heaven will not abandon us or leave us comfortless. He will sustain us in our times of difficulty. He knows well that we can rise above it, with the help of  His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. All trials, even the most difficult trial of the Atonement, were made to be overcome.

With this increased knowledge of trials, may we respond to trials more positively. May we hold on more to our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ for solace. I promise in the eternal view, it will be over in the twinkling of an eye, and as long as we stay true to our Heavenly Father, He can and will make everything eternally alright again.

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Put God as Your Priority

Spending more time with God starts with making Him your priority. Your time for God should not be the time when you are just free or when it is convenient – after going home from work, finishing an assignment, or watching a favorite TV show. God should be the first, not the last part of your day.

A good way to make God your priority is by planning your day first thing in the morning. Identify all of your things-to-do, then rank them based on urgency and importance. Make sure to set aside time for prayers, reading the scriptures, or quiet contemplation.

There will be days when you will have too much on your plate, and you will not accomplish everything on your list. And that’s okay. This is where setting priorities comes in. When you have your priorities set, you’ll accomplish the most important things for the day, and leave others that are not that urgent and important for the next day.

At times, you might be tempted to skip over to Priority # 3 when you have not yet finished Priority #2 because it is easier and more fun. Don’t do it. Be firm in following your priorities. Over time, you will learn that you have more time than you thought of. You will also notice that you accomplish more during the day, even when you set aside significant time for God.

Give God the best part and not the leftovers.

Evaluate How You’re Spending Your Time

Sometimes when you say you don’t have enough time it just means you are not using your time effectively. For example, is it unreasonable for you to say you don’t have time to read a verse or two from the scriptures when you just spent two hours on social media? Evaluate how you are spending your time every day. It will be an eye-opener.

You might find that you are spending more time than you thought on things that don’t matter much, such as computer games, watching TV, and social media. You may want to change your routines and develop better habits. I am no way saying that you need to eliminate these things entirely from your life nor I am suggesting that they should not be important to you. However, compared to spending time with God, they should take a backseat.

You can still do the activities you enjoy and like by strategically scheduling them over the week or month. But, in the process, make sure that it does not affect your time with God.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven (Ecclesiastes 3: 1).”

Understand that God is Not Only For Sunday and Church

The Zoramites in the Book of Mormon had an interesting way of worshipping God. One by one, they would stand on an elevated place called the Rameumptom, stretch their hands toward heaven, and offer a repetitive prayer. After doing this, “they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks [to God] after their manner (Alma 33:23).”

For these people, worshipping God was only confined to a specific place and day of the week. In a modern-day setting, this is just like saying you can only worship God during Sunday at church, which should not be the case.

After witnessing this type of worship, the prophet Alma in the Book of Mormon asked two questions:

“Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?

And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week (Alma 32: 10-11)?”

You know well the answers to both of these questions. Worshipping God involves spending time with Him, and it should not only happen during Sunday at church but every day, anywhere.

Look for a Quiet Time and Place

One of Jesus Christ’s names is the Prince of Peace. This clearly explains what He did and what He prioritized during His life. Jesus Christ understood well that in order to commune with the Father, He needed a peaceful time and place. Therefore, as recorded in the scriptures, He would often rise up early, leave the company of others, and go to solitary places to pray (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16).

You can do well to follow the example of Jesus Christ in order to spend quality time with the Father. The Father speaks in a still, small voice. Other times, He puts feelings into our hearts. If you are distracted, you will not hear or feel Him.

The definition of a quiet time and place varies for everyone. For some, it is six in the morning while reading the scriptures on a study table. For others, it may be late at night, kneeling by the bedside for a long prayer when the kids are sleeping. Some opt to go to a library or spend time with nature. It does not matter when or where your quiet time and place is. What matters is that it should be your time to just be with God.

Be Realistic When Making Your Schedule

If your plate is full but you want to make time for God, be reasonable with how you plan your schedule. For example, it is not good to immediately block off one hour for reading the scriptures or 30 minutes for praying when you have three young children to take care of. It is not the length but the quality that matters when you are spending time with God.

