Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics
Providing thoughtful and faithful responses to criticisms and questions of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
If any truth of my own personal journey and recovery holds validity it is the idea that I still feel inadequate. Still feel that I am not the man I have wanted to become. And I sometimes forget that my recovery and spiritual growth are a personal journey of becoming complete in Christ.
All these teachings helps us understand the central truth of the Gospel - Jesus is the Christ by whom we are saved. Salvation comes when we place our initial faith and trust in Him. It comes when we humble ourselves and enter into the waters of baptism for the remission of our sins. This is accomplished when we come to the awareness of our natural state and disposition. Through repentance, we receive the first principle ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Faith teaches us to act in a manner to which we believe God will help us, strengthen us, and give unto us what we need to withstand the storms in our lives. Scripture is firm on the nature of our faith as it relates to God. Christ constantly chastised the disciples - O ye of little faith. Christ commented on the simplest acts of faith - I have not seen such great faith. Faith even may bring healing into our own lives - Thy faith has made thee whole. Each time Christ ministered to those individuals it is because they had sought him out.
Today, we do well to focus on the teachings of our Heavenly Father. Work to walk in faithful obedience to His divine and righteous council. Stand firm on the truth of His personal revelation and will for our lives. Sit with those who are working out their faith with fear and trembling and fighting the good fight (See, Philippians 2:12 and 1 Timothy 6:12, KJV).
The greatest desire is for us to attain a high level of masculinity that is influential, impacting, and inspiring. By becoming a man of influence we are cultivating a true attribute of Christ-like integrity. This significant attribute provides a means by which we are able to influence our family, workplace, and community at large.
I did not believe that when I turn my heart over to God, that He governs me and shapes me automatically. This is not what inspired scripture teaches in Proverbs 4:23. It is a command to guard my heart. I am to be careful about what I allow into my heart. My heart cannot be an open door to unbiblical and ungodly influences. I am not to be captive to them; they are to be captive to the word of God. I am given the responsibility of being vigilant about their content.
For me, I had to learn to be patient toward myself because I realized there was much healing needed to take place. Healing because I had not realized that much of the reason for being impulsive, compulsive, seeking approval of others was due to my self-invisibility and survival mode that had brought much dissatisfaction within my own life. My self-esteem was quite low.
Often times I feel like I am not receiving what I desire from others because I am not willing to allow myself to be open enough to receiving. It's as if I have a little shop set up for people to come in and yet maintain locked doors.
Photo by Bess Hamiti on Pexels.com If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.~ John 15:18, KJV ~ Hatred is a toxin, which when introduced into the soft, vulnerable and defenseless soul of mankind, wreaks havoc, destroys everything it touches, and sends its host spiraling ever downward toward… Continue reading Rise Above the Hatred Through Faith in Christ
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” ~ Isaiah 54:17, ESV ~ It is a hard truth in recovery that those who continue in active substance use will… Continue reading Your Vindication
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:11, ESV ~ Recovery and spiritual growth requires us men to emancipate ourselves from our childish and adolescent ways. It requires our… Continue reading Putting aside childish ways
Where it all begins One of the most beautiful passages of scripture is that of John 3:18-21. Jesus is conversing with Nicodemus. In this conversation, we are intimately taught that Christ is the light that has come into the world. Yet, many of us rather remain in the darkness, avoiding the light. Because we remain… Continue reading Deep Inner Work is the Heart of Christian based Recovery
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. ~ Psalm 27:14, KJV ~ As we deepen our commitment to a strong and mature Christian spiritual experience and life, we see a conflict between our old self and new way of living. When we drop our… Continue reading Being of Good Courage
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. ~ Matthew 6:34 (cf Matthew 6:25-34), ESV Living in this very moment is all we have to concern ourselves with. There is the constant desire, and impulsive need, to live for the future.… Continue reading Live in the Present Moment
By looking at the results you are creating, it is quite simple to find out what you are committed too. And, majority of the time, we do not realize how committed we are to a particular task. Especially those tasks that are troubling for us. We spend an enormous amount of time and energy on things we… Continue reading Do you know what you are committed too?
