Self Mastery

 "The first and best victory is to conquer self; to be conquered by self is of all things, the most shameful and vile."   -Plato

Lessons Learned:

I have loved our topic of study this week of Self-Mastery. I think of the scripture in Matthew when Jesus asks his disciples to "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). I think often of this phrase of the spirit being willing, but the flesh is weak. To me, self-mastery is overcoming the natural man. It is taking what our spirit knows to be best and right because it is in alignment with God, and then conquering the body and overcoming flaws from the fall. 

In all things that were read and studied this week, this message comes bearing hope and a promise that it can be done. For example, my natural man craves worldly possessions, wealth, status, and power. This is not what God wants for me. I know that. It is a battle that rages inside of me. We are taught that "the natural man is an enemy to God" (Mosiah 3:19). I believe it is part of mortality's great test to overcome the natural man and develop self-discipline and, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, self-mastery.

I can practice and develop self-discipline right now. I can do what I say I will do. Each night before I go to bed, I plan out my tomorrow. Often I will make a list of things that I need to accomplish. Most days I make progress on my list. Somedays I complete everything. Somedays I accomplish almost nothing. The days that I give my full effort- even if I don't accomplish everything on my list- leave me with a feeling of power and peace. It is because I have given what I had to give to do what I said I would do. I believe this is living a life of integrity. It is a step on the path to self-mastery. 

Lessons Not Yet Learned:

What I haven't learned yet is to live intentionally like this everyday. I hope that I am making progress. I hope that I am showing the Lord that He can trust me. I hope that I am practicing prioritizing God and family so that when the time comes for me to make other choices, I will exercise my loyalty to my covenants with God and my family. 

What will I do tomorrow to practice self-discipline? I will take my little girls roller-skating like I promised I would even if it means I don't get all my schoolwork done that I want to tomorrow.