I've been pondering a lot about this topic. I know I could have probably 50 different posts just about this topic. I would like to focus on some scriptures and quotes that I have read recently involving the Atonement. I want to use the Atonement daily, hourly, and by the minute. It's so important to do so. I invite all to read this post and ponder in your heart, "Have I felt the use of the Atonement in my life today?"
“The Atonement has practical, personal, everyday value; apply it in your life. It can be activated with so simple a beginning as prayer. You will not thereafter be free from trouble and mistakes but can erase the guilt through repentance and be at peace”--President Boyd K. Packer (Ensign, May 2001, 23–24)
This quote really affected me. It all begins with prayer. We must apply the Atonement to our life!
In the Book of Mormon we read,
"Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (2 Nephi 28:32)
I read this verse a couple of weeks ago. If we REPENT, and come unto Christ, we will obtain His mercy. So what does it mean to repent? Preach My Gospel states, "To repent, we recognize our sins and feel remorse, or godly sorrow. We confess our sins to God. We also confess very serious sins to God’s authorized Church leaders, who can help us repent. We ask God in prayer to forgive us. We do all we can to correct the problems our actions may have caused; this is called restitution. As we repent, our view of ourselves and the world changes. As we change, we recognize that we are children of God and that we need not continue making the same mistakes over and over. If we sincerely repent, we turn away from our sins and do them no more. We resist any desire to commit sin. Our desire to follow God grows stronger and deeper."
This is what true repentance and conversion means. Repentance is using the Atonement to wash away our sins. To forsake them and to come unto Christ. Like the verse in 2 Nephi, the Lord's hand is extended. It is "lengthened out all the day long." When I read that part, I imagined Christ standing before me. His hand is in front of me. He is calling me, "Sister Houtz, grab my hand. I'm here. Don't listen to Satan. Come follow me. I'm right here." I pondered this. I thought, " How many times have I pushed that hand away? How many times have I said, " No I'm okay. I got this." Or how many times have I just ignored it? How often has Christ called you? How many times does He need to invite us to follow Him? How many more times will we turn our backs on Christ? Remember in John 6:67, when Christ asks the twelve apostles, " Will ye also go away?" Will we leave Him? The answer should be NEVER. I invite all who is reading this. I'm actually begging you. TAKE HIS HAND! Grab it! Cleave to it! I know that you'll never regret it. Come unto Christ. Let Him be a part of you. Use the Atonement. He wants you. He loves you. He suffered for you. He knows everything you're going through. Please take his hand. I know that my Savior lives. I know that He knows what my temptations, pains, sicknesses, and trials are. He loves me and He loves you too! My next post will be more on the STRENGTH we can gain from the enabling power of the Atonement. Here is a link to a talk that I'll be using! Check it out! Click here
