1. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 4:1-12; 5:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6,11
Then compile a list of attributes Paul counseled members to improve on.
- Love one another (this means ALL men you encounter, not just the people you are friends with)
- abstain from fornication and lust
- don't take advantage of people in any way
- study and learn; educate yourself
- work hard and learn to work
- watch for the coming of the Lord. Be vigilant.
- have faith and love and the hope of salvation
- abstain from wrath towards others
- comfort and help each other
- Know the people around you and be good leaders
- "warn them that are unruly"
- "comfort the feebleminded"
- "support the weak"
- "be patient toward all men"
- Don't condone the actions of evil between anyone.
- Rejoice
- "pray without ceasing"
- Be thankful
- Don't ignore/suppress/extinguish the spirit
- Don't despise the prophesying or revelation of the Prophet and his Apostles
- "Abstain from all appearance of evil"
- Pray for each other, and for the strength and for protection from evil
- Don't participate in activities that are against the Lord's commandments
2.Select three attributes from your list and write plans on how you want to improve in each area
1."abstain from wrath towards others" -I want to improve this area in my life because oftentimes I find that I get annoyed/worked up over the littlest things. Whether I'm driving in my car and someone does something that bugs me, or I see a post on Facebook that annoys me. I seem to allow myself to get worked up over things that I just shouldn't take the time to get worked up over. This has always been a problem in my life where I let people anger me. I want to be better at letting things go that can and should be let go. I don't need to get so worked up.
2."warn them that are unruly" - I tend to avoid confrontation with people about things I disagree with. If someone in participating in an activity that I think is inappropriate I never say anything and sometimes I joke about it with them so as not to look stuck up or to avoid a "holier than thou" attitude. This is usually in situations that I am in directly. I want people to know where I stand and I don't want there to be any confusion as to what I believe or think is appropriate. I'm tired of people talking to me like I think or should think its okay. I'm not talking about hunting people down and telling them they are misbehaving, because men have their agency and who am I to hunt them down and tell them to change. I'm simply talking about situations I happen to be in. I don't want to condone actions that I don't actually agree with simply because I don't want to offend anyone.
3."pray without ceasing" - This one is one that I use to be extremely good at, but the past couple of years I have not been as good about. I love the Lord and I love talking to him, and I noticed that once I didn't keep up that habit of constant conversation, things were a little harder to deal with and I felt lonelier. I felt like I wasn't getting answers to things in my life. However, when I was praying constantly and actually putting thought into my prayers I could constantly feel answers to my thoughts and concerns. It was that time in my life that I made some very good decisions that helped me get where I am today. I want to have that again and be better at praying to my Heavenly Father.
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