this guidance about living a christ-centered life is probably more specific about how to live a christ-centered life in this post-modern age. below are seven ideas for striving to live a more christ-centered life in 2013 and beyond.
#1 - less is more. our calendars are over-scheduled with practices, school events, church events, meetings, tv shows, movies, video games, smartphone apps, the internet, dates, engagements, camp outs, parties and the list goes on and one. our calendars are particularly full in the months of october, november and december. just this month, our local ward carried out five activities over 4 weeks. there were no activities in september or august. if we are gong to center our life on christ, we must push back against the tide of activities that sap time from our meditation, scripture study and communing with god. (read o be wise by elder ballard).
#2 - manage tech in your life. we are always on our phones, tablets and computers. just as we fast from food and water, we must fast from technology more often. abolish tech from your kitchen dinner table when dinner is served. read a book instead of playing the latest and addictive game. limit your time using social media, playing games, watching tv and movies. rather, go on a walk, exercise more, meditate and commune with god more.
#3 - develop integrity. do you know what integrity means? it means being honest, having strong moral principals and being morally upright. it means being in a whole (complete) state and undivided. think of a piece of wood or a slab of cement. if it has cracks or rot, it does not have integrity - it will break at the weak point when it experiences stress. but if the piece of wood or cement slab has integrity, it is strong throughout. we need to develop our integrity and moral people.
#4 - repent. as part of developing your moral integrity, we must all repent. to do that, we need to understand what christ taught and then we must compare our life to his teachings and then determine where we are weak. and where we are weak, but must turn that weakness into a strenth (ether 12:27). if we are weak in honesty, then we must develop the attribute of honesty. repentance and discipline must go hand in hand.
#5 - study the life of christ. if we would have our life centered in christ, we must know who he is; what he taught. make studying the scriptures a daily habit. study the new testament; especially the gospels. study the book of mormon and note those sections that speak and talk of christ. listen to and read the general conference talks. note all the words that speak of christ-like discipleship. learn the attributes of christ and develop them in your life. there are numerous resources on the teachings of christ ... if you seek, you shall find.
#6 - make and keep covenants with god. christ was baptized to covenant with god that he would follow him. we too should enter covenants with god. you can do this by being baptized and regularly partaking of the sacrament. you can even enter the temple to make additional, specific covenants with god. once you make those covenants, do all that you can to keep them. as part of those covenants, promise to serve others. serve by paying tithes and offerings, giving service, helping others, counseling and teaching others and by simply loving. if you fail to keep any covenant you've made, see point number 4 above.
#7 - come unto christ. in summary, to make your life centered in christ, then come unto him (see john 14:6). the prophet ameleki in the book of mormon has some very wise counsel, "i would that ye should come unto christ, who is the holy one of isreal, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and prayer, and endure to the end; and as the lord liveth ye will be saved." (omni 1:26)
was this helpful? what other ways can you strive to live a christ-centered life in this post-modern world?
