Four O'clock feel good.

This morning I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and the words seemed to speak directly to me. They have since resonated in my mind all day. The chapter I was reading, encapsulated a war between two opposing groups of people. One group's sole motive was to gain power. Their desire was to defeat others so as to prove a point that they were in control. Conversely, the other group fought to defend their families. They fought for their right to worship God as they pleased. What really touched me though was when it said that the reason they fought, was because they felt it was "the duty which they owed to their God."  It was their duty to defend these things. It is our duty to God that we defend Him each day of our lives. We do in fact owe Him our very lives. The least we can do is live our lives in accordance with His teachings, and try to make Him proud of our efforts. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day battles of our lives, and in turn, fight the wrong battles.  I want to work on being more aware of my motives-- Am I fighting the right battles? Where are my priorites.

Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

 
...Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.

David Archuleta's rendition of  "I'm trying to be Like Jesus" is so beautiful. I listened to this early this morning, and it was a great reminder to strive to do the little things that bring me closer to Christ each day. When I do so, I am much happier.