More from "Infinite Power of Hope"

Continuing on with yesterday's thoughts on how hope ties into commandments and promises:
"Hope is not knowledge,¹⁷ but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.¹⁸ It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered."
I like how powerful that sounds "expecting" our prayers to be answered. Sometimes I am superstitious. In my mind, I know it is illogical, but my feelings reign sometimes (which, offhandedly, is a natural man trait). So, I think that if I expect something to happen, the opposite will happen just because I've already conceived an ending. I'll think to myself, 'wouldn't it be great if Joe came home early and surprised me?' but then I think, 'oh sad. Now that I thought it, it won't happen.' This ties into expecting things from the Lord. On my mission I would try not to let myself think that a certain investigator was going to make it because then I would be afraid I might jinx them. (I'm glad I'm writing about this because it sure doesn't make sense when I think it out). God wants me to expect things from Him, right? As an analogy, I want to take such good care of Elijah that he can expect me to pick him up as soon as he gets hurt. I guess that is a part of a loving relationship. So, I can expect from God that He will answer my prayer and that won't jinx anything. =)
I wonder if it is presumptuous of us to ever expect anything from God. And even when He does come through with His promises (which I know He always will) I hope my gratitude will never be shadowed by thinking I was entitled to that blessing. I just think of King Benjamin's great reminder of my relationship with my Heavenly Father:
"...I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken of by the mouth of the angel. And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true..." Mosiah 4:11
And once again, there is a promise with the commandment: always remember your standing in the eyes of God and then you will
1. always rejoice (paradoxically...you'd think reminding yourself of your lowly state would make you sad a depressed.)
2. filled with the love of God
3. always retain a remission of your sins
4. shall grow in the knowledge of God
The promises actually continue into verses 13-16 (won't have a mind to injure another, desire to live in peace, take care of children, succor all those who need it....)
And all of that, just from remembering our relationship to God.

"And what kind of existence can we hope for? Those who come unto Christ, repent of their sins, and live in faith will reside forever in peace. Think of the worth of this eternal gift. Surrounded by those we love, we will know the meaning of ultimate joy as we progress in knowledge and in happiness. No matter how bleak the chapter of our lives may look today, because of the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we may hope and be assured that the ending of the book of our lives will exceed our grandest expectations. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”^{26 (1 Corintians 1:9)"
---I think this is my favorite description of Heaven.}