Reflections

I thought many times this week about how my own prayers have been going. How I felt about my relationship with my Savior. There have been some very choice experiences as I have learned about prayer, this week.
I have a new respect for taking time alone. I have recognized the need for finding and preparing a place that I could go to and spend time with my Father. How I love that time. I have learned this week to make that time meaningful. I watched this week as my son; (who has seen me pray at the couch kneeling in the front room.) used the same spot to say his personal prayers.
I have come to know how important it is to follow those promptings to help others. I so enjoy serving others. It allows me the privilege to forget my own woes and help someone else. Even if that help comes in the form of communication. I have a friend who is always in some kind of crisis. I know, I know you could probably put me in this category. However, This friend just needed someone to talk to. they needed to feel validated and to feel hope. I prayed the whole time that I was talking to him that I would say something that might help him. The thoughts came quick. I was talking and I was able to echo the voice of the spirit.
Tonight, I had a truth hit me hard. I learned this equation:

Repentance + Prayer + Obedience = The ability to see the face of God

The verse goes on to say that not only will we be able to see him we will be able to recognize him. We will know him. What a great promise. If we will exercise our agency with these simple concepts we will be welcomed into the presence of the father.

How grateful I am for parents that taught me to pray. They taught me from a young age to be very comfortable in talking to a kind, loving God.

I know that prayers are answered. Often they are not the way in which we want. They are however answered in a time and place of our needs.

Seek the father

Take time to seek the Father. Learn about him. There is much we can glean from what the scriptures tell us. Seek that spirit that will guide us on our journey here below.
We can do that by reading.
But we seek him through Prayer. We come to him. We bring our cares, our likes, dislikes passions, to him. Through prayer we are able to act on our behalf to invite the presence of the Lord.
It prayer that is an outward demonstration of our faith and committment. It shows the father where he stands in our lives. Each of us has a breaking point as to what we will and will not do.
It is through this thing called faith that starts us building that relationship.

Building a relationship with God

I have many favorites when it comes to songs from the children's song book. One of those being the song "Search, Ponder, and Pray." I love this song because it tells us what we must do to build a relationship with our Father. In very simple terms we can see very clearly a well marked path. Heavenly Father loves us. Because of that great love he allows us the privilllage to come to him on our terms. We have to take that leap of faith and come to him in prayer. For some that may seem a hard thing. Why do I have to seemingly talk to myself? Why do I have to ask? Didn't he talk to Paul and Alma?
He wants us to act in faith. He will not force himself to us. I have recently come to enjoy a new hymn that I did not know. It is called "Know This That Every Soul Is Free" the song repeats in different ways the idea that God will force no man to heaven. He wants us all there. However, we must do somethings first.
First, we need to recognize that we need him. We need to prepare ourselves and come to him. By pouring out our hearts to him we show our willingness to be taught.
John Bytheway said "If you want to talk to God, pray. If you want God to talk to you, read your scriptures."
God helps us understand as we are willing to seek his word. The scriptures are the rod of iron that guides to the tree of life. The fruit thereof is truly exquisite. They bring light and life. I love coming to recognize the voice of the Lord as I am seaching his word.
Finally, Once we have gotten started down this path now we must put into action the things that we have learned. Heavenly Father holds us accountable for the knowledge that we recieve. act on what you hold to be true. Take time to sincerly ponder on the things of the spirit.

Pray for ..........

Each one of us at different times and reasons wander. Each of us need direction. Each of us must learn to feel and to recognize the source of that spirit. The only way that we will be able to feel that is to pray.

It is during these hard times that we need to pray for Strength. Ask for the ability to make it through to a new day. Sometimes that is all we can do. Endure we must to see our way back to our heavenly home.

I have two kids, who have recieved the Grandmothers curse that they become exactly like me. They ask questions all the time. Why is this? Why is that? Beware of tuning out that innocent question. That answer to their question may just be the thing that lights them on fire. Through questions we gain knowledge. It is through gaining knowledge we grow to understand the plan that our Father has for us. Pray for the ability to ask questions. Make your life a persuit of knowledge. When we quit learning we are no longer living. Find the new, in everything you do!

