Have you ever had a time when you thought you received a spiritual prompting to do something and you decide to follow it?
And then nothing happens...
And in your mind you think, "Wait, what's going on? Didn't the Holy Ghost prompt me to do this? Shouldn't something have come of this to confirm that yes, I did the right thing?"
The whole experience is usually anticlimactic and confusing because then you start to second guess yourself and you wonder if maybe you just made the whole thing up.
Case in point: driving away from an appointment, a name pops into your head and you get the feeling that you should go visit them right now. That's silly, you think, they live in the opposite direction and we were already in that area earlier today. Why should we go visit them right now?
The thought feels like a prompting from the Holy Ghost though, so you shrug and say, "I'll go and do..." and then turn the car around and go visit this person like the Holy Ghost suggests. In your head you're imagining that they might open the door and burst into tears because they've been praying all day for someone to come help them and then you show up as an answer to their prayers...you can picture the whole scene and it's a beautiful sight...
AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN HOME!
What?! Why did you feel like visiting them was the right thing to do? What was the point of following that prompting if nothing happened because of it?
Here's what I think.
First of all, you never, EVER know all the results of your actions. Just because you can't see the direct result of a decision/action doesn't mean there isn't an effect.
Secondly, I think sometimes these "wild goose chases" are actually trust building experiences. Not to build our trust in the Holy Ghost, but for Him to gain trust in us. We have a personal relationship with each member of the Godhead. Sometimes it's easy to focus on our side of it but they need to be able to trust us just like we need to be able to trust them.
I feel like these experiences are almost like fire drills in school. There's no actual fire during the drill (so it may seem kind of silly and pointless) but when the time comes that it really matters, people know what to do. It may be the same with the spiritual promptings that we receive. If the Spirit knows that we will follow His directions no matter what, He will have more confidence that we will do what we're prompted to do when it matters.
So the next time you get a prompting that ends in a less-than-exciting finale, don't get discouraged. You showed the Holy Ghost that you are paying attention. That's totally worth it, don't you think?
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
#10: Driver and Co-driver...it's a beautiful thing
Being a missionary brings lots of different experiences. For one thing, you're with the same person 24/7 for as long as you're assigned to work together. And you do everything with this person. Including driving. How does that work? Well let me tell you. In a normal car situation, you have a driver and a passenger. In a missionary car you have a driver and--are you ready for this?--a co-driver. Pretty exciting right? The driver is the one that's actually steering the car but the co-driver is there to help them navigate and to basically do whatever they can to make sure the driver gets where they need to go.
What does any of this have to do with you, you say? Well, let me tell you.
The other day we were driving around and I was giving my companion directions to our next appointment. See, I'm the co-driver and I'm the one with the map in hand so periodically I would tell her turn right at this stop sign...take a left at the next light...and so forth. It hit me that I was only giving her one direction at a time. I wondered if she was bothered by the fact that she really didn't know exactly where she was going. I didn't give her all of the details at once on how to get to our destination; I only gave her one turn at a time and she was fine with it. She knew that I would tell her when to turn and which direction to go when it was relevant for her to know and she was content to wait until it mattered.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this yet? Life is exactly like this! We have the best Co-driver in the universe to guide our decisions in life and He will get us where we're going one turn at a time. I didn't know a year ago that I would be serving a mission right now but I didn't need to know at the time. I don't know where I'll end up after my 18 months is done here but I don't need to know right now. When I get to the point where those decisions need to be made my Co-driver will speak up and let me know which direction to go. I just need to make sure that I'm keeping that line of communication open with Him so that when He speaks I can hear Him.
Have you checked in with your Co-driver lately?
What does any of this have to do with you, you say? Well, let me tell you.
The other day we were driving around and I was giving my companion directions to our next appointment. See, I'm the co-driver and I'm the one with the map in hand so periodically I would tell her turn right at this stop sign...take a left at the next light...and so forth. It hit me that I was only giving her one direction at a time. I wondered if she was bothered by the fact that she really didn't know exactly where she was going. I didn't give her all of the details at once on how to get to our destination; I only gave her one turn at a time and she was fine with it. She knew that I would tell her when to turn and which direction to go when it was relevant for her to know and she was content to wait until it mattered.
