The Atonement

I've been thinking a lot about the atonement lately. How I can better understand it. How I can better apply it in my life. How I can better teach the concepts to Zack. How it can bring me closer to my Savior & enrich my relationship with Him.

I started by reading the book, The Peacegiver. I am not quite through it yet, but it has been enlightening & has deepened my understanding of several concepts.

So often we talk about the atonement being all-encompassing. Atoning for not only our sins, but our feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, hurt or fear. And while that is all fine & good...it is so much deeper than that & I wanted to get deeper into it.

Going into this study I knew there would be things I would need to change & work on. I knew and continue to know that I fall short everyday. As I've studied I have come to realize just how short I fall and yet I don't feel despair about it. I feel hope. I suppose that is the underlying message of the atonement. Hope. I can do better. With the Lord changes can be made.

One thing I've loved learning more about is our tenancies to blame our sinfulness on the sinfulness of another. Today for example, as I was driving I came across a totally inconsiderate driver...I had the right-of-way & I was right & he was wrong. BUT my reaction to his mistake was to mutter under my breath about what an idiot he was, etc, etc. I immediately caught myself & almost laughed out loud. Due to his sinfulness I felt justified in my own, which is wrong. My sins are not justifiable based on another's sinful acts towards me. Our Savior stands in between to carry the sins of others that adversely affect us. He comes to us for forgiveness on the part of the other party. It is our responsibility to accept His offering. That is not to say that we won't have to feel the effects of another sins, but that through the atonement we can be strengthened with the peace & hope that only the Lord can offer.

I need to do better at being quick to forgive. Looking more closely at my own sinfulness & taking steps to realign my thoughts & actions with those of the Lord.

My daily question for myself is: What would the Lord have me do today?