In our society today there are many who need help. Many who are crying out for guidence. Many who have left that iron rod and need a hand back. I recieved a call from a friend the other day. He told me of a mutual friend who had been doing some "research" and found "inconsistancies" and that he had to leave the church. It shook his testimony right to the core. My friend that called me asked me to call our friend. He said that he really needed someone who had the knowledge. I told him that I could not do anything more than what he had already done. Bare testimony and Pray for him. We agreed to fast together for our friend. I went to the temple fasting. I put our friend on the temple roles. The thought came to me that our friend knew what was right. and although he might wander he would eventually come back. I have not talked to this friend, since I heard the news. I know that many prayers are being sent to heaven for this brother. I know that prayer has power and it is the spirit that will touch the heart and bring him back. I just need to be the instrument for the Lord to do a great work.

Make yourself a place

Turn off the world!!!
Make time for the Lord. The scriptures are full of people who cried unto the Lord. Before they called on him they made themselves a place to pray. They prepared themselves. They prepared their surroundings to receive guidance from above.

Abram said that he made an alter and called upon God.
Nephi was commanded to get up into the Mountain.
We have been commanded to enter into our closets and offer up alms to the Lord.

The place may be different for each of us. The point being is that we find that place where we can tune out the world and allow the spirit to work on us. A place where we can come and offer up the thoughts and feelings of our hearts. That place could be as simple as our closet, a shower, a car, the office at work. We must find that place!

We must prepare ourselves for that time spent with our father. Come to him with questions. Alma said that he wrestled with the Lord in mighty prayer for those he was trying to teach. Make lists that will help you remember what you are wanting to convey. Seek not to be repetitious but pour out your soul. You can not do that in a place that you or those around you might be distracted.

Have joy in the time you have.

I know that that prayer is real. It is through prayer that a deep relationship is formed that will bring us back into the presence of the Father

The Power of Prayer

I filled out a worksheet one time that had the question on it: Where are your prayers? The idea was showing you, where you felt you were with your relationship with the father. A few of the sample questions were. What do you talk about in your prayers? Do you have an attitude of gratitude?(to steal a line from President Monson) After answering a series of questions you could see how they lined up on a graph in a bulls eye pattern. By the way they lined up showed how much faith you had and if you had sincere, meaningful conversations with the Father.

I liked the idea behind the graph. It was a tool to ask oneself how is their relationship is with the father. To look within and ask those simple questions. Everyone now and again needs that opportunity to self evaluate. To progress forward to be a little bit better. To stretch and pull. that is what this life is all about. Making ourselves better.

The only way that we can make ourselves better is, to seek the will of the father. Sincere, honest, prayer helps us to develop a relationship with our Heavenly Father.

My parents for years had a picture on their wall of Christ standing at the door knocking. He will not force himself upon us. Oh, how he longs for us to open that door and let him in. Allow him to be a part of our lives.

Through our acknowledgement of a need for constant nourishment we are showing our willingness to be humble. We show that we realize that we cannot do it all on our own. Prayer is that conduit that allows us to develop a sincere relationship with the Father. He knows what we need before we ask of him. However, we must be willing to ask. We must be willing to put forth an effort.

I testify that prayers are answered. I know that you can develop a personal relationship with the Savior through prayer. I know that the blessings of prayer bring great power. Through sincere, meaningful prayer our families with have the power to crush the fiery darts of the adversary!

The Power of Scripture

I once herd a story of a man who was seeking great treasure. He searched high he searched low but never could find enough to satisfy his needs. He gave up every earthly possession that had any value. He wanted to find the treasure that would bring him fantastic wealth, happiness beyond measure and with them love that was unquenchable. He would travel on a whim to find that diamond in the rough. When he got to the place. The picture was the same. There was something rare and worth much money. He could buy momentary pleasure but not what he really needed. So he would set off on his journey with his few possessions to find that treasure. He carried a change of clothes a Bible and a pad of paper. Little did he know that he carried the greatest treasure known to mankind. The word of God!

The scriptures have within their pages the power to change lives. I remember as a youth reading with my Dad. We did not read everyday but when we did he brought the pages to life. He wanted to share with us the lessons he learned. My parents instilled in me at a young age to love the stories of Jesus. There was a book that my Brother and I loved called Bible Stories. I was about 250 pages long but we loved the stories of Christ. We loved the pictures that told that story.

Today I liken the words unto me. I love the messages of hope inspiration and the invitation to come unto Christ. That is what the scriptures do they teach lessons that I would get in no other place. they teach the way to eternal happiness, to the greatest treasure known to man. They lead the sinner to change and become like Jesus.

I feel very blessed to be close to by Father as I read. The scriptures literally help us come to know the voice of the Father. We come to recognize his will for us. We find the eternal rewards for following that voice.

A seminary teacher once told me to be on R.E.D. A.L.E.R.T. : Read Every Day And Learn Every Rightous Thing.