Have you figured out where I'm going with this yet? Life is exactly like this! We have the best Co-driver in the universe to guide our decisions in life and He will get us where we're going one turn at a time. I didn't know a year ago that I would be serving a mission right now but I didn't need to know at the time. I don't know where I'll end up after my 18 months is done here but I don't need to know right now. When I get to the point where those decisions need to be made my Co-driver will speak up and let me know which direction to go. I just need to make sure that I'm keeping that line of communication open with Him so that when He speaks I can hear Him.
Have you checked in with your Co-driver lately?
Friday, February 24, 2012
#9: No half-hearted prayers, please
"Ye must pray always, and not faint" (2 Nephi 32:8-9)
Heard this one before? I've heard this scripture plenty of times in many lessons and there are many different ways that this one line could be interpreted based on an individual's circumstances. I've heard it explained that we should pray always and not give up; that we should pray always and our prayers will sustain us; these are all very nice and very applicable but I never felt that this scripture really spoke to me. Until it was explained to me in a whole different way.
Turns out there's a few different definitions of the word faint (I love looking up definitions if you can't tell by now). The definitions below made this scripture light up like a firework for me!
"Pray always, and not faint"... it's almost like the Lord is saying "Pray, yes, but I don't want any half-hearted prayers. Give me the real thing. Really talk to me."
Now it makes sense. The Lord is giving us specific instructions on how to get the most out of our prayers. We can pray all day long but if our prayers aren't clear, loud, strong, and heartfelt, what are we really going to get out of it? Not nearly as much as if we really talk to Heavenly Father. He wants the real thing. A real conversation with us.
Let us pray always...and not faint!
Heard this one before? I've heard this scripture plenty of times in many lessons and there are many different ways that this one line could be interpreted based on an individual's circumstances. I've heard it explained that we should pray always and not give up; that we should pray always and our prayers will sustain us; these are all very nice and very applicable but I never felt that this scripture really spoke to me. Until it was explained to me in a whole different way.
Turns out there's a few different definitions of the word faint (I love looking up definitions if you can't tell by now). The definitions below made this scripture light up like a firework for me!
faint
adjective
1. lacking brightness, vividness, clearness, loudness, strength, etc.
2. feeble or slight
3. feeling weak, dizzy, or exhausted; about to lose consciousness
4. lacking courage; cowardly; timorous
Now it makes sense. The Lord is giving us specific instructions on how to get the most out of our prayers. We can pray all day long but if our prayers aren't clear, loud, strong, and heartfelt, what are we really going to get out of it? Not nearly as much as if we really talk to Heavenly Father. He wants the real thing. A real conversation with us.
Let us pray always...and not faint!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
#8: Earnest Money
ear·nest
[ur-nist] noun
1. a portion of something, given or done in advance as a pledge of the remainder.
2. [Law]. earnest money.
3. anything that gives pledge, promise, or indication of what is to follow.
So I was studying about the Holy Ghost the other day when I was directed to an entry in the Bible Dictionary for the word earnest. I've heard that word used in business agreements and things; I know that earnest money is a good faith pledge to show that you'll follow through with the remainder of your agreement. (I mean, everyone's seen a movie where the bank won't let Ma keep the farm unless she can produce "earnest money" by the end of the week, right?) We're familiar with the term earnest but I had no idea what that word had to do with the gift of the Holy Ghost so I started reading. Here's what it says:
So I was studying about the Holy Ghost the other day when I was directed to an entry in the Bible Dictionary for the word earnest. I've heard that word used in business agreements and things; I know that earnest money is a good faith pledge to show that you'll follow through with the remainder of your agreement. (I mean, everyone's seen a movie where the bank won't let Ma keep the farm unless she can produce "earnest money" by the end of the week, right?) We're familiar with the term earnest but I had no idea what that word had to do with the gift of the Holy Ghost so I started reading. Here's what it says:
Earnest. A pledge or security. The word thus translated is a commercial term denoting the deposit paid by a buyer on entering into an agreement for the purchase of anything. As used by Paul (2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Eph. 1:14) it means that the Lord gives us his Holy Spirit in this life as a foretaste of the joy of eternal life. The Spirit is also the Lord’s surety that he will fulfill his promise to give eternal life to the faithful.
