The New Year always begins as a time of reflection and resolution. For me, at least, it can be a little frustrating. I want to make positive changes, to place my feet further down the path to becoming more Christ-like. Yet, there is someone else who doesn’t want me to find my way. Satan knows me very well; he tries to use my times of reflection to nudge me into feeling bad about my many inadequacies. He wants me to think that no matter how hard I try, it will never be good enough. He wants me to think that I should not try because it would only lead to another failure to feel bad about. He’s pretty clever. Fortunately, I trust my Heavenly Father more than I trust Satan’s power to influence my thoughts and feelings. I trust the power of the atonement to make up for my weaknesses as I honestly press forward and do the best I can.
This year many thoughts have danced through my brain: things I’d like to try, things I’d like to do better. Some of these things have very selfish motive behind them. If I want to place my trust in Heavenly Father, His Son- Jesus Christ and, His atoning sacrifice for me, I need to look for different motives. I need to look for those things that the Spirit is gently prodding me about, not the glaring faults the world would have me worry about. I will look to my Savior for the best way to be me- to show goodness and mercy as He would. I am His disciple, not Satan’s.
I am reminded of President Howard W. Hunter’s first address after his call to serve as the president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a soft spoken man, frail in body but with a gentle warming spirit that touched the members deeply.
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To the membership of the Church in every country of the world and to people everywhere … I pray that we might treat each other with more kindness, more courtesy, more humility and patience and forgiveness. …” (“The Way of an Eagle” By Elder James E. Faust, Ensign 1994, August.)
I can’t think of a better resolution.
