A New Writing, The Communication Standard, Impossible To Fail
The Disciple-Leader Newsletter #29 // August 13, 2023.
Discipleship. Leadership. Mental Performance.
DISCIPLESHIP
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”
Heraclitus
You change every day.
One writer put it this way, "We change bit by bit, day by day, habit by habit. We are continually undergoing microevolutions of the self."
The circumstances in our lives can change as rapidly as we do.
Bit by bit, day by day.
It's never the same river. You're never the same person.
This is why it's critical to study the word of God daily.
The scriptures are like the Liahona. Their physical nature doesn't change. The words stay the same. But studying them by the power of the Holy Ghost gives us "a new writing, which was ... changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it" (1 Nephi 16:29).
This new writing is the Lord's personal communication to you through His messenger, the Holy Ghost.
Because you're not in the same river today as you were yesterday, and you're not the same person today as you were yesterday, you need new writings bit by bit, day by day.
The Lord wants to give them to you. Feast upon His words and find them.
LEADERSHIP
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy' that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication.”
Russell M. Nelson
Jesus modeled this brilliantly.
When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Matt 8:10)
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. (Matt 11:11)
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. (Matt 15:28)
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)
He was constantly speaking highly of others behind their backs. This is the standard Christ set. If we are to take His name upon us and represent Him, it needs to be our standard too.
MENTAL PERFORMANCE
"Act as though it were impossible to fail."
Vaughn J. Featherstone
There seem to be 2 dominant mindsets that set the tone for our approach in life.
Approaching life with the mindset to seek success.
Approaching life with the mindset to avoid failure.
These two approaches, though they might not seem all that different, are diametrically opposed.
The mindset of seeking success encourages taking bold action.
The mindset of avoiding failure encourages spectating your way through life, hoping not to get hurt.
The mindset of seeking success fosters faith.
The mindset of avoiding failure fans fear's flame.
The mindset of seeking success acts as though it were impossible to fail.
The mindset of avoiding failure doesn't act, too afraid of what could go wrong.
Which mindset is driving your approach to life?
Disciple-Leadership: Jesus-led. Lead like Jesus.