"... by what we love." - Goethe
What do we spend our time thinking about, dreaming about, and planning? The things that we love do indeed shape us. They drive our thoughts and our actions. They are our highest priorities. We sacrifice for them.
There are many beautiful things to love. The world around us, the work that we do, culture and art, nature, friends and family. It is important to recognize that the things that occupy our energies and our happiness - even the smallest pleasures - influence us and change us. Do we consider this when we make choices about our friendships, our daily tasks, as well as the media that we consume? Do we strive to learn to love good and edifying things?
We do not only give our heart to the things that we love - we give our entire lives and our eternal progression. Consider now what you are literally devoted to. These are our idols and our gods. If we love the Lord, we will be fashioned like Him. It may not come easily to love things that are good, but the greatest gift we have is our moral choice - we can change our tastes and preferences. We can change our hearts. We can change what we love if we ask the Lord to help us. He will "give [us] another heart" (1 Samuel 10:9).
"If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." - 13th Article of Faith
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