Praying for Answers...
Posted: 29 Jun 2009 05:49 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Do you pray and wait patiently?
Do you usually get a good or bad feeling right away?
If you don't get a decision by when you need it...How do you decide...
Sometimes we ask the wrong questions...sometimes the answer is no...or do you think we are swayed by the world or Satan?
Any thoughts....Any inspiring stories?
Posted: 29 Jun 2009 08:16 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Posted: 29 Jun 2009 09:03 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:46 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 12:46 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
The short version of what I would have to say is that
1--No, I don't always get immediate answers. I believe it's Elder Scott who said that he rarely gets answers while he is actually praying, but that they come throughout the day or through events.
2--I sometimes do get answers right away. And I sometimes get answers to questions I hadn't specifically asked (kind of like, "You should do THIS right now") So it's a specific answer to a general question of "What should I do now?" when I really don't know, and not the specific, "Should I do this particular thing?" But the questions we ask do help us get better answers. Elder Scott talks about that in his address from 2007, "The Supernal Power of Prayer."
3--A time in my life when I needed answers more than at any other time, I received nothing. Nothing at all. I was left not knowing what to think.
Wasn't He there? I knew He was.
Didn't He care about this? I knew He did.
Didn't He love me? I figured He did, but didn't understand why I would feel so all alone in the world at that time.
Wasn't I 'good enough'? And if not, I had no idea in the world what else to do because I was doing everything I knew how to do.
What I didn't know at the time, and what this experience gave me a testimony of is that OUR EARNEST, SINCERE PRAYERS PUT THINGS IN MOTION. He is there. He does love you. And He is doing things on your behalf. You simply might not be able to see them at the moment.
4--As I often tell my husband (especially right now, since it's pretty trying right now, living here is So Cal) "Aslan is on the move." If you've read the books, that probably makes more sense. But it means that the Lord is working behind the scenes, and all things will work together for your good. Even the devastating things. He can use them to purify and refine you, if you don't go through the experience kicking and screaming and cursing life.
5--I don't have time to look it up, and can't even remember who said it, (Brigham Young, I think, with other adding to and commenting on it) but I've heard this quote many times in conference about what do to when you need to make a specific decision and haven't gotten an answer.
When you've done all you know how to do and must make a decision one way or another, you go with whatever you've weighed out and seems best. And then begin on that path. If it's wrong, He will let you know. I believe that President Eyring and President Packer have also both made comments to that effect.
Wish I had time to say more.....
XO,
Vickie
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 01:00 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
We had this discussion in FHE before my son left on his mission. He made a great, shocking comment. He said, "Mom, if you have to ask, it wasn't from Him".
But lately, I have been wondering what fear feels like. Can it be a dark feeling? I have always associated it with rapid heart rate or uneasiness...but maybe fear includes dark feelings too?
What do you think? It is easy to not do something you should do, because, "I didn't feel good about it". But is that fear or prompting?
What do you think? I know it depends...but I would love to hear someone else's experiences.
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 02:11 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 04:45 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Do answers to prayers somtimes hurt?
Only in the moment. For example, your leg has been aching, and you learn that you have bone cancer. It is localized. Your leg needs to be amputated. It will hurt. This truth you have just learned just is only going to cause you more pain! But in the long run it can allow you to become well and whole.
Whatever we ultimately decide to do in any situation, how can we deal with what the truth is if we don't know it?
The answer to every prayer isn't always something we wanted to hear or wanted to do. I doubt that Abraham's was initially, regarding Isaac. And the Savior's answer in Gethsemane certainly was a painful one.
Fortunately, we have the amazingly wonderful blessing of worshiping a God who loves us more than anything, and who always wants what is best for us. When we go to Him, He helps make that happen for us. We can trust Him that He knows what He's doing, even if we don't always know what WE'RE doing! I believe that when we are really trying, He won't let us stray too far off the path.
On the other hand, the kind of prayer that actually allows us to connect with heaven is the sweetest, most healing, beautiful, wonderful, incredible thing ever. Sweet above all else that is sweet.
Just my thoughts and opinions....
XO,
Vickie
Posted: 30 Jun 2009 04:54 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Wow, I've thought about that too. I believe that it's a matter of learning to sort it out. In my experience, "No" answers from God don't necessarily feel "holy", if that makes any sense. Sometimes I've been clearly instructed not to do something, and it was accompanied with the feeling of the spirit. Other times, I've simply felt what I could call "unsettled," a feeling I've heard the brethren refer to many times. Because I felt so unsettled about something, I could not recognize that as something I should do.
Can having fear about something be unsettling, hence, an answer or a prompting? I've been studying what the prophets have said about promptings. I'll send you my file of info on that if you like.
XO,
Vickie
Posted: 1 Jul 2009 01:59 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Posted: 1 Jul 2009 02:15 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
Next, I need to write what I know, for me. If it gets too personal, I will delete it and you will never see it. :)
God doesn't have this secret code we have to figure out, not really. For me, it's about relationship, what He knows I know, what I am ready for, where I am at in my progress towards Him.
When I get caught up too much in what others think an answer looks like or feels like I find myself apt to diminish what I already know or what I have experienced. I love in the Doctrine and Covenants when God said to Oliver to think back on the night, "Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter"?
So....the best way for me is to think about my other experiences. The "no" answer I was doubting though because "yes" answers and even "wait, not now" answers, are so much easier to assimilate.
It wasn't pleasant. I had to admit I was wrong. I felt horrible until then. The good feeling, the confirmation, came as I threw away my core and gave up my plan. I had to ..., bloom where I am planted more, wait longer, still not know the future...
In short, I am to continue here on earth according to Plan, be me even though. Be me and act as if His promises are true, even if they seem impossible right now. He wants me to go to HIM to talk about my relationship with Him. It must be offensive when we ask everyone but Him.
Nephi knew he had to get the plates but he didn't know how. He was given one step at a time. Joseph Smith had his grand experience but didn't know what to do with it, for four long years. That sounds horrible to me and I have so much more empathy for him than I could have otherwise.
Posted: 2 Jul 2009 12:25 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
When I NEED an answer...and have to have it...i find myself getting "more serious" about it...
Focusing energy and spiritual stretching...I literally CRY...not tears..but reach for Heaven with all my energy.
Then I ask for a LOUD answer...one I know that I cannot mistake. This helps, because I know that my prayers are shielded from the adversary...and Heavenly Father has NEVER guided me wrong. My whole life is a testiment of this fact. I could fill up volumes (and probably should for posterity at least) with the miracles in my life. {But I would have to lable it fiction, because no one would believe it!}
I love Heavenly Father with all my heart!
Belle
Posted: 4 Jul 2009 03:26 PMSubject: Praying for Answers...
I feel like I have to make this HUGE, enormous decision that will affect the rest of my life in the next week. Timing is critical right now...at least in my view it is. I recongnize that may be my understanding and not the Lord's reality for me, though.
I do feel like I have received a peaceful feeling to the decision I finally made because simply asking the Lord "what should I do?" wasn't getting me anywhere. So I spent about 5 days by myself and gave it lots of thought prayer and pondering. Then I spent some time at the Temple again and that is where I felt even more peace when I shared with Heavenly Father what I felt was the right thing to do.
Now there are more steps to take and more people to share it with (to this point only my very best friend knows anything). The most important being my new husband, and as this decision will affect him in a way he is unprepared for, that is frightening to me.
Having made the decision and feeling peace about it is one thing. Actually going through with it is even harder.