This is especially true when you are just starting to prioritize God more in your daily schedule. Do it gradually. You may, at first, set aside 15 minutes for God. Then, as you get your footing, you might want to increase it to 30 minutes as time goes on. As you learn to manage your time more effectively, you may be able to give one hour of undivided attention to God and so on.

Pacing is important so you will not get burned out, or discontinue your efforts to spend more time with God completely. With time, you will learn what works and what does not work for you.

Make Use of Reminders

You might get up in the morning and feel absolutely confident that you will spend 30 minutes reading the scriptures later that night. However, as unexpected events arise during the day, you may completely forget about it, and find yourself sleeping soundly in your bed without doing the thing you promised yourself you would do.

It is easy to forget your spiritual goals when things get busy. It is also easy to put things off until tomorrow. As humans, we are bound to forget a lot of things. My suggestion is to make use of reminders.

You could set an alarm on your mobile phone, post sticky notes in places where you will easily see them (e.g. your bathroom mirror), or ask people to remind you verbally. What the old adage says is true – “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Keep Your Appointments with God

Just as you try hard to honor your commitments with other people, you should also do it with God. Your plan to spend time with God is your appointment with Him. Do everything you can to keep it.

Jesus showed us a perfect example of making time for God.  Aside from waking up early and leaving the crowd for a quiet place, he also climbed up a mountain to show His willingness to talk with the Father (Matthew 14:23).

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do not require us to climb mountains just to be with Them. What They ask of us though is to make time for Them in our daily lives and to bring our spirituality to a higher level. Spending more time with Them is as simple as saying one short prayer, reading a scripture verse or two, or just sitting still and waiting for inspiration and revelation to come from above.

These are just a few suggestions to give you a head start. You can spend more time with God as soon as right now if you make the conscious decision to do so.

Can you think of any other practical ideas to add to this list?  Share your thoughts below. We would love to hear them.

Reference:

1 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Of Regrets and Resolutions,” Liahona, October 2012, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/of-regrets-and-resolutions?lang=eng

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Daily Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication between humans and God. If you are working towards a great life, you need the guidance from above that comes through prayer. But, where do you begin? Establishing a habit of prayer begins with knowing the correct pattern of praying. Here are a few simple steps to help you:

1. Call God By Name
2. Say Thank You
3. Share Your Feelings
4. Ask For What You Need
5. Close in the Name of Jesus Christ

Prayer is a personal thing between you and God. There is no specific standard for the content and length of your prayers. It’s enough to be sincere and honest with God. Your goal is to establish a deeper connection with Him and to receive guidance for your day-to-day interactions.

Don’t feel like praying? Remember that it is “the [good] Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, and the evil spirit [that] teacheth not a man to pray (2 Nephi 32:8).”

For more information about prayer, read “How Prayers Connect Us To Heavenly Father.”

Effective Scripture Study

Scriptures, or the words of God, are wells of wisdom. They are sources of eternal truths, gospel doctrines and principles, and good advice. More importantly, they tell us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If you want to know your purpose or live a worthy life, just turn to the scriptures, and you will never be disappointed. Don’t let your Book of Mormon gather dust or leave your Bible sit unused for “moth and rust to corrupt (Matthew 6:20).” Develop a habit of daily scripture study.

For some ways to have meaningful scripture study in your home, click here.

Healthy Diet and Exercise

It does not matter how driven, hardworking, or talented you are, if you are not healthy then it is pointless. You will not be able to enjoy your life to the fullest. This is why staying healthy should be a top priority. Having a healthy lifestyle, however, does not happen overnight. It is a habit established by making healthy choices every day.

Your body is a precious gift from Heavenly Father. In the scriptures, it is likened to a temple.

 “16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).”

We consider the temple the holiest place on Earth. If God thinks your body is like a temple, then you should take care of your body well. You can do so by eating foods that are good for you, such as fruits and vegetables, protein, whole grains, nuts and legumes. You also need to exercise so your body can become stronger. A healthy diet coupled with regular exercise is the best combination for preventing diseases. A healthy lifestyle often also results in a sharper mind and a more positive outlook on life.

