Devotional: "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power"

I came across this verse a couple of days ago and like the message that it shares. It is found in D&C 123:17 and goes as follows:


"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."


As I ponder the phrase, "let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power", a couple of thoughts occur to me. First of all, that living the gospel should not feel like a burden to us. We should approach things cheerfully, with a heart full of gratitude. Also, to appreciate all that we have been blessed to have and know. And finally, to recognize what a blessing service is in our lives. How blessed we are when we live obedient to the will of God and have an intimate and interactive relationship with the Lord through prayer as a result. Second, that we must do all things in our power to do. We have limitations to what we can do but we can give all we have in regards to the things we can do. This is much more effective that instead feeling guilty about our shortcomings and weaknesses. We should instead allow the Lord to magnify our offering. This manifestations comes in all shapes and forms but most often by the service others render unto to us. To not allow the Lord to help us and think we can do everything ourselves, never seeking help, is pride. Everything we are able to do, in the first place, is because the Lord blessed us to be able to do so. When we do not trust in his arm and embrace his out reached hands whether literally or figuratively, is showing disrespect toward the Lord. Stated more directly, we do not recognize the role the Savior's Atonement plays in our everyday lives.