“… when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the many terrible circumstances that surround us. He truly is our light and life…. Our ability to stand firm and true and follow the Savior despite the vicissitudes of life is greatly strengthened by righteous families and Christ-centered unity in our wards and branches (church community).” ~Elder Quentin L. Cook Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Ensign May 2015 p.63
When I have trouble in my relationship with God, I need not look far to find the problem. I am slipping, following the adversary’s way. Easiest at first, even carefree, but comes complete with habits of darkness, chains of bondage; SO VERY HARD because the adversary’s rewards are also dark in the end. He and his minions always, always pull against me.
I can live in such a way that I know I have Christ’s approval. My life becomes an outward example of that inward commitment to honor He who bought me with his blood. I focus upon keeping His commandments through change (often small, even incremental), and teach my family to do the same. Christ knows, of my weaknesses and that I make mistakes. It is His design that it should be so, that through prayer and repentance I learn discipline to overcome… and thus draw closer to Him— sweet reward! Truly, His yoke is easy and his burden is light because He always pulls with, not against me (see Matthew 11:28-30 ). kdm (revised and re-posted from 6.3.15)
