Committed

I do not get a newspaper every morning and so I have switched over to reading an article from the ensign every morning while I eat breakfast. It is a wonderful way to start my day and it has really helped me apply the gospel to my everyday life!

July's First Presidency Message has kept me thinking all month! (If you haven't read it yet, you should! It's called, "Brother, I'm Committed."

It talks about either being committed to what you do or not. There is no middle ground. Pres. Uchtdorf says, "Those who are only sort of committed may expect to only sort of receive the blessings of testimony, joy, and peace. The windows of heaven might only be sort of open to them."

The windows of heaven only sort of open?! - No, thank you!

So... am I only sort of committed to school? only sort of committed to my calling? only sort of committed to my personal health? only sort of committed to getting something out of my scripture study?

At times, I have found myself guilty of each one of these in the past month (and many more).

Pres. Uchtdorf continues by saying, "There is a difference between intention and action. Those who only intend to commit may find excuses at every turn. Those who truly commit face their challenges squarely and say to themselves, 'Yes, that would be a very good reason to delay, but I made covenants, and so I will do what I have committed to do'." (emphasis added)

I intend to study days and days before my tests, but it rarely happens. I intend to do something to magnify my calling and something seems to come up so much more often than it should. Iintend to workout daily and somehow I have days where I end up eating apple jacks and watching tv instead (ahem, yesterday). I always intend to get something out of scriptures but more often than desired, I find my mind wandering to things of less importance.

I am a pro at making to-do lists and goals.

Now I just need to learn how to be a pro at committing myself to them!

Pres. Uchtdorf ends with, "In some way, each of us stands at a decision point overlooking the water. It is my prayer that we will have faith, move forward, face our fears and doubts with courage, and say to ourselves, 'I'm committed'."

Are you committed?