Isn't that amazing?! I had never thought of the gift of the Holy Ghost in those terms before! After we are baptized we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost, meaning the spirit can be our companion and can guide us to the best things in life. But this "gift" is given as a pledge of something greater. Jesus Christ promises us eternal life when we make promises with Him and He's given us the Holy Ghost as a good faith pledge that He intends to follow through with the full agreement.
Think about how good the spirit feels. It's the best feeling in the world. The bible dictionary says that the Holy Spirit is just a "foretaste of the joy of eternal life". How amazing will eternal life be if the Holy Ghost is just a preview of that? I don't know about you but thinking about that makes me pretty excited.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
#7: Come live in my heart and pay no rent
Do we say this to Christ (like we should)? Sometimes it's really easy to say, "I'll let you into my heart, but only on these conditions...".
The true measure of our faith in Christ is if we open our hearts to Him rent free.
Just a thought on Valentine's day.
Friday, February 3, 2012
#6: Motorcycle Training Meets Eternal Life
So today's morsel of wisdom comes from my dad. He shared this experience with me in a letter this week and I wanted to pass it on to all of my wonderful readers. (hope you don't mind, Dad!)
"Many years ago, when I took a motorcycle training course, one of the exercises was to drive through a slalom course of orange cones. At first, the cones were spaced about 20 feet apart. It seemed like you could easily drive a car through them. But no one in the class was able to get past the third cone without hitting one. Some people actually hit the very first cone. The instructor then explained to the class that the motorcycle will go wherever you look. If you look at the obstacle (the cone, the pothole, the rock, the patch of sand), you will drive the motorcycle right into it. He explained that you must look where you want the motorcycle to go, and keep track of the obstacles with your peripheral vision. Pick out a point on the horizon and drive to it.
We all lined up again and went through the cones again. This time it was easy to get through. Then the cones were moved closer together and then closer again, down to about 8 feet apart. Everyone made it through without anyone hitting a cone. If you keep your eyes on the real destination, the obstacles can be negotiated without too much trouble. I have had to remind myself of this important lesson many times during the 25 years since that class.
Eternal life with our Heavenly Father and our Savior and our families is the real destination. Keep an eye on the little obstacles in life, but don't lose sight of the real destination."
Just to add a little weight to this great analogy: we learn in Doctrine & Covenants 82:19 that we should "...[do] all things with an eye single to the glory of God." We will come across obstacles again and again in life but as long as we keep our eyes on our destination we will be able to negotiate those obstacles without crashing and burning.
Where are your eyes focused?
"Many years ago, when I took a motorcycle training course, one of the exercises was to drive through a slalom course of orange cones. At first, the cones were spaced about 20 feet apart. It seemed like you could easily drive a car through them. But no one in the class was able to get past the third cone without hitting one. Some people actually hit the very first cone. The instructor then explained to the class that the motorcycle will go wherever you look. If you look at the obstacle (the cone, the pothole, the rock, the patch of sand), you will drive the motorcycle right into it. He explained that you must look where you want the motorcycle to go, and keep track of the obstacles with your peripheral vision. Pick out a point on the horizon and drive to it.
We all lined up again and went through the cones again. This time it was easy to get through. Then the cones were moved closer together and then closer again, down to about 8 feet apart. Everyone made it through without anyone hitting a cone. If you keep your eyes on the real destination, the obstacles can be negotiated without too much trouble. I have had to remind myself of this important lesson many times during the 25 years since that class.
Eternal life with our Heavenly Father and our Savior and our families is the real destination. Keep an eye on the little obstacles in life, but don't lose sight of the real destination."
Just to add a little weight to this great analogy: we learn in Doctrine & Covenants 82:19 that we should "...[do] all things with an eye single to the glory of God." We will come across obstacles again and again in life but as long as we keep our eyes on our destination we will be able to negotiate those obstacles without crashing and burning.
