By objectively setting new goals to become more like our Savior, we will gain confidence and become more dedicated disciples of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Recently, I felt the fire of my faith burning low and felt a dire need to feed its flame. As I turned to my sweet husband for advice, he suggested that I study President Russell M. Nelson’s address “Confidence in the Presence of God.” As I did so, one of President Nelson’s statements stood out to me: “Imagine the comfort of having confidence in the presence of God!” This is what I needed: to have more confidence before the Lord.
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President Nelson taught that this confidence comes as we develop charity and virtue in our lives. In other words, confidence comes as we work to become more like our Savior. My husband similarly helped me realize that in order to strengthen my faith and confidence before the Lord, I needed to gain trust in God’s love for me and his desire to help me grow to become more like Jesus Christ. As President Nelson states, Heavenly Father truly loves us and “yearns to help each of us reach our highest potential.”
To help me gain a vision of that potential, my husband recommended that I take an objective perspective of my life: seeing myself the way that God sees me, as if through a camera lens. My husband suggested I compile lists of my daily activities and desires and honestly assess whether they are helping me become more like the Savior. He promised that when I completed this exercise, my eyes would be opened to see the root of what was disconnecting me from God:
- Take three pieces of paper and label the first one “Activities,” the second “Desires,” and the third “Goals.”
- Make a list under “Activities” of what I do on a daily basis.
- Make a list under “Desires” of what I regularly desire, regardless of whether I see those desires as bad or good.
- Circle the desires that will help me become more like the Savior.
- Circle the activities that prevent me from reaching those spiritual desires.
- Make a list under “Goals” of things that can be done to start reaching my spiritual desires.
- Tear up the “Activities” sheet—the “Goals” sheet will now be my daily activities.
As I promised to work on my new goals, my husband gave me a gentle reminder: “Remember the ‘why’ behind these goals: to become more like your Savior. You may be able to do all these things on your own, but you will be far better off accomplishing them with the Lord on your side.”
This reminder and exercise positively changed me, and I hope it can help others too. I gained a new perspective and understanding of what I can do to personally change to become more like my Savior. The Lord does indeed want to help us reach our highest potential. Through making new, personal commitments and seeking the Lord’s guidance in reaching our goals, we can gain more confidence in his love for us and in our abilities to change and become better with his love and guidance.
Read “Confidence in the Presence of God” by President Russell M. Nelson to find out other ways to be more confident before the Lord.
Source: General Conference
—Leah Laret, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
Choosing goals for our lives that will help strengthen our faith can come from receiving personal revelation from the Lord. Read Latter-day Saint Insights article “Faith Like King Lamoni’s Wife” by Elizabeth Petersen to learn new ways that may help you receive personal revelation.
As we work to strengthen and improve our faith in the Lord, it is important to learn how to stay steady and firm in our newfound faith. Read Latter-day Saint Insights article “Steady in Faith” by Kassidy Acker to learn what it takes to be immovable on the foundation of our Savior and our faith in him.