More strivings within

I bet you thought I forgot I was writing about this hymn, right? I didn't forget. I've just been busy.

"More holiness give me, More strivings within,"

Mirriam-Webster gives two possible definitions of the verb strive: 1. to devote serious effort or energy; and 2. to struggle in opposition; contend.

As I've thought about these definitions and using them in the context of this prayer/song, it has made sense to me to combine them. We want to devote serious effort and energy within our own souls to become better. So, what or who are we contending with as we try to achieve this? The natural man.

"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." (Mosiah 3:19)

We spend our lives with more and more strivings within as we devote serious effort to contending with the natural man and choosing to become submissive to the Lord's will. The following scripture very plainly tells us some of the blessings of submission:

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." (Helaman 3:35)

The blessings listed in Helaman include having their souls filled with joy and consolation. I think a connotation of the word submission in our culture is that one is weak and being oppressed. But when the submission is to God, the person becomes strong and filled with joy. Because God does not oppress. God is love.