Where are your eyes focused?
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
#5: A Year's Supply of Daily Bread?
For my first few days in the mission field, I remember getting to the end of each day feeling like I had used up everything I had to make it through the day. I thought to myself: if I used up everything I had to get through today...what's left for tomorrow? A sense of panic would start to well up inside me. What was I going to do? Eighteen months was starting to look like a long time if I had already exhausted my supply of energy and courage.
Then during personal study one morning, this talk in the Ensign caught my eye. I was looking for a different subject to study but I felt the need to read a talk called Recognizing God's Hand in Our Daily Blessings. (You can check it out here.) The first line I saw was:
"Give us this day our daily bread"
We've all heard this prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread." What did this have to do with me? I don't need bread, I need energy and courage--18 months worth. I kept reading though as Elder Christofferson talked about how we all have daily needs. Sometimes we pray for "daily bread" in a literal sense but many times we are asking Heavenly Father for figurative bread. Our daily bread could be spiritual or physical strength to get through a particular challenge or help with a specific task or activity. For me the, it was the energy to get through each day's activities and the courage to fufill my assignment as a representative of Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson mentions that we sometimes wish for our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread. I was asking for an 18 month supply of daily bread. Elder Christofferson suggests that we focus on our daily bread. Just like when the Lord gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness, He will provide us with just enough daily bread for one day at a time. Elder Christofferson says that "By providing daily sustenance one day at a time, Jehovah...was teaching them to trust Him. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him each day and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day and so on." It was a trust-building exercise for the children of Israel.
Could it be possible that He's doing the same thing with me? I've been getting through each day just fine...why did I think I needed more than a day's worth of "bread"? (What would I even do with that much bread?) I have been blessed each day with just what I need and I am so glad I was prompted to read this article. The fear and panic I felt is long gone now because I was reminded that Heavenly Father will give me what I need when I need it. And He will do the same for you.
Elder Christofferson also counsels us to "Thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day. Your reflections will increase your faith in Him as you see His hand helping you to endure some things and to change others. You will be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step towards eternal life." Let's remember to take it one day at a time--that's all He's asked us to do!
Then during personal study one morning, this talk in the Ensign caught my eye. I was looking for a different subject to study but I felt the need to read a talk called Recognizing God's Hand in Our Daily Blessings. (You can check it out here.) The first line I saw was:
"Give us this day our daily bread"
We've all heard this prayer. "Give us this day our daily bread." What did this have to do with me? I don't need bread, I need energy and courage--18 months worth. I kept reading though as Elder Christofferson talked about how we all have daily needs. Sometimes we pray for "daily bread" in a literal sense but many times we are asking Heavenly Father for figurative bread. Our daily bread could be spiritual or physical strength to get through a particular challenge or help with a specific task or activity. For me the, it was the energy to get through each day's activities and the courage to fufill my assignment as a representative of Jesus Christ. Elder Christofferson mentions that we sometimes wish for our weekly, monthly, or yearly bread. I was asking for an 18 month supply of daily bread. Elder Christofferson suggests that we focus on our daily bread. Just like when the Lord gave the Israelites manna in the wilderness, He will provide us with just enough daily bread for one day at a time. Elder Christofferson says that "By providing daily sustenance one day at a time, Jehovah...was teaching them to trust Him. In essence, the children of Israel had to walk with Him each day and trust that He would grant a sufficient amount of food for the next day on the next day and so on." It was a trust-building exercise for the children of Israel.
Could it be possible that He's doing the same thing with me? I've been getting through each day just fine...why did I think I needed more than a day's worth of "bread"? (What would I even do with that much bread?) I have been blessed each day with just what I need and I am so glad I was prompted to read this article. The fear and panic I felt is long gone now because I was reminded that Heavenly Father will give me what I need when I need it. And He will do the same for you.
Elder Christofferson also counsels us to "Thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day. Your reflections will increase your faith in Him as you see His hand helping you to endure some things and to change others. You will be able to rejoice in one more day, one more step towards eternal life." Let's remember to take it one day at a time--that's all He's asked us to do!
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