Consider the Lilly

[drtanner]

Man’s work, therefore, is to heed the voice that says, “Be still,” and then to allow grace to play over him, to be still therein and know that this is God. It does seem that “some of the most anxious people in the world are Christians – who misunderstand the nature of spiritual growth.” In their anxiety, life, even for the most earnest, becomes an exercise in self-condemning and condemning others. What happens is that these spiritual energies, which are meant to be spent on the work of Christ, are instead “consumed in the soul’s own fever.”

But in reality, the life of the disciple of Christ can become very simple – he need only hold his mind to one main idea: to abide in Christ, to be in position: “God gives the wind, and the water, and the heat; man but puts himself in the way of the wind, fixes his water-wheel in the way of the river, puts his piston in the way of the steam; and so holding himself in position before God’s Spirit, all the energies of Omnipotence course within his soul. . . . Such is the deeper lesson to be learned from considering the lily. It is the voice of nature echoing the whole evangel of Jesus, Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.'”

Of course there must be doing, but the doing must flow from the tranquil mind, seeking nothing for itself in the doing; rather, open to present beauties, desiring to bless this moment with Peace. So, it appears then that for one to grow up in Christ, one need only yield to that flow of energy and life that leads from one blessing to another, that opens the eyes to Divinities. The fruits of this awareness may keep us just as busy as a person who is trying to save himself by his own works, but it will have a different flavor, a sweeter fragrance, a deeper serenity. Life is happening through us. Let us stand back and let the Christ-stream flow.

Would love to know your thoughts.

[gardener4life]

I really love listening to that church hymn.

[eddie]

https://youtu.be/OevE4olt6_I

Consider the Lilies of the Field, Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Lillies of the field.jpg (220.72 KiB) Viewed 1583 times

[Michelle]

What a faith filled invitation. This concept of "let go and let God" has been on repeat in my mind the last week.

I loved this from an article in Meridian Magazine:

Man’s work, therefore, is to heed the voice that says, “Be still,” and then to allow grace to play over him, to be still therein and know that this is God. It does seem that “some of the most anxious people in the world are Christians – who misunderstand the nature of spiritual growth.” In their anxiety, life, even for the most earnest, becomes an exercise in self-condemning and condemning others. What happens is that these spiritual energies, which are meant to be spent on the work of Christ, are instead “consumed in the soul’s own fever.”

But in reality, the life of the disciple of Christ can become very simple – he need only hold his mind to one main idea: to abide in Christ, to be in position: “God gives the wind, and the water, and the heat; man but puts himself in the way of the wind, fixes his water-wheel in the way of the river, puts his piston in the way of the steam; and so holding himself in position before God’s Spirit, all the energies of Omnipotence course within his soul. . . . Such is the deeper lesson to be learned from considering the lily. It is the voice of nature echoing the whole evangel of Jesus, Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.'”

Of course there must be doing, but the doing must flow from the tranquil mind, seeking nothing for itself in the doing; rather, open to present beauties, desiring to bless this moment with Peace. So, it appears then that for one to grow up in Christ, one need only yield to that flow of energy and life that leads from one blessing to another, that opens the eyes to Divinities. The fruits of this awareness may keep us just as busy as a person who is trying to save himself by his own works, but it will have a different flavor, a sweeter fragrance, a deeper serenity. Life is happening through us. Let us stand back and let the Christ-stream flow.

Would love to know your thoughts.

Yes.

Ever since the past General Conference I have been busier then ever, but more peaceful as well.

Our Heavenly Father is literally our father. He seeks to care for us as a father and provide for our temporal and spiritual needs. We have been born at a time when societies are so caught up in the workmanship of their own hands that they have forgotten the Creator of the world.

I believe we came to have a physical experience. The Lord provided the whole earth for our food, clothing and shelter. It is only in the last generation that we have rejected the world and the work God gave us in favor of the world and work that trusting in the arm of flesh gives us. (This isn't to say their hasn't been distractions or wickedness, or even advanced technologies before. But that is a discussion for a different thread.)

Doctrine and Covenants 59:16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;

17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

When I read these verses I see that God has given us all that we need on this earth for food, clothing, shelter, and work. And these are given to provide for our mortal bodies and the unity of our families.

When our wants are less, our needs are less.

[Michelle]

When our wants are less, our needs are less.

I think this needs editing:

When our wants are right, our needs are less.