These are two very desirable…

(but in my opinion, very DIFFICULT)

…Christlike attributes to obtain. ⁣

“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:10)

I see being SINCERE as an outward quality.

It’s an attribute that affects what I say or do toward others. ⁣

How can I become more sincere?⁣

Here’s a few things I’ve been working on:⁣

-Expressing gratitude for other people often

– Acting on promptings as soon as I receive them⁣

– Not being afraid to speak up when I feel differently about a situation than others (not just saying “I agree!” to keep the peace)⁣

– Making sure my outward actions reflect my inner thoughts⁣

– Praying earnestly to have my natural thoughts be more kind so that I can then act with sincerity on desires to serve, and not out of obligation ⁣

The other Christlike quality is to be WITHOUT OFFENCE. ⁣

I see this quality as a more inward characteristic.

It has to do more with how I react to what other people are saying. ⁣

How can I avoid being offended more often?⁣

Here’s some more things I’ve been working on:⁣

– Recognizing that when I perceive something as “rude”, it most likely is not from someone who actually intends emotional harm.

-Acknowledging that other people’s words and actions have nothing to do with who I am.

– GIVING IT TIME. This is a huge one for me. Right after something “offensive” has happened, I’ve found it helpful to not wrestle with it right afterwards because my emotions get in the way. When I give things time, it is so much easier to see the bigger perspective. ⁣

– Praying to see the situation as my Father in Heaven sees it. Eventually, I get a glimpse of that Christlike love for the other person that seems to make the situation much more bearable. ⁣

I’m still working on adding sincerity and avoiding offence each day. ⁣

But the peace that comes from the moments when I do get it right teaches me that this is how the Savior wants me to live. ⁣

How have you become more sincere?

How do you avoid taking offence?⁣

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Sincere and without offence   first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

One particular time, I was flying with my daughter, who wasn’t even two years old yet.

It was a late-night flight.

That then got delayed a few times.

The flight experience was… brutal. To say the least.

She freaked out during the safety demonstration and wouldn’t calm down.

She kept kicking the seat in front of us.

She got bored with every distraction I had packed in our bag.

I kept praying that she would calm down.

Or that she would just fall asleep.

But she did neither of those things.

I felt very alone.

As the flight ended, the person sitting directly in front of us (whose seat I kept trying to protect from my daughter’s crazy kicking) turned around and said:

“She did so well for such a little person! And you did an amazing job with her.”

I almost burst into tears.

And the Spirit poured comfort into my heart.

My mind suddenly completely changed perspectives.

I had wanted the hard time on the plane to stop.

That’s what I prayed for.

And yet, as trivial of a situation as this may have been, Christ was there.

He had been strengthening me to endure and learn from the experience.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

I just couldn’t see this until a stranger pointed it out to me, and the Spirit quietly confirmed it.

Christ often doesn’t take away the tough time, no matter how big or small it is.

Probably because He’s really good at strengthening us to endure, learn, and find moments of peace in the meantime.

But it’s often our perspectives that need to change in order to see this truth.

If you are doing your reasonable best to live your covenants…

Then Christ is likely strengthening you right now to endure.

Christ strengthens me.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Jesus strengthens me to endure first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Do you know what I think of as one of the biggest opposites of “content”?⁣

Stressed. ⁣

Do you know anyone who could rewrite this scripture with the opposite?

“I am able to be stressed, in all circumstances!” ⁣

… Are you that person? 

“Stress” has become quite the badge of honor.

Everyone has a lot of things going on.

All the time.

It’s pretty much how life goes. ⁣

But it’s often assumed that just because you have a lot going on, you must feel stressed about it. ⁣

BUSY does not have to equal STRESSED.

Paul teaches that he has learned that he can feel CONTENT in all states and circumstances.

And if anyone has the street cred to talk about a wide range in life circumstances, it’s Paul.

Seriously. ⁣

“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)

What if we could truly feel CONTENT in all circumstances in our lives too?⁣

No matter how many things we have going on, I have learned personally that “feeling stressed” is a choice.

And honestly… I feel like I’ve earned some street cred to be able to say that, too.

Being busy with good things can actually be so so so fulfilling.

I’ve tried to just stop saying “I’m stressed”.

My life is filled with so many things.

But I truly feel CONTENT in my life. ⁣ ⁣

What a blessing it is that we don’t have to feel stressed or overwhelmed based off of our circumstances. ⁣

We can choose to build a life centered around the peace found in Christ. ⁣

So that we, like Paul, can feel content in every state.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Content or stressed  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Really.

He wouldn’t do anything special.

He’d just observe.

He’d see what normal life looks like for you and your family over the course of a week.

And then he’d leave. ⁣

He would return back to his home.

And a few weeks later, a letter arrives in the mail.

A letter from the apostle, completely personalized to you and your family.

What would that letter say? ⁣

I asked this question to a group of teenagers one time, whose answers immediately went negative:

“He would tell me to not fight with my brother so much.”

“He would ask me to help my mom with more things.”

That’s probably where a lot of our minds go at first—

Everything we are doing wrong.

But what might the apostle sincerely praise?

The group of teenagers I was talking to said things like,

“He would tell my family we are doing a good job at trying to read the scriptures.”

Wouldn’t that be cool to have your own personal epistle from an apostle?

The very specific and personal praise and correction?!

Well…

I don’t think we have to wonder about this hypothetical situation.

Because we have the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” (Philippians 3:15)

God will reveal to us what we can change and improve.

THROUGH the Holy Ghost!

What can I improve?

What am I doing well?

The Holy Spirit can give us those specific answers when we ask with sincere intent to act on the counsel we receive.

And we then can discover our own personalized epistle, straight from the Savior.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Your personalized epistle first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.