Attitude of Optimism

Optimism is looking on the bright side of things. People who are optimistic see the glass as half full, not half empty. They focus on what they have, not on what they lack. It is not surprising then, that according to research³, optimists generally lead longer, happier, and more successful lives.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate optimist. The Bible account of the Savior feeding 5,000 people was a story of optimism (Matthew 14: 14-21). It was already evening when Jesus finished his sermon, and the multitude was hungry. The disciples suggested to Jesus that he send the people away, but Jesus had compassion on them and decided to feed them. However, when He commanded the disciples to give the people the food that they did have, they replied, “We have here but five loaves, and two fishes (Matthew 14:17).” They were wondering how so little food could possibly feed thousands of mouths.

Faced with that situation, I can’t blame them for focusing on what they lacked instead of what was there. Jesus, however, was different. He thanked His Father in Heaven for what He had given them, and it resulted in one of the greatest miracles the world has ever seen.

Can you imagine what good things – yes, even miracles – could happen to your life if you adopted an attitude of optimism?

David O. Mckay once said, “We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our characters; we sow our characters, and we reap our destiny.”⁴ The New Year is the perfect time for you to sow good habits in order to reap a great destiny at the end of the year and for the rest of your life.

The post Four Good Habits to Start in the New Year appeared first on morefaith.ph.

In Our Communities

During the Christmas holiday, there are a lot of people everywhere we go. There are long lines at the grocery stores, department stores, and just about any other store out there. Our community is buzzing with excitement and is getting busy – too often for the wrong reasons. We focus too much on fun parties, expensive gifts, and delicious food. But, Christmas has never been about those things. It is about commemorating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Everything else is just extra. There’s no room for our Savior if we rush, hurry, and worry all the time. We need to focus less on material things and focus more on spiritual things during the Christmas season in our community. This way, we can free up a lot of space for Jesus.

In Our Families

Christmas holiday brings out opportunities for family members to spend more time together. Make the most out of your time by doing activities that will draw you closer to each other and to Jesus Christ. Teach your children about the importance of sharing blessings with others. Show greater love and appreciation for your spouse. Do something special for your parents and siblings. An ideal family Christmas is not about having matching sweaters, gifts under the Christmas tree, or a feast on the dining table. Rather, it is about having a Spirit of love in the home.

Don’t have a house full of loved ones? Don’t worry. Christmas is the perfect time for you to feel that you have a family with God. You are Heavenly Father’s child and Jesus Christ is your “Big Brother.” No one is ever alone with Them at your side. As you come to understand and apply the true essence of Christmas within your families, you will feel the magic – found in the Savior – which this season brings.

In Our Hearts

The Bible says “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he (Proverbs 23:7).” It means that what is in your heart is a reflection of who you are. Think about your deepest yearnings and desires. Is Jesus a part of them? If not, it is time to make major changes in your life. Making room for Jesus starts within you. As you center your life on Him, it will have a domino effect on other aspects of your life, such as in your family and your community. You can start trying to keep Him in your thoughts and heart this Christmas and carry it throughout the year.

A Real Christmas

Let’s pattern our Christmas after that first Christmas in Bethlehem. It was simple yet heartwarming. It was a night to remember in the history of the world because it focused on the Savior. Have a real Christmas this year by making room for Jesus.

The post Make Room for Jesus This Christmas appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Gift of Love

Christmas is a story of love. It is about the unconditional love of a Father for His children that “He sent his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to die for them (John 3:16).” You can share this love with your family and friends in a number of ways this Christmas. It can be as simple as a hug, a handwritten note, or freshly baked cookies. Whatever it may be, remember that it’s the thought – and the love – behind it that counts. As Mother Teresa once said, “It’s not [about] how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”

Gift of Service

Service is a selfless action done by one on behalf of another. Acts of service enrich both the giver and the receiver. You can serve in various ways, such as a simple smile or cleaning someone else’s yard. Set traditional gift giving aside, and choose to serve this Christmas season. Remember that material gifts will be broken but acts of service will never be forgotten. Be creative and sincere with your service.

Gift of Quality Time

The old adage, “Time is gold” still holds true until today. Time remains one of human’s precious, non-renewable resources. The time you spent is the time you can never get back. This is why time is one of the most valuable gifts you can ever give to someone.

