I want to share an experience I've had.
The Lord has – without my awareness – guided me to do a course that I have no need of doing in my degree.
In this course, have been three assignments.
Whatever other factors there are in this experience, I want to focus on the affects/effects of early morning rising and retiring to bed.
For the first two assignments of this course, I have had to stay up late until the next morning, thus having almost zero sleep for two days in a row. Surprisingly, I survived those days.
Along with other distractions in life from sleeping early – such as studies, hanging out with friends, basketball, etc. – I started to develop a habit of late night retiring.
My body clock began to adjust, and whenever I would make the effort to sleep early, my body would not let me sleep.
One day, I met with my RM Advisors, who reminded and taught me of the doctrine, methods, and power of setting goals and making plans to an effective level.
It was that night (or a subsequent night) that I got on my knees, explained my situation to the Lord, and pleaded with Him to help me get back on track. Late night sleep and rising had taken a toll on my spirituality and therefore, my spiritual effectiveness. I wanted to gain the Holy Ghost's influence in my life more fully.
I knew that of all spiritual goals I could commit to, that early retiring and rising would have the biggest impact for me, as it would provide two hours each morning for soul searching, and God-searching in prayerful and ponderous scripture study. It would provide spiritual experiences that would kick start my day wonderfully. I knew I would receive revelation daily that would change the degrees of my life's direction forever, and I believed in President Hinckley's promise: “I promise you that if you go to bed at 10pm, and get up by 6am, things will work out for you” (paraphrased, Filled with Life and Energy, Ensign 2015).
So, I followed the steps of goal setting taught by my advisors. I placed my heart in complete, full, and unreserved commitment to keep this goal, no matter what. I pleaded with the Lord in my closet for the power and capacity, through the Atonement of Christ, to not only change my bad habit, but to change me forever. I promised Him that I would make it a lifelong commitment to be an early retiree and riser.
On that first night of commitment, I had forgotten to iron my shirt for the Sabbath day the next day. There were two houses in the neighbourhood playing extremely loud music. I still had my lack of ability to sleep early from an altered body-clock. These and other things made me see that everything and anything that could get in the way was indeed getting in the way.
But I held to my commitment. I determined what I should do for the following hour or so, and stuck to it. It was soul-wrenching in a way, but it felt good. It was a good pain.
I got to bed at 10pm, and slept considerably well after my night prayer of another heartfelt plea to God.
I arose at 6am, and surprised myself by being awake enough, energetic enough to study my scriptures. It was an amazing scripture study, which I recorded in my journal.
From that morning on, throughout that day, and even now, I know by experience that is possible to accomplish a good goal, no matter what is in the way, because it is possible to take upon you the enabling and strengthening power of Christ and His Atonement.
This occurred some days or weeks after the second assignment of the three assignments due for that aforementioned course. The first two assignments had me staying up all night into the next morning.
Having established a pattern and life of early retiring and rising, I began to discover long-loved blessings, particularly in my spirituality, but also in secular aspects of life – all things are spiritual to Him anyway.
The third assignment was completed with difficulty, struggle, prayer, but without a loss of wink of sleep. My commitment to sleeping early could have scared me to think that I would not be able to handle and balance life, having less time to commit to life's pursuits. Yet, I have experienced for myself that in a commitment to God's ways, He in turn gives you everything you need.
Even friends who asked for my help on the night before it was due, I committed to help them the next day, not during the night time when I needed to sleep.
Everything worked out well. My friends finished their assignment. I handed my assignment in, completed. More than all of that, I gained a witness that a full commitment to the Lord's ways actually makes life easier.
I leave a testimony of the power of retiring to bed early, and arising early, that places the sweet taste of eternal life upon the tongue, and the joy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us more fully throughout life. It takes faith to exercise, and it is worth the eternal blessings in the end.
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