Do you seek peace of mind? Do you seek forgiveness? Peace? Understanding? Joy? Today I have enjoyed reading a wonderful talk by Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Abundant Life.” He shares common characteristics of the happiest people that he knows. He declares that these qualities can transform ordinary existence into a life of excitement and abundance. He also states that an abundant life is a spiritual life. Often, we may think we lead a spiritual life. We go through the motions, but our hearts are far away, caught up in the world around us, missing the true ministerings of the Holy Spirit.
The three qualities that he emplores us to take upon ourselves are: 1. Drink deeply of the living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ (feasting upon the scriptures). 2. Fill our hearts with love (serving others). 3. Create your life a masterpiece (create something remarkable of our lives. He emphasizes these points over and over.
He shares many ideas of drinking deeply of the living waters. “Believe with all your hearts. Develop an unshakable faith in the Son of Go. Let your hearts reach out in earnest prayer. Dill your minds with knowledge of Him. Forsake your weaknesses. Walk in holiness and harmony with the commandments. Fully understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ heals broken hearts, infuses meaning into lives, binds loved ones together with ties that transcend mortality, and brings to life a sublime joy. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a religion of mourning and gloom. It is a gospel of hope and joy. It is not a gospel of chains but a gospel of wings. Our Savior proclaimed, “I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly.”
Touching on the second quality of filling our hearts with love, he reminds us that the greatest of all the commandments is thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. He shares, ” those who devote their lives in pursuit of their own selfish desires at the exclusion of others will discover that, in the end, their joy is shallow and their lives have little meaning. We are happiest when our lives are connected to others through unselfish love and service.”
Lastly, we are encouraged to create a masterpiece of our lives. “No matter our age, circumstances or abilities, each one of us can create something remarkable our life. David saw himself as a shepherd, but the Lord saw him as a king of Israel. Joseph of Egypt served as a slave, bu the Lord saw him as a seer. Mormon wore the armor of a soldier, but the Lord saw him as a prophet. Every one of us has potential we can scarcely imagine. There is a spark of greatness within every one of us- a gift from our loving and eternal Heavenly Father. Love the Lord with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. Create your life a masterpiece. The abundant life isn’t something we arrive at. Rather, it is a magnificent journey. It is the quest of the abundant life that we find our destiny. There is within each of us a divine spark of greatness. The abundant life is within our reach if only we will drink deeply of living water, filling our heart with love, and create of our lives a masterpiece.”
Does this not motivate and inspire you to refocus your life on these fundamental qualities that will bring true joy. Our life is full of wonderful opportunities to experience. I hope your life is abundant, peaceful and full of joy
Marilyn
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