Yes. Day 10.
I'm only on day 10.
So I have been reading this book,
and it has been great.
But I have been having a hard time with feeling like I've accomplished the "task" in just one day.
Day 8 for instance, is titled "Recognize His Voice"
The author asks you to think about how you have learned to recognize the voice of the Shepherd. How has His voice come to you? And then she invites you to find one way to hear His voice that day.
I don't know about you, but I feel like learning to hear the voice of the Lord takes more practice than just one day. And I have felt this way in almost every chapter. I would read the chapter the night before to be ready for the "invitation" for the next day. I would always start out doing great, but as the day got going and things got busy, I would get in my routine of housework, making meals, and taking care of little ones that I would forget my goal of the day. It would be 7:30 pm and I would remember, "Oh yeah, I was supposed to be doing this or doing that". I never felt I could continue on to the next chapter until I had invested my whole heart in the previous one. I want my testimony to grow and I don't want to sort of do the daily goals. I want to do them so I can feel like I truly am coming closer to Him.
However, looking back, I see now that I have been so much happier since I have started this "journey"
I am trying my best to be focused on the Lord, and on serving others (my own goal for the month)
And yes, I may have times throughout the day that I get caught up in the routine of my life,
but I am making an effort and I can feel and see the blessings because of it.
"We are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.
Enemy occupied territory
-that is what this world is."
C.S. Lewis
In my only "10 day" journey, I have already learned that even though now is the great day of the devil's power, now is also the great day of the Lord's power. And each day we personally make decisions showing which side we support. Ezra Taft Benson said, "The final outcome is certain-the forces of righteousness will win. But what remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this battle- and how tall we will stand.... We will never have a better opportunity to be valiant in a more crucial cause than in the battle we face today. Christ is the most successful warrior that ever walked the earth, and He wants to help us win every battle."
I have never thought of Christ as a warrior. But when I think about Him at my side, or even in front of me at times, as a warrior, ready to defend against evil, I am comforted. When I feel overwhelmed or defeated by thoughts of how daunting raising righteous children in such an "enemy occupied territory" can feel, I think of Christ as a warrior. I think of Him as our Captain and I feel taller and stronger in the fight. I feel confident and ready to take on the task.
Before Christ died he said to his apostles, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." (Luke 22:32)
The author noted this scripture and suggested we ponder on it. The more I thought about it, the more I loved it. Christ prayed for His apostles. So then, why wouldn't he pray for me?
I believe that He does pray for me, that I will remain strong in the fight. Not only does this bring me such comfort and hope, it gives me encouragement to be more valiant.
I still have eleven more chapters to go and who knows how long it will be until I finish them. Coming to know Christ is a life-long and daily effort, but when I started this book, I prayed that I would find the hope and the answers and the strength that I was longing for. In only 10 chapters, I have. If our heart is willing, He will without fail lead us to where we want to be.
"He knows the way because He is the way." -Jeffrey R. Holland
