Don't Let Satan Get the Best of You

Lately, I've been feeling that Satan has been trying everything in his power to get me to be unhappy. I thought it was just because I was going to be sealed to my parents and then it would be over. I was sealed to them on Tuesday night, which was a happy day and occasion. However it is currently Friday morning, 12:07 to be exact, and I am still feeling miserable. How? I thought my trials would be over after I had gotten what Satan didn't want.

Unfortunately, our trials aren't over when a big event happens. In fact, our trials tend to blend one to another if we don't stop and step back and look at what it is going on in our lives from an eternal perspective. After I had a good cry, I realized this was what Satan wanted. So I decided to change my situation so Satan wouldn't get the best of me.

Music

Music can effect your mood and attitude, which thus effects your choices and actions. When I'm upset, I'll listen to hymns. I know how cliche can I be? I personally am the type of person who feels the Spirit most through music. The very first thing I do is turn on hymns. Sometimes it's instrumental so I can focus on the Spirit more. Other times it's Mormon Tabernacle Choir on full volume. As I listen to spiritual music, I feel Satan being pushed out of my spirit quite literally. I feel the yucky leave and be replaced with a peaceful, calm feeling.

Scripture Study

I find in times of conflict, I love reading about Christ's life. Whether I crack open 3rd Nephi or Matthew, I find the most comfort when I read Christ's direct teachings or about His life and sacrifice. Some days, I'll simply open to where I was reading last and dive in and read 5 chapters straight. I read until I feel the Spirit. Even after I feel the Spirit, I keep on reading. Some nights, I'll read until my eyes are burning and it's 3 am. I don't worry as much about when I should be going to bed or if I'm reading more chapters than my boyfriend or best friend. I just read. 

Conference Talks

If you're new here, you should learn one thing about me: I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE! For those of you seasoned readers, you know how much I love General Conference. I always make it a habit to have the latest conference edition Ensign downloaded on all my Gospel Library apps and that I have a physical copy on my nightstand. I am the type of girl who goes through a talk and highlights everything I like. Some talks end up being more yellow than white. If I'm going through something particularly hard, I'll research the topic and read past General Conference talks. The prophets always know what's up, even if it was from before I was born, they know. 

Prayer

I have a whole blog post on praying and it's power. I find when my mind is clouded and my heart is troubled, Heavenly Father is there to listen. I unload everything to Him. He knows my heart and my mind but He is anxious to hear from me, personally. He's waiting to hear from you. He can help you if you turn to Him. If you need peace, ask for it. I promise you will feel it in your life. 

Satan will attack you when you are spiritually weak and strong. When you are weak, he knows how to work into your thoughts and make you even weaker. But if you fight your battles on your knees and with the scriptures, you will win. The war against Satan is happening now. It's happening as you read this. You must decide if you want to arm yourself or be vulnerable. I know that he will lose, but will Satan win you over? I pray that he doesn't. I know this gospel to be true. I know that by doing the simplest of things, you can be spiritually protected and not let Satan get the best of you. 

Love,

Janae

Getting In Tune with the Spirit

I was scrolling through Pinterest trying to find inspiration for a blog post and I came across a great quote.

I absolutely love this! It then reminded me of my favorite conference talk from this past conference. "The Music of the Gospel" by Elder Wilford W. Andersen. Now this talk may be for parents and families but I decided to take it and apply it to the individual. For we all need the Holy Ghost! 

Elder Andersen first starts off with a story that I think we can all relate to. He tells of a doctor's encounter with a medicine man from the Navajo Nation. The medicine man ask him if he can dance to which the doctor said no. The man states he can teach him to dance, but he has to hear the music. How often is it that we are faced with someone, who asks us a gospel related question to which we cannot respond? Now there will always be things to learn, but we can change this situation to the medicine man asking, "Do you know the gospel?" That's a pretty deep and vague question all at the same time. We may respond that we do not know all of it, to which he would tell us "I can teach you, but you have to hear the Holy Ghost."

Oh how that changes the entire meaning! As Elder Andersen says, "The dance steps of the gospel are the things we do; the music of the gospel is the joyful spiritual feeling that comes from the Holy Ghost." We must practice the teachings of the gospel and then we will be able to hear the Holy Ghost.  We can't expect to have the Holy Ghost without living the principles of the gospel.

In order for us to teach the gospel, we have to "expand the curriculum beyond just the dance steps." The first step Elder Andersen says is that we have to live to be in tune with the Spirit. Makes sense. You can't be drunk and expect to hear the Holy Ghost. He does not shout rather He whispers quietly. 

The second step is to become an example to others. Once we know the dance steps, we must perform (Shay this reminds me of you). Living the gospel principles isn't something we just do at church or home. Christ wanted us "to be examples at all times, in all things, and in all places." I don't think Sunday Mormons was Christ's plan. 

Thirdly we must keep trying! Christ doesn't expect us to be perfect. I know that I am not perfect! We need to rely on the Atonement to help us to become better each day. Remember this is a gospel of multiple chances, not three strikes and you're out. Take each day as a challenge to do better than the last.

We must remember our trials are to make us stronger and help us come closer to Christ. If we live the principles of the gospel, we will be blessed and one of those blessings is the Holy Ghost. I know that I have be incredibly blessed by my Heavenly Father even when I do not deserve it. I try to live my life in a way that will be pleasing to Him and to be worthy of having the companionship of the Holy Ghost with me.

Love,

Janae