Shaping Our Thoughts: How to Make Our Lives Worth Living in the Gospel

Sometimes, we just wait for good things to fall into our laps. We hope that life will magically become better, that the difficult moments will just smooth over themselves, or that the Lord will just magically fix the broken pieces without us having to do anything.

It’s a natural human tendency, isn't it? We want the blessings, but we often forget that the covenant path requires us to actively participate. It requires us to *choose*.

Recently, I was reflecting on a talk that really hit home, reminding me of the constant work required to keep our thoughts aligned with the Spirit. It’s so easy to get caught up in the narrative of what *should* happen, or what *was* done to us, that we forget the power we have right now, in this moment, to direct our minds toward the Savior.

We hear beautiful scriptures—like Deuteronomy 30:19, where we are presented with life and death, blessing and curse. But the principle is so much more personal: We are presented with the choice of what we will focus on. Will we dwell on the unfairness, the past hurts, or the challenges that feel overwhelming? Or will we choose to focus on the covenant promises?

The key, I realized, is that we can’t always control the circumstances—the tough assignments, the discouraging mission discussions, or the personal trials we face. But we absolutely have influence over our *attitudes* toward those things. And that, dear disciples, is where the power of the Spirit meets our daily effort.

Renewing the Mind: The Daily Work of a Disciple

The scriptures are crystal clear on this. Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 that we must not be conformed to the world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This isn't just a suggestion for Sunday school; this is the daily work of discipleship.

When we talk about being an internet missionary, or even just being a disciple in our own homes, we are constantly engaging in this mental work. We are learning to replace the thoughts of doubt, fear, or cynicism with the truth of the Gospel. We are learning to see the potential for good, even when the immediate evidence points elsewhere.

Think about it: The word of God, as scripture teaches, is living and active. It is sharp—it cuts to the very core of our being. When we study the scriptures, or when we participate in a Book Club, we aren't just reading words; we are allowing the Spirit to work on our understanding, to refine our thoughts until they reflect the pattern of Christ.

This process requires grace, and it requires us to remember that we are never alone. When the thoughts get overwhelming, when the "old self" starts whispering doubts, we have to remember where our true strength comes from. We are taught to look to the Savior, to trust that even the chaos can be gathered up, because nothing good happens by accident.

Overcoming the Bad with the Good

There is a powerful principle in Romans 12:21: "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." This isn't passive optimism; it’s active discipleship. It’s choosing to respond to unkindness with kindness, to doubt with testimony, and to despair with the steadfast law of the gospel.

As we prepare for our own service, or as we help our friends understand the plan of salvation, we are practicing this daily. We are learning to focus on the *good*—the eternal principles, the covenants, the Atonement—because those things are unshakable. They are the anchors for our minds.

If you are feeling the weight of your own thoughts today, or if you are struggling to keep your focus on the covenant path, I encourage you to lean into the resources available to us. Remember that Davee is here, ready to walk you through those tough questions an investigator might ask, helping you practice articulating the gospel with clarity and compassion. Or, if you need a deeper dive into scripture, check out the Social Scripture Study layer in LivingBook.

Let's commit today to not just *knowing* the gospel, but to *thinking* the gospel—to letting the Spirit renew our minds until our thoughts, our words, and our actions are all pointing toward eternal life.

If this message resonated with you, I invite you to join our next virtual gathering. It’s a chance to share insights and strengthen our resolve together. Details are posted in the community feed!