Devotion as an eye single to a purpose or cause bigger than yourself. Devotion adds purpose, conviction, direction, and a natural energy to life. Devotion is understanding that it’s worth giving your all to the cause because you have confidence that the cause will lead to joy. It gives you the why – the purpose for your daily actions.
Ariella throws herself into life and her dedication is seen in her career as a Diamond Level Stylist, service as a leader in her local congregation, and many weekend trips to visit family. She brings laughter and light wherever she goes. She is an incredible example of someone who finds peace in Christ and conquers life’s challenges by walking with Him.
How would you describe devotion?
I would describe devotion as an eye single to a purpose or cause bigger than yourself. Devotion adds purpose, conviction, direction, and a natural energy to life. Devotion is understanding that it’s worth giving your all to the cause because you have confidence that the cause will lead to joy. It gives you the why – the purpose for your daily actions.
I remember a quote that said one of the dangers human beings face is getting caught up in the motions, just doing the actions and not seeing the reasons behind them. It’s important to find the why in whatever you do – connect to and hold true to it. Don’t just do things because they’re something to be done. Figure out the why and that will help lead to devotion.
What has helped you develop devotion?
First, I have seen examples of devotion in other people and been inspired by what drives them to make the choices that they do. These examples include scriptural references of prophets and stories of people immediately in my life.
Also, there are times when you are brought to the lowest parts of feeling lonely or unsure of your purpose, and you know that the only place to go is to your Heavenly Father and to work through that with your Savior. This process refines you and helps fills you with the most love, support, and individual worth that you can ever feel. That love brings a confidence and a surety in who you are and trying your best to stay connected to that fosters devotion.
Find people in your life that help remind you that you are loved by God regardless of your mistakes or the struggles that you face. It’s recognizing you have divine worth and power and you’re here because of that.
In my own self, I don’t realize that I have this devotion most of the time. I think we’re blessed with different things. I’m very fortunate to feel like some of the zeal that comes from within me wasn’t developed in this life but that I came to earth with it to help me fight the fight.
I’m just learning more about devotion every day. Ultimately, I believe it’s about finding your identity in your God and not in anyone or anything else. There is great joy is knowing that you’re something much greater than the things you have and are now.
What helps you maintain your devotion when life gets really hard?
Prayer. Absolutely. Sometimes it’s the last thing you want to do but they say that’s when you need it the most, right? I think it comes down to keeping communication open and having a strong relationship between a Father and a child. Communicating in openness, honesty, and familiarity helps you feel connected to Him on different levels – there are so many levels and ways to pray.
You learn that He’s so very willing to talk to us, but we just have to be willing to talk to Him. Once we open that door, there is an outpouring of feeling heard and a knowledge that He is aware of you. He wants to hear you and go through the experiences of life together, as would anyone who cares about you so much.
Sometimes, prayer is really raw and you just have to be real. Not discrediting the formality and reverence of it, but if you think of earthly fathers and others we talk to, it’s not always a solemn experience. Sometimes conversations include intense emotions. These are real, difficult things we’re facing and we can hash them out with Him. He wants to listen so He can help carry these hard things and know what we’re feeling and thinking. He already knows these things but God needs us to know that He’s okay knowing the good, the bad, and the ugly. Prayer also allows us to get these things off our chest and build trust in Him. There’s so much more to prayer than gratitude and asking for help; the Lord is there for us in every way. We just have to be okay with talking about everything with Him.
Surround yourself with people that are more devoted than you. You attract people you are like but also the behaviors you want to have. So seek influences for good that are stronger than your own ability at that time so they can help and inspire you.
Inspired works, such as the scriptures or words of modern prophets, teach a lot about what you can become by how they express gospel truths and Christlike attributes. Keeping your head and heart constantly flowing with those inspired works is a great way to influence your thoughts and increase devotion.
Is there a specific person that has helped you increase your devotion?
At any given point there has been someone near me like that. It’s hard to pick one because they’re all so important to me. But it comes down to my parents. I’m privileged to have some of the greatest souls as my parents. I think of my mom, in particular, and her example. She tries her very best to let nothing get in the way of putting Christ first in her life and seeking to become like Him.
My dad and mom are so unified in having an eternal perspective. They taught our family about Christ and becoming like Him in all the ways possible. If that’s not devotion, then I don’t know what is. They have always been open to wherever God leads them. Devotion is connected hand in hand with humility, so humility is a significant attribute in the people I know who are very devoted.
In what way has Christ influenced your devotion?
The Atonement of Jesus Christ really deepens my understanding of the quality of devotion. The incomprehensible measure of love, selflessness and purpose that Christ showed by giving Himself physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally – in all ways – for the greater good really encapsulates devotion for me. He has helped me learn devotion as I apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in my life. Not only knowing, studying, and teaching about what He did, but seeking Christ’s power actively, daily, in every way teaches me about devotion.
What encouragement would you give to someone struggling to feel devoted?
We can all relate to struggling with a desire to have or be fueled by devotion. Be involved in service. The Savior taught us that serving those around us is what life is about. There are times when we are trying to fill our emptiness and we look for something to help us immediately feel sustained. We want a light-switch to go on and provide immediate devotion. But just like anything, we need to develop devotion, to learn and work on it constantly. And service is really important in that process.
It doesn’t matter what service it is, just get involved in things that you allow you to forget about yourself and align with the gospel of Christ. This will inherently teach and help you develop devotion because you are doing the things God asks of us. Serving allows us to focus on how we feel when we do God’s will. The feeling of devotion will come naturally through service.
Serve yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back and tell yourself you’ll be okay. Or lend a hand to a neighbor. Just find daily ways to serve for the betterment of people and don’t forget to include yourself. That’s how you’ll learn devotion.
From my walk in life, I find it can be easy to get caught up in the smoke and mirrors, the confusion and darkness. Life is not supposed to be easy because it’s the hard work that refines us and teaches us. But in the challenge, don’t lose sight of the fact that we are meant to have joy. Be joyful in the work, because the work brings joy. Devotion helps us hold on to the joy.
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