Wednesday, October 6, 2021

Daily Devotional, Day 5: Agency is a gift from God; Christ honors agency; Lucifer does not.

Satan/Lucifer] came before me, saying – “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, . . . wherefore give me your honor.” (John 1: 5) . . . But my Beloved Son. . . said to me – “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be yours forever.”  . . . Satan sought to destroy the agency of man. . . [and was] cast down. . . (Moses 4: 1-4)

 

God’s Gift to Man – Agency

 

Why is life sometimes so difficult? Satan’s plan was to bring everyone home, so why was that bad? Because in so doing he would rob us of our agency – our right to choose for ourselves; our right to learn and grow, from our good choices and our poor choices.  Jesus, on the other hand, followed the Father’s plan. He respected us enough to give us that right to choose.  When we choose wrong (as He knew we would), He offered to give His life for us that we might retain our freedom yet still have the ability to repent and return home. 

 

This is how the Prophet Lehi explained the need for agency, even though it makes life difficult. What do Lehi’s words mean to you? How do they fit in your life today? How can you access God’s gift of repentance and return to Him?

 

For the must be an opposition in all things. If not so righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. . . . [If not] there would have been no purpose in . . . [Earth’s] Creation.                          (2 Nephi 2: 11, 12)

Personal Journal

DEVOTIONAL:

Watched News of the Church; Ministering and humanitarian work of Church; Universal love of mankind; feeding sheep

 

MEALS:

Ate all meals at home Tuesday. Restaurant is now seating only a few people at a time and you are required to wait until seated.  I understand why they are trying it because the wait staff has been overwhelmed; nevertheless, I don't like it.  It feels controlling and manipulative and I will not be controlled nor manipulated.  Because of this and other factors, I chose to avoid the restaurant yesterday.

 

ACTIVITIES: 

Missed Maurine.  She was sleeping and I was late

Visited with Susan

Spent time with Brandon; read from the Bible to him (see personal and private notes)

Wrote my budget

Examined my expenses

Began process to change insurance to a supplement plan, even though it is more expensive

TO DO:

Today I will put budget on computer and send it to Shane.