Taking Time for the Important Things

This was my lesson from the past weekend. I realized last night that I had left nothing for myself and nothing for Heavenly Father (see post). And as I dreamt about it and then pondered it throughout the day, I realized I spend so much time trying to please other people that I forget the one being I am supposed to please-God. (and with that, ultimately my own soul)

Today I read this from President Monson (love that MAN!): 'In this fast-paced life, do we ever pause for moments of meditation—even thoughts of timeless truths?'

Amazing right-I'd already figured it out on my own and then the Spirit confirms it. I seriously love how the gospel works in life. Because after I thought and pondered all day, we go to FHE and have a lesson on 2 Nephi Chapter 4 (and I quote):

20 My God hath been my ^asupport; he hath led me through mine^bafflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

 21 He hath filled me with his ^alove, even unto the ^bconsuming of my flesh.

 22 He hath confounded mine ^aenemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

 23 Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me^aknowledge by ^bvisions in the night-time.

 24 And by day have I waxed bold in mighty ^aprayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

 25 And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been ^acarriedaway upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

 26 O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath ^avisited men in so much ^bmercy, ^cwhy should my ^dheart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

 27 And why should I ^ayield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to ^btemptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my ^cpeace and afflict my soul? Why am I^dangry because of mine enemy?

 28 Awake, my soul! No longer ^adroop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the ^benemy of my soul.

RIGHT?! (I really don't know if anyone is even reading this, but if you are I hope you just had the same (or a similar) smack to the forehead moment!)

So at FHE, I actually then took this back to President Holland's talk, 'No Place for the Enemy of my Soul', and explained how important it is for us to first 'Like Joseph in the presence of Potiphar’s wife, just run—run as far away as you can get from whatever or whoever it is that beguiles you. And please, when fleeing the scene of temptation, do not leave a forwarding address.' He then talks about how important it is to seek guidance from our leaders. I love this thought of counsel and guidance from our leaders-it's why they are called and even though it may seem like the most minute problem-seeking their guidance will provide you with some sort of direction. Remember that Elder Boyd K. Packer taught that "spirituality, while consummately strong, reacts to very delicate changes in its environment."

So what am I really getting at here, well for me its something different then what you may find-but here's my answer anyways. What I have realized is that in my race to do EVERYTHING, I ultimately spend all my time trying to please another person. And I forget that there is really only one being to please (GOD). It doesn't matter how much I try to please others, there will always be someone (or multiple someones) that whatever you do-it will never be good enough. But that isn't the case with our Father in Heaven-that is not how He operates. Instead, our Heavenly Father takes whatever minute acts we can give him in the moment and then pours blessings out upon our heads. Does he want our absolute best? ABSOLUTELY! But does he accept less? EVERY TIME-because the atonement makes up for all the rest. And so for me-my focus is changing: I am going work on spending my time pleasing Heavenly Father-because as I do I will still find ways to love and serve others, I will still do my absolute best to magnify my callings, and I will try to help others along the way. But I won't be accountable to them or be responsible for pleasing them, because my focus will be centered on God's opinion. I'm confident in my knowledge that as I please my Father in Heaven, I will find ways to bless others (without being worried about pleasing them).

Those are my thoughts on the lesson I learned this week.