Book Review: The Divine Center
You know that President Benson quote “Men and women who turn their lives over to God find that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can”? Have you ever wondered how to do that on a day-to-day basis?
I recently finished reading a book that I consider to be a must-read for every member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s called The Divine Center by Stephen Covey. It addresses the confusion you sometimes feel as a member of the Church about the proper role of God, Church, marriage, family, friends, making a living, and other things in our lives.
Have you ever heard someone say something at Church or in conference that didn’t quite sit right with you? Did that person present their opinion as a general consensus or as an accepted doctrine, leaving you wondering if everyone else thought the same way and you were an outsider because you didn’t agree? Did you ever feel pressured to do something you didn’t feel right about inside? What do you do when you feel that way?
The answer given in The Divine Center sounds simple, and it can be once you develop a trusting relationship with God: God is always first in your life, and He will let you know what to put second. And it won’t look the same for everyone. That’s why sometimes people say things in church and you think, “What? That’s not the way it is for me.” Or simply, “I don’t believe that.” If you’ve never felt that way, I have to wonder if you’re awake during church. Just sayin’. People do not always think alike or have similar experiences, so it’s expected in any church that members will disagree on things.
But back to the book. If you follow the Spirit and act in accordance with the guidance you receive, you will feel peaceful about your choices, regardless of how others respond. You will see God’s hand in your life as you move forward, acting on promptings you receive, and you will be amazed at what God is doing with you!
The Divine Center shows how putting God at the center of your life affects everything for the positive. It also shows that you can put things like marriage and family at the center of your life to your detriment, again, whether or not you are married. If your self-worth is based on your marital status, you’re on shaky ground, regardless of your marital status! He talks about being money-centered, possession-centered, pleasure-centered, friend-centered, and enemy-centered as well. The book shows what happens when you become Church centered, also not a good thing according to Covey.
Here’s an example out of the book that relates to being “Church-centered”. A man was called as a bishop and he vowed he would give his all to the Lord [but he did so by giving all his attention and time as much as possible to his church calling, which is not the same as giving his all to the Lord]. When Brother Covey asked how things were going, the man expressed his anger and frustration because two sons had turned against him and their relationships were in ruin. He expected the Lord to take care of him [meaning, make his relationships great even though he wasn’t nurturing them?] because he had chosen to devote his life to the Lord.
Do you see the problem? Putting your church calling “first” isn’t the same as putting God first.
Covey shares his ideas on how to make God the center of your life, while fully admitting that he’s not perfect, but he’s always striving to be God-centered. His book First Things First (next week’s book review) was also very helpful for me when it came down to the day-to-day time management needed to make your life God-centered. Prayerfully planning my week ahead of time helps me sense what God would have my priorities be for that week. I schedule those priorities and then try to live flexibly because I’ve noticed that the Spirit does a lot of in-the-moment guiding.
For example, a couple of Sundays ago, I woke up with this impression: “Give your book FHEasy to someone in the stake Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society presidencies.” My response? “Okay.” I had no idea who was in the presidencies, how I would get their contact information, or how I would get them my book, but God knew, so I didn’t worry. And I was able to give them each a book within a week! Our new stake president also visited our ward on fast Sunday the next week. I hadn’t met him before so I didn’t recognize him, but as he bore his testimony of family home evening, I felt a strong urge to give him one of my books. Luckily, I had one in the car. When we talked and I found out he was our new stake president, I was amazed at how the Lord had orchestrated everything so I was able to meet and give my book to the four people He obviously wanted me to give them to at the time. How cool is that?
One day, I prayed about what the Lord’s top priority for me to do that day was and I felt I should email a former BYU professor of mine about a talk I’m developing. The working title is “12 Things from Church History that I Want My Kids To Know Before They Leave Home”. Actually, I want every member of the Church to know these things, which is why they’re all included in my book and I’m developing a separate talk on them. When I emailed him, I was shocked to get an immediate response! But, should I have been? The Lord knew my professor’s schedule. He knew when would be a great time for me to email him so he’d get the email and have a chance to respond. Still, I find myself amazed that the Lord is involving Himself in the details of my life in such a visible way. It’s humbling and exhilarating at the same time.
I want to end with President Benson’s full quote:
Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. [From First Presidency Christmas devotional, 7 December 1986, in “President Benson Suggests Gifts of Service, Obedience to the Savior,” Ensign, March 1987, p. 76]
So, go for it! Prayerfully ask if you are doing your best to put God at the center of your life and how you can do it even better, then act on the guidance you receive. Be open to ideas you are familiar with like prayerfully reading the scriptures and fasting, etc. But also be open to things that aren’t so center-stage at church, like drawing, spending time in nature, exercising, and developing a gratitude practice. Between you and God, you’ll find some awesome, personal ways to connect. I can tell you from personal experience that as I strive to put God at the center of my life, it’s more adventurous and fulfilling than ever.
Happy Reading!
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