I LOVE going to church! It is always very uplifting, but once in a while you feel that everything that has been prepared (talks, lessons) are especially relevant to what you are going through and that that Lord is speaking directly to you. Today I had this experience.
For a while now I have been struggling with a question/ decision and I have really not felt I could come to a definite conclusion as to what to do. This past week during my daily scripture study I looked up scriptures relating to personal revelation in hopes of finding or rediscovering a principle that would help me with my quandary. Well, guess what... I didn't find it then, but in sacrament meeting this morning, the topic was prayer and personal revelation! Part of one sister's talk struck me like a bolt of lightning- the fact that often, revelation takes work- we must not only ask, but ask again and again.... And I realized that I had not done enough asking and consulting with the Lord, that I expected that because He knew what I was struggling with, He would give me the answer without my asking directly and specifically and repeatedly. So He had to remind me, through that insightful sister's talk, that He expects me to work a little more for guidance.
Then in Sunday School, we discussed pride. And BOUM! Another flash of revelation: in spite of my efforts to receive answers, I have not allowed the Lord to guide me as He would like to. I have not been willing to set aside my will entirely and humbly seek what His is. I have prayed for guidance, but then gone about things in my own way. I have asked for understanding, but then tried to reason things out with my limited vision without listening to what He had to teach me. I have begged for peace, then refused to let things go and thus shut myself off from the comfort that He would have given me. How proud I have been in refusing to allow myself to be enlightened and strengthened! I need to learn to truly let go and hear what the Lord has to say, whether it is what I want to hear or not.
I am grateful that answers to prayers come in many ways. When we shut our ears to one source, oftentimes the Lord arranges for us to hear His voice through other sources, often through inspired teachers and friends. In other words, while personal revelation most often comes because of our efforts, sometimes it comes in spite of us!
1 comment:
Thank you Padmini for your words and for taking the time to share these things here. I feel I needed those words today. I struggle with the same pride sometimes and often I am not consistent as I pray for something. I will do better and i will try to stay focused on what the Lord's will is in my life. Thank you again!
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