What's in a Prayer?

"If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us home, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way."(Elder Larry R. Lawrence)

The other day I took time to kneel in prayer by myself in our room while Lucy was napping. 
I thanked Heavenly Father fervently for all the amazing blessings He had placed in our lives. I told Him what I desired in my heart. I told Him how I felt an urgent NEED to share His goodness, and the goodness of Christ, with everyone, and how I wanted to just KNOW things and learn things, and to grow in my spirituality and to be able to more effectively share His word and love. I told Him how I felt I might achieve those things, and asked for HIS direction.

Then I stood up and went to my computer. I found myself going to LDS.org and clicking on a blog post by Elder Neilson titled “I Studied More Than 2,200 Scriptures about the Savior in Six Weeks: Here Is a Little of What I Learned”.

The first paragraph took my breath away. Can you guess why?

“I challenged those watching to increase their testimony of the Savior by taking time each week to:

• Study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the Old Testament.
• Study His laws as recorded in the New Testament.
• Study His doctrine as recorded in the Book of Mormon.
• Study His words as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants.

I promised those listening that if they would proceed to learn all they can about Jesus Christ, their love for Him and for God’s laws would grow beyond what they could currently imagine.”

HE ANSWERED MY PRAYER. God answered my prayer! I am so overwhelmed with the immediate instruction that was given to me. Immediately. God is so aware of what we desire! We just have to tell Him through prayer and amazing things happen! Speaking about what we want is such an important component in making it happen. The spoken word is so powerful. Christ said "let there be light" and there was light. Just as He did, so can we. Voice your desires, and if they are righteous and good, amazing things will happen! 

"God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't PRAY, and He can't if you don't DREAM. In short, He can't if you don't believe." (Jeffrey R. Holland)

If this is something you're looking for in your life, here is the guide I am following!

Jesus Christ 

See also Bread of Life ; Cornerstone ; God, Creator ; Godhead ; God the Father, Jehovah ; Jesus Christ, Advocate ; Jesus Christ, Antemortal Existence of ; Jesus Christ, Appearances, Antemortal ; Jesus Christ, Appearances, Postmortal ; Jesus Christ, Ascension of ; Jesus Christ, Atonement through ; Jesus Christ, Authority of ; Jesus Christ, Baptism of ; Jesus Christ, Betrayal of ; Jesus Christ, Birth of ; Jesus Christ, Condescension of ; Jesus Christ, Creator ; Jesus Christ, Crucifixion of ; Jesus Christ, Davidic Descent of ; Jesus Christ, Death of ; Jesus Christ, Divine Sonship ; Jesus Christ, Exemplar ; Jesus Christ, Family of ; Jesus Christ, Firstborn ; Jesus Christ, Foreordained ; Jesus Christ, Glory of ; Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd ; Jesus Christ, Head of the Church ; Jesus Christ, Jehovah ; Jesus Christ, Judge ; Jesus Christ, King ; Jesus Christ, Lamb of God ; Jesus Christ, Light of the World ; Jesus Christ, Lord ; Jesus Christ, Mediator ; Jesus Christ, Messenger of the Covenant ; Jesus Christ, Messiah ; Jesus Christ, Millennial Reign ; Jesus Christ, Mission of ; Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son ; Jesus Christ, Power of ; Jesus Christ, Prophecies about ; Jesus Christ, Redeemer ; Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father ; Jesus Christ, Resurrection ; Jesus Christ, Rock ; Jesus Christ, Savior ; Jesus Christ, Second Comforter ; Jesus Christ, Second Coming ; Jesus Christ, Son of Man ; Jesus Christ, Spirit of ; Jesus Christ, Taking the Name of ; Jesus Christ, Teaching Mode of ; Jesus Christ, Temptation of ; Jesus Christ, Trials of ; Jesus Christ, Types of, in Anticipation ; Jesus Christ, Types of, in Memory ; BD Jesus

Summary 

His birth is foretold: Luke 1:26–38 .

is born: Matt. 1:18–25 . ( Luke 2:1–7 . )

is circumcised: Luke 2:21 .

