Walk With Christ Day 8

Day 8
Shepherds
Prayer: Pray to know specific ways that you can improve, to strengthen your testimony and that your testimony will allow you to act with courage and without hesitation when you receive spiritual promptings to share the gospel or serve others.

Hymns: “Far, Far Away On Judea’s Plains” Hymns # 212

Scripture: Doctrine & Covenants 100:10 And I will give unto him power to be mighty in testimony. Luke 2:8-20

Thought: “These shepherds bore their special witnesses to family, friends, and neighbors. Their experience was retold in the courts of the temple, and from there was to be told among all nations of the earth. Luke tells us that after the shepherds had seen ‘the babe lying in a manger…, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child’ (Luke 2:16-17). Such was the declaration of the angel who stood before them that holy night, that these ‘good tidings of great joy’ should ‘be to all people’ (Luke 2:10).” (“Twelve Witnesses of Christ’s Birth”, Joseph Fielding McConkie, Liahona, 1992, December)

Questions and thoughts to ponder:
What characteristics/virtues did the shepherds possess as portrayed by their actions upon hearing the “good tidings”? How should we act when we receive spiritual promptings or counsel from our prophet?

Personal Application: What can we do each day, so that “good tidings of great joy” can “be to all people”?

Action:
1. As you receive answers to your prayer, record it in a journal
2. Prayerfully set small goals for improvement-write them down.
3. Pray to keep these goals uppermost in your mind throughout the day.
4. Periodically evaluate your progress.

Reflections on this day of the walk: I wonder sometimes what would I do if I saw an angel? Would I be receptive enough to recognize a heavenly messenger or would I think I was hallucinating? Would I be obedient to the message given? Am I even worthy enough to receive spiritual promptings from the Lord and do I recognize them when they occur? Do I have the faith needed to follow the prophet? The shepherds never questioned that they had seen the angels proclaiming the birth of the Messiah. Their response was "And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." (Luke 2:15)They obeyed immediately. Can I learn from their example or am I too hard-hearted?