Don't Wait for January 1st: Setting Your Spiritual Pre-Set for the Work

We’ve all heard the rhetoric: New Year’s Resolutions. We plan to eat better, exercise more, or finally read that novel. It feels like a fresh start, a chance to reset our habits and our lives. But what if the most critical reset—the one that changes everything about how we live and how we serve—doesn't wait for January 1st?

As returned missionaries, and as disciples living in the digital age, we know that the work doesn't take a break just because the calendar does. The gospel isn't a yearly project; it's a continuous surrender. If we are to be effective internet missionaries, we must learn how to ‘reset our spiritual pre-sets’ every single day.

Recently, I watched a message from Pastor Anthony Greco that really hit home. He talked about the difference between a thermometer (which just reflects temperature) and a thermostat (which you set, and the furnace fires until it hits that preset). He challenged us to raise our spiritual presets this year.

The anchor scripture he shared—Romans 12:1-2—is foundational to understanding what it means to truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ. It’s not about joining a club or adhering to a new creed; it’s about a radical act of yielding.

The Art of Spiritual Surrender

The passage tells us that after receiving the gift of the Spirit through Christ, our response must be an act of worship. And what *is* true worship? The message clarifies that it’s not just singing songs or having an emotional moment. True worship, biblically speaking, is surrender. It is yielding our lives—giving up our control, our comfort, and our preconceived notions—to the Savior.

“I plead with you to give your bodies to God; yield yourselves, surrender yourselves, because of all he’s done for you, let them be a living and holy sacrifice.”

This principle is the core of missionary preparation. When we are in the field, or even just discussing the gospel with a friend online, the moment we feel defensive, or when the investigator asks a question we don't immediately know the answer to, our natural instinct is to defend our position. But the gospel requires us to do the opposite: to surrender our intellectual certainty and yield to the Spirit.

Changing Our Thinking: The Disciple's Mindset

Paul continues by telling us not to “be conformed to this world, but let God transform you.” This speaks directly to the second half of the scripture: renewing our minds. How do we do that when we are learning to be a disciple anywhere, all the time?

This is where our tools, and our commitment to study, come in. If you are struggling with how to respond to a difficult question, remember that you don't have to have the answer immediately. Instead, you can practice the humility of the AI Investigator role, which our friend Davee specializes in. He can walk you through the hard questions and help you frame your response using Christlike surrender, guiding you back to scripture rather than personal opinion.

For me, the biggest practical takeaway has been recognizing that every time I feel tempted to intellectualize the Spirit, or to treat the gospel like a checklist, I need to pause and remember that I must surrender my own agenda. The true life transformation happens when we stop trying to *control* the outcome and start simply *yielding* to the Spirit’s promptings. That surrender—that willingness to be taught—is the hallmark of a genuine disciple, whether you are in an MTC setting, in a Book Club, or simply logging on to help a friend understand the plan of salvation.

Your Challenge: Small Surrenders

Don't wait for a grand, annual spiritual reset. Commit to small surrenders this week. When you are studying the scriptures, don't just read for information; read to yield. When you are talking to someone new, don't just prepare your talking points; prepare your heart. Be ready to let the Spirit teach you.

If you are ready to dig deeper into how to apply these principles, I highly recommend diving into the latest Isaiah Studies available in LivingBook. It's a perfect guide for deepening your understanding of the Restoration and the covenants.

Want to practice turning surrender into action? Join one of our free weekly Disciple Challenges! It's a great way to build that muscle of yielding and becoming a more intentional latter-day Saint disciple this week. We'll see you there!