Exercising Faith, Having Hope

Sometimes you are required to take that first step, that leap of faith and trust that God will bless you in your efforts. I'm currently having to learn this principle; I'm having to put my trust in Him and believe and hope that as I live obediently and do the things I'm supposed to He will bless me in my choices. But it's hard. I feel like this lady.

I viewed the scripture involving exercising a particle of faith, desiring to believe, and letting this desire work within us (the metaphor of the seed) in a totally new light of self application. We have to exercise faith in the our Heavenly Father as we make changes and choices in our life. We have to move forward, even if we only have the desire to move forward, we have to let this desire work within us to help follow through in our changes in choices. We need to look forward in faith and hope, nourishing the desire within us; nourishing the changes we are trying to make or the path we have chosen. As we move forward in faith and hope, then we can expect to bring forth the good fruits of our efforts.

Alma 32:
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.

So, that's what I'm going to try and do. Live how I should, make my choices, have faith and hope that God will work it out, and then plan to reap the fruit as I nourish and support the choices I've made. Its hard, it's scary, there are rarely guarantees, but you do what yo gotta do.

People often talk about mind over body, or will power, or the power of the mind. I think that that is usually just a secular explanation for that which is spiritual power, faith. Anyway....just some thoughts I've been thinking and trying to personally implement. Happy Sabbath!