In the Christian world, it is common knowledge “that there is opposition in all things…” (2 Nephi 2:11). The following quote is pulled from a talk given by President Marion G. Romney (1897-1988) called “Satan, the Great Deceiver”: “The general acceptance of Satan’s declaration, ‘I am no devil, for there is none’ (2 Nephi 28:22), accounts in large measure for the decadence in our deteriorating society. We Latter-day Saints [or those who are not of our faith] need not be, and we must not be, deceived by the sophistries of men concerning the reality of Satan. There is a personal devil, and we had better believe it. He and a countless host of followers, seen and unseen, are exercising a controlling influence upon men and their affairs in our world today.”
Indeed, we often brush over the reality of Satan, that he and his followers play as much of an active role in our lives as do Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the angels that surround us. The battle is still waging on, in a fight for the souls of Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters. We must be vigilant and hearkening unto our church leaders. Below are some suggestions for things that I have learned through understanding more about the nature of Satan’s deceptions and tactics he uses on us:
Good, Better, Best
Growing up, my family struggled at times financially, being late to church, and in our relationships with each other. But something that we have always struggled with is being too busy. In an October 2007 General Conference address called “Good, Better, Best”, President Dallin H. Oaks mentioned that there are many activities, priorities and agenda items that can cloud our view of what matters most. What matters most is centering our lives around Jesus Christ. This includes and is not limited to setting aside time for personal and family prayer and scripture study, church and sacrament meeting attendance, and family dinner. Satan is the father of all lies, deception, and distraction. He would have us focus on everything that is good, maybe even better, but not the best for us. In the Book of Mormon, Alma exhorts his son Shiblon this principle: “And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness” (Alma 38:9). Have our lives and schedules become too busy with things that are good and better, but maybe not the best for us? It is hard to draw the line, but generally things that promote spirituality will equip us with sufficient sustenance that will keep our testimonies of Jesus Christ strong, identify and defend ourselves from Satan’s tactics of deception, and invite joy into our lives.
Self-Talk
According to Healthline.com, “Self-talk is your internal dialogue. It’s influenced by your subconscious mind, and it reveals your thoughts, beliefs, questions, and ideas.” Self-talk can be positive or negative in nature. In lieu of today’s topic, I will share a technique called “RAAR” which is an acronym for “Recognize, Accept, Action, Report” that serves as my game plan in times when my mind is captive to negative self-talk and Satan’s lies. This is based on a technique that I heard of this last week called “Notice it, Name it, Flip it, Find it, Drill it.” The principle behind this technique is to be able to catch yourself in your negative thinking patterns, nonjudgmentally acknowledge those thoughts as they are, reverse and replace them, and then seek support. For example, referencing my first blog’s example of the pressure to get married that exists in Provo: I often find myself getting caught ruminating over the thought that because I am not married yet, I am inadequate, unloveable, and unwanted. Using this technique in this situation would look something like this:
1) R ecognize - Recognize that you are thinking negative thoughts.
2) A ccept - Accept that you are powerless over Satan. This does not mean surrendering or succumbing to Satan, but acknowledging that you need help from God.
3) A ction - Change requires movement. The process of reversing your thoughts can include praying to God for strength for the ability to see the truth, and can help you feel an enormous amount of strength, healing, and love from God. Saying aloud or writing down positive affirmations, such as “I am adequate. I am loveable. I am wanted” can help combat and reverse the effects of negative self-talk. Lastly, meditation has proven to be an effective medium to process these thoughts.
4) R eport - Talk to a trusted family member or friend that can be there to listen non-judgmentally and be there as a source of support. Vulnerability and openness with others fosters healing both for you and those you love.
NOTE: Some of these principles are adopted from the LDS Family Services Manual: A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing as well as Life Changing Services.
“RAAR” is a model that is personalized to me and may not work for everyone, however I encourage you to create your own game plan when you find yourself stuck in a negative thinking pattern. As mentioned in my previous blog, these principles take time and practice to develop to a point where they are useful and personalized to you.
I know this is a scary and heavy subject, and for some may be a lot to take in, but here me out. Life is hard. However, in life the most joy comes through hard work and challenges. God places us in situations that will stretch us. Remember, God cares about progression more than perfection. Yesterday, I ran a 5k in what felt like 100 degree weather, and the last mile, all I could think about was a cold, refreshing drink when I got back to my apartment. As I imagined it to be, the reward of the drink and air conditioning and the feeling of satisfaction was great after accomplishing something so arduous. God desires to bless us with the best. “For behold, this is my work and my glory - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).
Have a great week everyone!