A spiritual and mindful recovery program is a journey toward health and wellness. It is a learning and healing process. Focusing on our journey as a learning opportunity, we are shifting our paradigm where we are empowered to add a richer depth to healing. Part of this learning experience is being open to opportunities that… Continue reading Am I open to Learning Today?
Today's reading: 1 Nephi Chapter 1 ...I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. ~ 1 Nephi 1:20 ~ A mindful and spiritually focused recovery program empowers an… Continue reading Mighty Power Unto Deliverance
Our journey began exploring what it means to focus ourselves toward a more mindful and spiritual Christian experience and journey. This is accomplished through daily devotions, engaged in reading through the scriptures each day, and discovering ways to begin implementing guiding principles toward a more meaningful spiritual Christian life. This required us to commit to saying… Continue reading On the Path of Mindful Spiritual Living
Today's reading: Genesis 39 - 40:23; Ps. 10:1-11; Prov. 4:1-6; Matthew 13:31-58 And the Lord is with us Want to know the secret to success in this life? It's a prized desire for all of us to achieve success. Healthy relationships, profitable endeavor through employment, healthy families, and being a productive member of society. The… Continue reading Through Faithful Stewardship we Are Blessed
to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness ~ Ephesians 4:22-24, ESV ~ Christianity offers… Continue reading Putting Off the Old Self and Put on the New Self
2019 is a a year of Focus. What does it mean to be focused? According to the Online Etymology Dictionary the term is either used as a noun or verb. As a noun, we understand this to mean a point of convergence, or, center of activity/energy. As a verb, the word focus is about bringing into clarity. This latter part has a reference… Continue reading 10 Guiding premises of living a “focused” and mindfully spiritual Christian Life
Today's reading: Gen 13 - 14:24; Ps. 4:4-8; Prov. 2:1-5; And, Matt. 6:1-18 Godly peace is the fruit of our divine relationship Many of us have been carried away by our own natural and carnal desires. We hunger and thirst for peace. And, despite our best efforts, we become full of fear, anxiety, and worry… Continue reading Sovereign peace comforts us
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control ~ 2 Timothy 1:7, ESV ~ Recovery is a process of growth. This growth comes from our relationship with God. The moment we decided to give our life and will over to Heavenly Father, is the very moment we experience a… Continue reading Being mindful and receptive
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 1-2; Psalms 1; Proverbs 1; and Matthew 1 The invitation is extended to each one of us to Come follow after Christ. This requires our surrender to the will of God. The beginning of one's recovery is established through a radical surrender unto God. It is defined by the first three steps of… Continue reading Surrender into the intimacy of God
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands ... and purify your hearts ~ James 4:8, ESV ~ When we see how far we've strayed from the sovereign grace of God, and being the kind of person we truly desire to be, we are overwhelmed. Because, we realize how… Continue reading Draw near to God
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ~ Psalms 118:24, ESV ~ Everyday we engage in recovery, let it be a day of celebration. This is what the 118th Psalm reminds us of. As we surrender our life and will over to a Sovereign God, we are given… Continue reading This is His day and I will rejoice
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins ... that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ~ James 5:15-16,… Continue reading The Power of Prayer
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ~James 3:13, ESV~ As we engage in our journey through recovery, wisdom is the guiding light that helps us live a life free from substance use. Where does this wisdom come from? It comes… Continue reading Becoming Wise
As a moderately seasoned counselor, one of the frustrating aspects of working with individuals suffering from substance use is the lack of motivation and engagement in their treatment and recovery. I become frustrated because they appear to be unmotivated, and underachieving. In my attempt to work with these individuals I am experiencing some consternation. This… Continue reading The Mystery of the Unmotivated patient
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way ... ~ Isaiah 53:6 ~ All of our troubles, dysfunctions, illusions, and what brings us back to using is selfishness. It is a vicious preoccupation with our own comforts and with our own means to satisfy our own appetites.… Continue reading Be aware of the evils of selfishness
Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics 
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