Faith: Which part is mine and which part is His?

[Storm Rider]

31 minutes ago, bluebell said:

That's an interesting perspective. I completely agree about having to get to the point where we don't see God has a genie (or a vending machine, where when we put all the right change in our blessing is dispensed).  Do you ever worry though that you aren't receiving blessings that it is God's will to grant, but that He requires us to ask for first?  

(I'm taking this from the Bible dictionary, which says under prayer "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.")

Bluebell, I think I have much to learn in this regard.  I try to align my wants and desires with his will. Attempting to accept his will in all things and being content is not easy until we reach a point that our sole desire is what the Father desires for us.  

To ask for blessings IF it be his will does not negate blessings that would come not within his will.  Prayer can absolutely be hard work, but I am hesitant to pursue prayers that are not within God's will.  This may be a safe path that I have chosen; one that prevents specific trials where I as his child that keeps his commandments demand that he bless me in a specific way or bless others in a specific way.  

Great topic.

[hope_for_things]

37 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Fear and anxiety and faith cannot exist in the same heart.

I don't believe this at all.  Fear, anxiety, depression, sadness, faith, love, they all exist in our hearts and minds.  You can't eradicate your psyche of any of these human traits and emotions.  I wouldn't think this way, its ok to have fears and anxiety, these are normal human traits.  

39 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Even our Savior who had knowledge and not just faith said "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?".  He knew, not just had faith, but actually knew God was watching over him and had the perfect love that casts out fear.

If the idea that reaching a perfect state of love is inspiring to you, then go ahead and use this as a source of inspiration.  Personally, I find the idea of any kind of perfection to be discouraging and demotivating.  I don't see perfection as a true state and I honestly don't believe in perfection.  I believe in wholeness and I believe wholeness includes everything, good and bad.  Its messy, its real, its life.  This is what I believe in and it allows me to be more "gentle with myself" another great Michael McLean song.  

42 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

So where does the comforting  faith come from if not from our acting in faith?  Do we only have comfort when we have the spirit regardless of our faithfulness in action?

Personally, I believe we always have the spirit.  I don't think there is anything, any action, any sin, any choice that we can make that will separate us completely from the Divine.  God loves us, unconditionally.  For me, comforting faith comes from this idea that I'm loved and that I'm capable and good at some fundamental level.  I know that I make bad choices, and I don't think God is prompting me to make the bad choices.  I try to forgive and love myself and have this underlying confidence that I'm of worth, of great worth that is somehow separate from the individual choices that I make.  I have value in this universe, and I love that.  

I aspire to this value of unconditional love when I try to emulate the divine, when I choose to love my family members in spite of their choices that I may vigorously disagree with at times.  I choose to try and love and get over my personal pride or hurt, and to show love through service and through forgiveness even when its not asked for.  I keep coming back for more punishment, but I choose to come back because I want to try, I want to try to make a difference for the better.  These are the actions I try to take, and I think this is an exercise of faith.   

[JLHPROF]

I think Hebrews 11 is my favorite explanation of faith.
One verse I think pertains perfectly to the discussion:

• 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

So when we approach God we must 1. Believe that he exists (the easier for me) and 2. Believe that he rewards our faith (the harder for me).

 

[bluebell]

Pres. Uchtdorf just gave an excellent talk on faith in that the women's session of general conference. I hope everyone was able to watch it.