Prayer

 



My daughter wrote home this week of the privilege of teaching people how to pray who have never before experienced that sacred gift.  "Every day during lessons this week we taught people how to pray, and it's so beautiful to hear someone pray for the first time.  I have so much faith that God heard and answers our prayers, and I feel so blessed to be able to help others to come into Christ."


A few minutes after I shared that message on social media (as my daughter has given me permission to do), I received a message from a former coworker who retired several years ago.


She shared that she had been touched by Alex's words and that it reminded of her of back when she was a mom attending a Bible Study Fellowship.  There they learned this pattern to help them remember how to teach prayer.

P- Praise  God (including giving thanks)

R- Repent

A- Ask  for what you need

Y- be Yourself - He knows and loves you 


I was particularly touched to find that on this evening a good friend and I found goodness and a bond in knowing that we both believe that prayer has been meaningful in our lives.  And that she wanted me to share that with my daughter and is praying for her. 


President Joseph Fielding Smith, speaking to parents urged, "But help your children in every way you can to grow up with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Teach them to pray."


President Russell M Nelson  further taught, "Our prayers follow patterns and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. He taught us how to pray. From His prayers we can learn many important lessons. We can begin with the Lord’s Prayer and add lessons from other prayers He has given."


It is wonderful to be taught to pray as a child.  


It is also wonderful that it is never too late to learn how to or to resume to pray.  


He is always there waiting. 


Sister Carol F McConkie eloquently promised, "Prayer is a gift from God. We need never feel lost or alone. I testify that every moment of precious prayer can be holy time spent with our Father, in the name of the Son, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Kingdom of God

Image
  This local story caught my attention and has had me contemplating who and how I serve and share the love of God. "The Elkhart County Jail Ministry held its first-ever hymn-sing inside the Elkhart County Jail. A local Amish choir from Middlebury made rounds throughout the jail, singing two hymns in each ward. Hearing the slow, melodic songs reverberating off the concrete walls and ceiling had a calming and soothing effect on all of us. There were standing ovations, hands raised in worship, men singing along to songs they recognized from their childhood, requests for favorite hymns being shouted from the back of the room...and tears. This is what the Kingdom of God sounds like." Why?  Why were they singing- in spite of their current situation? Why were they requesting their favorites? Why were they brought to tears? Because of the magic of music and how it aids in feeling the Holy Spirit and whispers to our souls truths we once knew.  Even if life cho...
Read more

I Know

Image
 This week in Come Follow Me I was reading and pondering on this paragraph: What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb and appeared to His disciples in Galilee. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (⁠Doctrine and Covenants 76:22⁠). We can hear His voice in these revelations, witness His hand in our lives, and feel “the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’”  The question in my mind, which is one I’ve been asked by others, is what does it really mean to KNOW something?  I spent sometime studying the etymology, or history and meaning of the word. The word “know” is actually a great example of a word that has...
Read more

Humble Seeker of Happiness

Image
  We are traveling west and as I looked over the map I realized my friend, Patti, lives not far off our route.   We've taken this route before and each time I think about her.  But this time I reached out and messaged her.  Not only could we stay there, but she would have dinner waiting.   Watching her come down the sidewalk with a big smile and welcoming me into her arms was a moment of pure joy mixed with a bit of disbelief.  22 years is a long time. Ella thought it was a bit crazy.  "But these are strangers!"   By the time we left this morning she agreed she now also had an acquaintance in South Dakota. People are worth taking the chance on.  It won't always work out.  I have some friendships that have fizzled out.  Others that take a lot of work.  Some that my insensitivity has eroded.   But this one was beautiful.  I'm so thankful I accepted the assignment to be visiting teaching partners with her so m...
Read more