The last month or so has been ungood. I wouldn't go so far as to say bad, but something has been, at the very least, a little off. Being the stubborn man that I am, I kept trying to ignore it. Brush it off as just being tired, or normal after a long a day. I am constantly frustrated by how easy it is to justify all of my shortcomings.

However, justification can only take you so far. Not long ago I finally sat down and took a good look at who I was becoming. It turns out that I should evaluate myself more frequently. What I discovered shocked me. Changes were in order.

I recommitted myself to pray more often, and read my scriptures more consistently. You know, the "easy" things.

Over the past week I have made an interesting observation. It seems that in every section that I read I come across a verse that leads me to Mosiah 3:19*. Not very subtle. Sometimes a smack to the forehead is best way to teach. Over time it becomes easy to rely on the natural man, good habits are far too easy to break. Constant vigilance is a must. We need to "yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit" always.

I can accept that I will never be perfect in this life. However, just because it is in my nature to be "an enemy to God" doesn't mean I should stop trying.
The atonement makes it possible. The battle isn't lost.


* For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.