Promise of Obedience (02/09/2017)

Joshua l: 7 says:
 
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

The phrase "turn not from it to the right hand or to the left" itemizes that we need to obey the Lord's laws with "exactness"  and honor.

Exactness as the stripling young warriors:
Alma 57:21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them;

Honor: From the Merriam Webster definitions:

: respect that is given to someone who is admired
: good reputation : good quality or character as judged by other people
: high moral standards of behavior

and:
8 a : a keen sense of ethical conduct : integrity <a man of honor>
b : one's word given as a guarantee of performance <on my honor, I will be there>

If we live or obey a law with respect for its value, we are living it with honor.

So, I've tried to live a good and righteous life - - tried? I have lived a good and righteous life. Why then have I always struggled so much in the financial arena? Why can I only rise to the level of "just below the poverty line"?

The answer lies in DC 130.
20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

And in Proverbs 3:
5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Now we put the pieces together.
1. As righteous as I am in one area, it doesn't give me blessings in another area (DC 130) where I am depending on, or leaning on my own ability more than the Lord's, or where I operate in fear more than trust.

2. Not really understanding why I had such poor financial abilities isn't really an excuse, I made the most important step to solving it before I understood.
That step is Proverbs 3:5. It is particularly important when it is something difficult for us to do or be. What I did that helped was actually give up trying to do it (successfully run my business*) and tell the Lord that I can't, and he'll have to run it.
I was totally willing to take any consequence of my actions.  But because I did that, he did take over, and my practice improved. Instead of feeling like I had to do all of the finding and business generating, I just let the Lord do that.

3. So even though I have not gotten so I am financially secure in an "arm of flesh" understanding viewpoint, my faith has blessed me in that the Lord has taken care of me, and in that I believe he still will.

*Giving up is not always the correct advise. For my issue, the more things I did that helped my business grow, and the more successful it was, the more there were devistating drops of either patient load decreases, or unexpected expenses that wiped out cash reserves. The more I did, the worse it got. I needed to stop and let the Lord do it. A more full explanation is clear through the viewpoint and witn an understanding of GNM.