tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883375941998790852.post4007252291634433801..comments2023-09-25T01:11:07.135-07:00Comments on Gentlefriend: EMANCIPATE YOURSELVES FROM MENTAL SLAVERYgentlefriendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045322085841846552noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2883375941998790852.post-8941551252031346842007-12-12T06:32:00.000-08:002007-12-12T06:32:00.000-08:00Gentlefriend,You remind me of experiences and the ...Gentlefriend,<BR/><BR/>You remind me of experiences and the mental gymnastics I too have played out in my life, for good and ill. The burden of shame from the past need not replay in our minds when triggered by current events. With the help of our faith and God's grace, we can draw upon the repeated choices of our lives for love and righteousness, relying on mercy rather than the submitting to failure and escape. We may do both, but the balance of the scale tips and stays to the positive with each successive choice for good. Like you referred in your post, the choice for us is like unto Nephi's, as he considered the strengths of his experience and then questioned his weak behavior:<BR/><BR/>"My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge..." <BR/><BR/>"O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow... and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul?"<BR/><BR/>And of course the answer is we simply don't have to let ourselves dwell upon old patterns of sin and shame. We can choose otherwise. The Lord helps us emancipate ourselves through the memory of our faith, believing in Him enough to trust His grace, and then continuing on a path to the next positive loving choice--one moment, one day at a time. That does not mean we must be perfect or else all fails. It means to me that we focus on the positive fork of the path and strive for continuous improvement, repenting again and again when necessary. Nothing can keep us off this path, when we allow such faith and desire to fill our hearts and drive our actions.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for another lovely and reflective post. I feel refreshed and inspired to continue through my day.GeckoManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04846438788253129899noreply@blogger.com