An Instrument in His Hands

I have often considered how to do good. It's so hard to define what is good. Paul says faith is required for goodness. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) Doing good comes through faith as we seek God.

Develop Faith

It is common to misconstrue faith to be synonymous with belief. However, faith is a belief in the word of the Lord. We can only really exercise faith if what we know what is His will. After we know, then we can seek what God wants, with a willingness to do whatever He asks.

Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men. (D&C 11:21)

Obtaining the word is specific to each moment, each day, each situation. What does the Lord want for this person? What does He want me to do in this situation? What is His vision? What does He want me to do NOW? As soon as we receive the word of God, the next step is to DO IT! We know we can do it because the Lord has commanded it.

"...the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7)

Choose the Right

Looking back I realize that I was completely blind to good and evil, right and wrong, righteousness and wickedness. I made decisions based on what I thought was right. I chose what I wanted to do based on my own understanding. Sometimes I chose right, and sometimes I picked the wrong way. I think if we know the options, and which is the best alternative, or the will of the Lord, we can always "choose the right." If, on the other hand, we are not aware of either what the options are, or which is good and bad, we are in a position to make mistakes.

God doesn't want us to randomly make choices, hoping we choose the right. He has given the way whereby we may make good decisions every time. I have lived my life assuming I know the will of God by choosing what felt right to me in the moment. I have always thought I should only ask God for things I cannot do myself, limiting myself to my severely rudimentary vision. I thought I was to be independent, doing everything on my own, asking God for help with what I couldn't do. I would try and do my best, however, now I know this is not His way.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

"Choose the right! Let no spirit of digression Overcome you in the evil hour.
There's the right and the wrong to ev'ry question; Be safe thru inspiration's pow'r." (Hymn 239:2)

The gift of the Holy Ghost is what gives us constant guidance to know what is right and what is wrong. Inspiration is the Holy Ghost telling us what God wants us to do in every situation. Good is the will of God. If we want to choose the right we must know the will of God. This is not the same as the witness of the Holy Spirit, or the light of Christ. The Spirit of God will bear witness of truth to one who is open to it. However, the Gift of the Holy Ghost is so much more -- it is the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit of God to tell us His will in ALL things!

"...If ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:5) All means all and all is all all means.

Thy word is my command

Every word of God is a commandment to us, as Jesus taught, "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." (Luke 4:4) To receive the commandments of God is to do what He says in every situation, every moment, every thought, word, and deed! It isn't keeping "the ten commandments" or doing as Jesus did, except as He said: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38) To do the will of God we must know the will of God in all things. This comes from the supernal Gift of the Holy Ghost.

We can become an instrument in His hands only when we are doing as He says, not just on Sunday, or occasionally, but every moment of every day. There is no division of time, space, energy, or effort. Our work is to do the will of God. We plow the fields according to His will. We watch the sheep according to His will. We buy according to His will.  We build our houses according to His will. We work according to His will. We sleep according to His will. We vacation according to His will. We give according to His will. There is nothing we do that is outside of His jurisdiction.

The way we do this is to "check in" with Him constantly. Or, as Paul says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." (Ephesians 6:18) There is no time when prayer is not appropriate! "Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." (Alma 34:27) If we "receive the Holy Ghost," and seek His will in all things, we will know what is right. At that point we can exercise faith by choosing to do it! This is what makes us an instrument in His hands.