Spiritual Growth

Because I Know Him

/ Christine Maynor / 1 Comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
While watching The Chosen, I was touched by a conversation between Philip and Matthew. When Philip asked Matthew what he did before following Jesus, Matthew replied that he had been a tax collector. Philip gently reminded him that what mattered wasn't who he had been before meeting the Messiah, but who he was becoming because of Him. That conversation made me wonder: even though I can't walk beside Jesus as His disciples did, is knowing Him changing me? As I learn more about the Savior and strive to follow Him, am I becoming a little more like Him each day? 

Because I Know Him

As I strive to follow and be more like my Savior,
I must ask myself can I see changes in my behavior?
Am I becoming more kind and loving toward others
In this world that we share as sisters and brothers?

Am I becoming more patient with others on our journey?
Am I showing myself more patience and mercy?
Do I think before I speak when my thoughts are unkind?
Am I thinking the way Jesus would of the rest of mankind?

Am I seeing everyone around me through the lens of love,
Like Jesus would if He were here from up above?
Am I serving my fellowmen willingly like Jesus would?
Because He would look at everyone and just see the good.

Am I loving and giving myself more grace
As I look in the mirror at my imperfect face?
Am I becoming more faithful as I walk through every day?
Or does my faith depend on the lack of troubles that come my way?

I may not be able to see the change in my behavior,
But I hope that my transformation is visible to my Savior.
It doesn’t matter who I was before I met Jesus,
But what matters is that I am trying to overcome my every weakness.

The Takeaway: Spiritual growth is often difficult to see in ourselves. We may still notice our weaknesses and shortcomings, but Jesus sees every small step we take toward Him. The true measure of discipleship is not where we started, but who we are becoming through His grace. As we continue to know, love, and follow Him, He quietly shapes our hearts to become more like His. 

Watch my YouTube short on this topic here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/o76M3IAsMrE

Strength Born From Hard Days

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-May 30th, 2026

Roger Lee said, “Don’t get angry when life gets too hard on you, be thankful that you’ve been given the opportunity to learn to become stronger.” I really like this quote because it is so true. It also makes me think of the Kelly Clarkson song lyric, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

We are here on this earth to learn and grow and become more like our Savior and our Heavenly Father. Life was never meant to be easy all the time. Trials and hard moments help shape us into the people we are meant to become. Even though we sometimes wish our struggles could simply be taken away, they are often the very things that help us grow stronger in faith, compassion, and endurance.

I have days when I wish my chronic illness and all of its symptoms would disappear. Some days it makes life feel incredibly hard. But even in the middle of those struggles, I can see how it has changed me. It has made me stronger. It has brought me to my knees in prayer more than I used to, because prayer is often the only way I make it through my hardest days.

What trials in your life have helped shape you into a stronger person? How have your hardest moments brought you closer to God?

Because of Jesus, There is Hope

/ Christine Maynor / 1 Comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-May 5th, 2026

I read this verse today and it deeply touched me:

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” —1 John 4:9

The words that stood out to me most were “that we might live through him.” What a beautiful promise. Because Jesus suffered for our sins, died for us, and was resurrected, we are not left without hope.

Through Him, we can overcome our sins and shortcomings. Through Him, hearts can heal. Through Him, we can change, grow, and become better than we were yesterday. And because He was resurrected, we know death is not the end—we can live again.

There are some days when hope feels harder to find. Life can weigh heavily, and answers may seem far away. But on those days, I cling to my testimony that because of my Savior, hope is never gone.

What helps you hold on to hope when life feels heavy? How has the Savior helped you feel alive again in difficult seasons?

Because of Jesus Christ, there is always hope.

Trusting the Love That Guides Us

/ Christine Maynor / 2 Comments

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

My Daily Musings-March 20th, 2026

Being sick these past few weeks has brought back something I didn’t expect—the sound of my mom’s voice in my mind, gently reminding me to drink fluids, rest, and take care of myself.

When I was younger, I don’t think I fully appreciated how much she did for me when I was sick. The little things, the home remedies, the constant care—I just assumed they would always be there. But now, I find myself doing those same things for myself, and realizing just how much love was behind them all along.

Isn’t it interesting how appreciation often grows with time and experience?
How often do we overlook the quiet sacrifices made for us until we have to stand on our own?

Even though I’m not a parent, I feel a deeper gratitude now for all that my parents gave me. And it makes me think about my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

How often do I move through life without recognizing His hand in it?
Do I trust that He is caring for me, guiding me, and looking out for my best interests—even when I don’t fully understand?

Just as loving parents care for their children in ways they may not always see, our Heavenly Father is mindful of us in ways we may not always recognize.

Maybe part of growing is learning to see that care more clearly—and to trust it more deeply.

Learning From the Rough Places

/ Christine Maynor / Leave a comment

Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory: 
Lately I’ve been thinking about the weaknesses we carry and the mistakes we make. Sometimes those struggles feel discouraging, like proof that we are failing or not changing fast enough. But our weaknesses are not meant to defeat us—they are meant to teach us. As I reflected on my own struggles, I began to think of us like rough stones. When a stone is first taken from the earth, it is jagged and uneven. But over time, through polishing and shaping, those rough edges begin to smooth. In much the same way, the weaknesses we wrestle with throughout our lives can shape us if we allow the Savior to work in our hearts. Through His Atonement, our mistakes can become learning experiences instead of endings.

Learning From the Rough Places

My dear Father in Heaven,
I love thee much, without question.
I know I begin like a stone with edges so rough,
And I know being human and changing is tough.

Please help me to smooth out the ways I behave,
To become like Thy Son, the One who can save. 
Sometimes when Thy chisel strikes deep into me,
It hurts—but Thou seest what I cannot see.

Thou knowest my soul when I’m tempted to quit; 
Thou seest the light when I cannot find it. 
When I am discouraged by each flaw and fault, 
Please bring my heart’s heavy spirit to halt.

When I lose my temper with those I hold dear, 
Help them to forgive me and cast out my fear. 
Help me forgive me, and find through Thy grace, 
The warmth of Thy steady and loving embrace.

Please, Father, from deep in my flawed, honest heart, 
I ask for Thy help to make a brand-new start. 
I trust that through Jesus, Thy Beloved Son, 
I can be refined until we are all one.

The Takeaway: Weaknesses and mistakes are not signs that we are beyond hope. They are opportunities to grow, to become more humble, and to turn our hearts toward Jesus Christ. Through Him, our rough places can be softened and refined. As we trust the Savior and keep trying, the very things that once discouraged us can become the tools that help shape us into the people our Heavenly Father knows we can become.