is presented in the temple: Luke 2:22–38 .

is visited by the wise men: Matt. 2:1–12 .

flees to Egypt: Matt. 2:13–18 .

is brought to Nazareth: Matt. 2:19–23 . ( Luke 2:39 . )

visits Jerusalem: Luke 2:41–50 .

brothers and sisters of: Matt. 13:55–56 . ( Mark 6:3 . )

is baptized: Matt. 3:13–17 . ( Mark 1:9–11 ; Luke 3:21–23 . )

is tempted by the devil: Matt. 4:1–11 . ( Mark 1:12–13 ; Luke 4:1–13 . )

calls His disciples: Matt. 4:18–22 . ( Matt. 9:9 ; Mark 1:16–20 ; Mark 2:13–14 ; Luke 5:1–11, 27–28 ; Luke 6:12–16 ; John 1:35–51 . )

commissions the Twelve: Matt. 10:1–4 . ( Mark 3:13–19 ; Luke 6:12–16 . )

Sermon on the Mount: Matt. 5–7 .

sends disciples forth by twos: Matt. 9:35–11:1 . ( Mark 6:7–13 ; Luke 9:1–6 . )

foretells His death and resurrection: Matt. 16:21–26 . ( Matt. 17:22–23 ; Matt. 20:17–28 ; Mark 8:31–37 ; Mark 9:30–32 ; Mark 10:32–45 ; Luke 9:22–25 ; Luke 9:43–45 ; Luke 18:31–34 . )

is transfigured: Matt. 17:1–8 . ( Mark 9:2–8 ; Luke 9:28–36 . )

sends forth the seventy: Luke 10:1–24 .

triumphal entry of, into Jerusalem: Matt. 21:1–11 . ( Mark 11:1–11 ; Luke 19:29–44 ; John 12:12–19 . )

institutes the Lord’s Supper: Matt. 26:26–29 . ( Mark 14:22–25 ; Luke 22:17–20 ; 1 Cor. 11:23–26 . )

is betrayed, arrested, and forsaken: Matt. 26:47–57 . ( Mark 14:43–53 ; Luke 22:47–54 ; John 18:2–13 .)

is crucified: Matt. 27:31–56 . ( Mark 15:20–41 ; Luke 23:26–49 ; John 19:16–30 . )

is resurrected: Matt. 28:1–8 . ( Mark 16:1–8 ; Luke 24:1–12 ; John 20:1–10 . )

appears after His resurrection: Matt. 28:9–20 . ( Mark 16:9–18 ; Luke 24:13–50 ; John 20:11–31 ; Acts 1:3–8 ; 1 Cor. 15:5–7 . )

ascends to heaven: Mark 16:19–20 . ( Luke 24:50–53 ; Acts 1:9–12 . )

appears to the Nephites: 3 Ne. 11:1–17 . ( chaps. 11–26 . )

saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God: Acts 7:55 .

I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: Acts 9:5 . ( Acts 22:8 ; Acts 26:15 . )

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth: Acts 10:38 .

hath God … raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: Acts 13:23 .

testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ: Acts 18:5 .

evil spirit … said, Jesus I know, and Paul: Acts 19:15 .

so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ: Rom. 6:3 .

any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified: 1 Cor. 2:2 .

no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost: 1 Cor. 12:3 .

Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: Eph. 2:20 .

at the name of Jesus every knee should bow: Philip. 2:10 .

every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord: Philip. 2:11 .

Jesus Christ of the seed of David: 2 Tim. 2:8 .

Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death: Heb. 2:9 .

great high priest … Jesus the Son of God: Heb. 4:14 .

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith: Heb. 12:2 .

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever: Heb. 13:8 .

Messiah … his name shall be Jesus Christ: 2 Ne. 25:19 . ( Mosiah 3:8 . )

I am Jesus Christ the Son of God: 3 Ne. 9:15 . ( 3 Ne. 11:10 . )

God of the land, who is Jesus Christ: Ether 2:12 .

I am Jesus Christ … the Father and the Son: Ether 3:14 . ( Ether 3:17–20 . )

in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him: D&C 59:5 .

mine Only Begotten Son … which is Jesus Christ: Moses 6:52 .

