Scary health issues.

Scary potential futures.

Scary financial situations.

Scary social or political concerns.

Scary moments of personal growth.

But can I be honest?⁣

When the opportunities for fear have surrounded me, I feel like I’ve had a pretty peaceful life.⁣

I’ve felt a lot of stretching and growth.

I’ve gained new perspectives and refined priorities. ⁣

But I haven’t felt a lot of fear. ⁣

To be clear, I don’t say that with a sense of pride or superiority. ⁣

In fact, I am well aware that this is a special spiritual gift that I have, and I have been specifically told that. ⁣

But… there are still scary things.

And in those moments when I have felt that fear start to creep up, I have tried to turn to my Father in Heaven. ⁣

In humility, in meekness.

In love. ⁣

Loving my Heavenly Father is what casts out those little inklings of fear. ⁣

Loving my Savior is what transforms my fear to peace and confidence. ⁣

Fear isn’t a bad emotion to feel, but it’s honestly just not a feeling I want to indulge in very often.

I’m not perfect at it, but when I have been in my most desperate times, I have still been able to find moments of pure and perfect love.

Pure and perfect devotion to the Divine. ⁣

And I have found for myself that these moments of true, pure, perfect love for Heaven have cast out my fear.

“Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.” (Moroni 8:16)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Casting out fear first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

He talked about the wars and destruction.

He told his son about the tragic futures were to come. ⁣

Sounds like a super fun conversation, right?

But then Mormon reminded his son:⁣

“My son, be faithful in Christ;

“and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death;

“but may Christ lift thee up.” (Moroni 9:25)

What a beautiful and practical lesson from a father.

There’s a lot of dark, dismal stuff out there.

BUT

Don’t let the evils of others bring your own faith down.

Don’t let the wickedness of the world dim your light.

Don’t let other people’s poor decisions affect your own.

Instead, let Christ lift you up!

Think about His atoning sacrifice.

Ponder on His mercy.

Appreciate His goodness.

Let THAT be what lingers in your mind.

Jesus has already won the victory.

And our faith in Him can help lift us up, even when we are surrounded by heavy times.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post May Christ lift thee up first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I’ve been pondering on that this week. ⁣⁣

I think most of us can recite that “charity is the pure love of Christ”.⁣⁣

But then I hope I’m not alone in often picturing charity as an action.

Reaching out. Making a call. Pulling weeds. Making beds. Being a listening ear. ⁣

(Which are all amazing actions to take, of course!)⁣

But I think it’s important to remember that charity is actually just a feeling. ⁣

In fact, according to the Bible Dictionary, charity is “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love”. ⁣

In the scriptures, the word “charity” is never even used to refer to good deeds. ⁣

Instead, it is an emotion we feel inside of ourselves. ⁣

It can totally be the motivating factor for us to then reach out and perform acts of service for other people! ⁣

But charity is love. ⁣

Feeling love NEVER fails US. ⁣

I clarify “US” because our acts of service can certainly fail other people. ⁣

I may think I’m being a fantastic ministering sister, while someone complains that I don’t fulfill my assignment very well. ⁣

I may think I’m being a helpful volunteer, while someone thinks that I’m wasting my time. ⁣

I may think I’m being thoughtful, while someone thinks I’m being overbearing. ⁣

I can’t control how the pure love that I feel in my heart is then perceived by other people.

(Of course, tact and sensitivity are always qualities I strive for, too! But at the end of the day, I can only do my best.)⁣

But the Godly love that I try to cultivate can change me.

It can save me. ⁣

What a timely message, right?!⁣

The more love we feel for other people, the more Christlike we become. Because He loves everyone, too. ⁣

Everything else will fail in the end. ⁣

But feeling a deep love, a love that is kind, patient, and humble… THAT will sustain us through everything.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Charity never fails… who? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Wasn’t making me a more Christlike person at all.

I had a really poor attitude about this particular calling.

I mean, I actually performed my duties very well.

I was on the ball.

I probably looked like I was “fulfilling my calling” perfectly from the outside.

But on the inside?

I felt resentful, annoyed, and prideful.

Months went by.

At our next stake conference, someone gave a simple talk about serving with “real intent” in our hearts.

Mormon actually summed up this lesson when he said, “. . . except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.” (Moroni 7:6)

As I listened to this random talk at a stake conference, I felt personally called out by the Spirit.

I knew that if I changed my attitude and tried to have real intent in my calling, I could be uplifted by it.

I worked really hard to have a change of heart.

My calling did not change—

In fact, I kept it for another year.

But it worked!

Slowly but surely, fulfilling my calling became a source of joy, connection, love, and overwhelming experiences with the Spirit.

It took hard work.

But switching from being resentful to trying to serve the Lord with “real intent” completely changed my outlook on service in the Church.

“When we recognize God’s hand in our calling and serve with all our hearts, additional power comes into our service, and we become true servants of Jesus Christ.” – Carl B. Cook

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I was a grouch first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.