As a Civil Engineer he learned to design seismic-resistant structures. Is he going to teach us about building seismic-resistant lives?
Fasting brings us spiritual strength and prepares us for the trials of life.
The buffetings of Satan can leave cracks in our lives {but those can be fixed}.
If we build our lives according to the devine design our lives will be fit for purpose even when they have been apparently damaged by the storms of adversity.
The engineer makes the calculations that indicate the dimensions, qualities, and characteristics of the foundations, columns, beams, concrete slabs, and other structural elements being designed. These results are translated into plans and technical specifications, which must be strictly followed by the builder in order for the work to materialize and thus fulfill the purpose for which it was designed and is being built.
Calculations are not earthquake-resistant, neither are plans or specifications. Only the final building is earthquake-resistant if it is built according to the appropriate calculations, plans, and specifications.
How blessed we are to count on a knowledge of the plan of salvation created by our Heavenly Father, to have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and to rely on the inspired direction of living prophets! All the former constitute the divinely designed “plans” and the “technical specifications” that teach us clearly how to construct happy lives—lives that are resistant to sin, resistant to temptation, resistant to attacks from Satan, who is desperately seeking to frustrate our eternal destiny to be together with our Heavenly Father and with our beloved families.
What were some of the factors that helped the Savior to be prepared
- He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, a fast that must have been accompanied by constant prayer. So, although He was physically weak, His spirit was very strong…fasting brings us spiritual strength and prepares us to be resistant to the trials of this life.
- He always answered Satan having scriptures in His mind, quoting them, and applying them at the right moment.
I would say that the three things that can help us be resistant to the influence of the Adversary are: 1) Fasting; 2) Prayer; 3) Feasting on the word.
The event of an earthquake leaves its mark even on structures that were correctly designed and built—such consequences as perhaps some cracks, fallen furniture or ceilings, and broken windows. But this well-designed and well-built edifice will fulfill its purpose of protecting its occupants, and with some repairs, it will recuperate its original condition.
In similar fashion, the buffetings of the adversary can also cause “cracks,” or some partial damage in our lives, in spite of our efforts to build our lives according to the perfect divine design. These “cracks” can manifest themselves through feelings of sadness or remorse for having committed some errors and for not having done everything perfectly, or for feeling that we are not as good as we want to be.
But what is truly relevant is that for having followed the divinely designed plans and specifications, that is, the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are still standing. The structure of our lives has not been demolished because of the adversary’s efforts or for difficult situations that we have had to face; rather, we are ready to move forward.
Fasting, prayer, and scripture study do not prevent us from being buffeted or from taking some damage from the buffeting but they enable us to remain functional and repairable despite the buffeting.
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