Inspiration

So, I finally got caught up on my blog only to now be slightly behind again.  I think I will remedy that this week though since its a lower stress week.  :)  However, this is something that I wanted to share, or at least have for me to read.  haha  (I think my family looks at my blog too)

Lately, I have been feeling an urgency and desire to increase my spirituality.  Much of it is due to the fact that I know I haven't been doing my best anyways, but also that my previous best just isn't going to cut it anymore.  I have lots of questions in my life lately.  Politically, with my children, my marriage, just life in general.  The world is a crazy place people!  So, over the past month or two at church I have felt as if I have been learning so much in my meetings, but finding it hard to implement everything in my life.  I have more temporal goals as well and fitting them all in can be overwhelming.

Now, I have always known the importance of putting Christ first and we recently discussed this in Sunday School as well.  It all makes sense and the spirit speaks strongly to me on this subject as I tend to be a busy person.  I also had a conversation with my sister, Carissa, about this.  I felt then that if I could do the "spiritual" things first I would accomplish more, get more satisfaction out of the things I do, and be more able.  However, again, it is not always easy to implement.  I tend to try and figure out exactly how it will all play out from A-Z before I take a step.  (Not always a good plan by the way)  This time around though it has been a little different for me.  Instead of thinking so much I have just felt a desire grow within me.  I think I finally understand why the scriptures talk about the importance of just having a desire to start.  Its been neat to feel it happening in me.  I have been patient, allowing myself to ponder and find a way that will work for me, and yesterday a breakthrough happened.

We talked about the Word of Wisdom on Sunday.  And through a sequence of discussions from that lesson and my own thoughts I realized that my spiritual goals and temporal goals can be one in the same.  Let me explain:  In regards to the Word of Wisdom a temporal goal that follows this is meal planning.  Meal planning allows me to be more organized so I can feed my family better.  So, I can study the Word of Wisdom and receive inspiration on how to accomplish these goals I want for me and my family.  They don't have to be separate!  And, it happens because I put my scripture study and the gospel first!  Does this make sense?

I don't know if I am explaining exactly what I learned very well, but basically I have realized that I don't have to have five million goals in all these areas of my life.  They are things that I think I need to improve on, and that I am relying on my own knowledge and experience to accomplish. By doing my scripture study and personal prayer I can allow the Lord to direct me, and can learn through them how to improve my life in these ways.  The scriptures talk about health, keeping a clean home, family, relationships, raising children...all those things I want to work on. Not to mention the modern day revelations through our prophet and apostles.

I'm quite excited about this inspiration, because now all I have to worry about is my spiritual aspects and allow the rest to fall into place.  I know it will require thought and effort on my part to put them into practice, but what a sense of reassurance comes from knowing that the Lord is right there guiding you with your steps.  Why do we always try to do things on our own?  It was a novel idea to me that while I was working on my meal plan I had the opportunity to also be working on my obedience to the Lord, but ONLY if I had gone to Him first.  We put our Savior first and our lives truly can be dedicated to Him.