Creating Abundance

Okay, so I’ve got to be honest here- money has been pretty tight around here lately. We’ve always had just enough in one way or another, but we never felt an abundance of it in our lives. As we evaluated our life and where we spent our time we soon realized that we were lacking in the spiritual department. Although we would call on God to help us, we weren’t giving back to Him.

My focus during my scripture study recently had been how following God’s commandments can bless us, and I found SO MANY scriptures that promise if we followed His commandments we would prosper in the land. So why weren’t we prospering? We were going to church like we should, and, well, I’d been reading my scriptures, and occasionally I’d get a couple days in a row…but it wasn’t consistent, it wasn’t persistent, and often times it wasn’t abundant.

This weekend I received the impression that I should be DOING MORE. If I wanted abundance of other things in my life, shouldn't I include an abundance of SPIRITUALITY in my life?

That hit me between the eyes.

So I started with making a plan for goals I had set- mainly, reading the Book of Mormon three times in a year. What? Yeah, I don’t know, it just popped into my head so I wrote it down.

Secondly, I began praying with more purpose and with a purpose in mind. After thanking God for what He has already given us, I told God what I wanted spiritually in my life right now and laid out my plan for how I wanted to achieve those goals.

Then I took action. I started reading eight pages of the Book of Mormon a day. I started including more uplifting things in my life- music, “I’m a Mormon” videos, things that bring happiness and positivity. I helped Devin create his own goals as well, and we tag teamed watching Lucy and doing scripture study. We started praying on our knees again instead of giving in to exhaustion and just praying in bed.

About two days later I was worried if we would have enough money to get to Salt Lake City to pick up a friend. I took time to calculate how much money we would be making within a two week time frame. I recalculated. I asked Devin to come over and listen as I listed things, to be sure I wasn’t adding in other things. Then he reminded me of a few things I’d forgotten!

After paying tithing we would have just shy of $700 in a two week time frame. All of our bills and more would be paid. I was dumbfounded.

I won’t say I have no idea how that happened- because I do. God did it. It was God.

This was an overwhelming testimony to me of how He watches, listens, and is waiting to bless us, to prosper us, as we take the initiative to do the things that will allow His abundance to flow into our lives.

Creating an abundance of God opens the doors for Him to create abundance in our lives. 

“…yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.” (Helaman 3:20)

“…because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need…” (Alma 1:29) 

“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” (Mosiah 2:41)

 

Be Still

Today I went to see Al Fox Carraway speak.

Oh my gosh you guys, she is so motivating. Whenever I hear her speak every single dream, every desire of my heart, rises into my throat and I just want to shout it to the world! I want to tell anyone who will listen and everyone who won’t how GOD IS SO GOOD. How He places us in the places and situations that we just absolutely needed. For us. FOR US. Because He is so aware of us individually.

Can you just imagine?

Al does this thing, this amazing thing, where she asks everyone in the congregation to CLOSE THEIR EYES (no peeking!!!) and imagine Christ…right in front of you…IMAGINE THAT… Now imagine Him SMILING.

Doesn’t that just give you shivers? ME TOO.

 I came home and I practically SHOUTED at Devin that I wanted to learn more, I wanted to BE MORE, I just want to DO EVERYTHING that I’ve ever desired because YOU KNOW WHAT? GOD GAVE ME THESE THINGS. God gave me the desire to speak, and dance, and SHARE, and love people and just DO so much.

And He gave you those things, too.

My heart is overwhelmed with the THINGS that I know I just HAVE TO DO because if I don’t I feel like I might burst with NOT doing them.

Guys. GOD IS GOOD. He is SO good and He is directing our path. He is directing YOUR path. He is AWARE and He is just waiting for you, waiting for you to listen. Because He’s there- He’s been telling you what to do. He’s been telling ME what to do. We just have to LISTEN.

Al talked about how the moment she lost her voice, she began to LISTEN…and that’s when the answers came.

 “…all flesh is in mine hands ; be still and know that I am God.” (D&C 101:16)