Pray and Listen.
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We take the time to talk to our Father in Heaven, so why don’t we give Him some time to speak to us?
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I understand we are in a rushed environment, and it can be hard to make time for things, but we must make time for our Heavenly Father’s response.
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James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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Have ye inquired of the Lord? Have you waited for His reply?
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My entire life, I’ve been asked and taught to be respectful. If I value that principle, how rude would it be for me to kneel, pray, and then to get up and continue on my day—without me giving God His turn to speak?
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How can we expect our Father in Heaven give us anything if we can’t take the time to listen to what He needs or has to give us?
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Let’s be better at this. Let’s take time to hear Him when we pray and not be so quick to move on.
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“The Lord has a way of pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach us, to warn us. You can know the things you need to know instantly! Learn to receive inspiration.” Elder Packer.
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As we take the time to listen, we will learn so much quicker how to receive inspiration.
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I’ve learned over the course of my life that spiritual things cannot be forced.
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There have been times where I’ve struggled with a problem and could not get an answer. Was there something wrong with me? Nope, not at all. I wasn’t doing anything wrong.
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Over the years I’ve learned I just wasn’t doing the right things long enough and I was forcing spiritual things.
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It was just a matter of me being confused because I simply wouldn’t take no for an answer.
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It’s okay to take no for an answer. Joseph Smith didn’t take no for an answer, and He ended up losing 116 pages of the manuscript.
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If we are prompted with ’no’ for an answer, take some time to understand why you’re receiving that prompting.
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Pray and Listen! Hear Him!
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Art by Doc Christensen @altusfineart