Treat your time as precious as gold, and spend it with people who matter most in your life. Help your sibling answer his homework; cook a meal together with your spouse; or have a nice stroll with a friend in the park. Spending quality time doesn’t need to be grand or expensive. Just avoid distractions and make sure to focus all your attention to the people you’re with. Then you will realize that you made the most out of your time.

Gift of Happiness

Christmas is meant to be happy because we are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Through Him, we can find the happiness that will last forever. Even if there’s so much wrong in the world and in our lives, even if the problems never seem to run out, we can always find reasons to be happy. As Prophet Russell M. Nelson said, “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives”² and the “eternal principles that govern happiness apply equally to all.”³ Find your reasons to be happy then share them. Happiness is contagious. Pass it on.

Gift of Gratitude

God is constantly showering blessings upon us. There are so many things we can be grateful for every day. If we are grateful, we attract positive vibes into our lives, resulting in many more blessings.

How we experience life is usually based on our perspective. Choose to see the glass half full, not half empty. Have an attitude of gratitude, and share it with others. Can’t think of things to be grateful for? Here are a few lines from a children’s song written by Shawna Edwards to help you:

“One, for each blessed day

Two, every breathe I take

Three, for my family

Four, all they mean to me

Five, just to be alive

Six, for the Earth and sky

And, Seven, for heaven…

Eight, for the chance to grow

Nine, heart and hands and soul

Ten, for the eyes to see

All that God has given me”

Gift of Kind Words

In the scriptures, Jesus Christ reminded us several times to use kind words with each other. He said, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).”

Do you know why? Because Jesus Christ knows well that “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones (Proverbs 16: 24)” in both literal and figurative senses.

When you say kind words, you don’t only make people feel loved, inspired, or encouraged, but you also enrich your life and strengthen your character. Build people up and not destroy them with your words. Be generous with your compliments; show appreciation; always say please and thank you. Kind words will go a long way.

Gift of Respect

We have learned that respect is earned and not given. In one sense, it is true. A person needs to be respectable, in words and deeds, to earn the respect of others. However, there is a definition of respect that needs no input from the receiver and only concerns the giver. It is respect in the sense of “acting in a way which shows that you are aware of (someone’s rights, wishes, etc.).” By this definition, we need to give respect to everyone. Respect comes in different forms, such respect for wisdom and experience, respect for hard work, or respect for trying. Respect is a gift that keeps on giving and one that comes back.

Gift of Forgiveness

Holding on to a grudge is like a holding on to a double-edged sword. It does not only hurt your “enemy” but it also hurt you. Even if it is hard, learn to let go of past offenses. You will find your load is lighter and your life is happier.

If you forgive someone, make sure that you also completely forget what he or she did. As Spencer W. Kimball said, “Forgiveness means forgetfulness.”⁸ It requires not only a visible reconciliation but also a purging of one’s mind and heart. As we forgive one another, the Lord promised us that He will also forgive our trespasses.⁹

Gift of Invitation

An invitation involves courage on your part and genuine concern and love for another person. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you are encouraged to share the gospel with your family and friends and invite them to act based on the truths they have learned. Inviting someone in a nice and loving way to do volunteer activities together, to attend church, or to abandon a bad habit is one of the best gifts you can give this Christmas. Be bold but sensitive and loving with your invitations.

Gift of Faith

To complete this list of valuable Christmas gifts, let’s talk about the gift of faith. Faith is a firm belief in someone or something despite a lack of tangible evidence. A verse in the Book of Mormon explained faith this way,

“And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true (Alma 32:21).”

Faith is the belief you have for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Even though you have not seen Them, you know that They are true. In a world that practices the principle of “to see is to believe”, having the gift of faith is important. The gift of faith grows as you nourish it every day through simple acts of righteousness, such as praying and reading the scriptures. It also grows by sharing your testimony with others. Give someone the gift of faith this Christmas and help them nourish it.

As you share a gift or two or three from this list, may it help you and others remember the true meaning of Christmas – CHRIST.

What is your favorite free gift to give this Christmas?

The post 10 Free Gifts You Can Give This Christmas appeared first on morefaith.ph.