Prayer and Prompting

My thoughts on Pres. Packer's talk "Prayer and Promptings"

Oh, I just love his raspy voice. There is something so grandfatherly about it. I even hear it as I read these words. I was sorry to see him sitting as he gave this talk, but so glad he did give it even if he was sitting down.

This is another multi-colored very well highlighted address. Such doctrine and power contained in these words.

"No Father would send His children off to a distant, dangerous land for a lifetime of testing where Lucifer was known to roam free without first providing them with a personal power of protection. He would also supply them with means to communicate with Him from Father to child and from child to Father. Every child of our Father sent to earth is provided with the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Christ. We are, none of us, left here alone without hope of guidance and redemption."

AMEN! But we need to remember this and not pull the "whoa is me! God has forsaken me." (hard to do and I'm so guilty of it!)

"We were given our agency. We must use it wisely and remain close to the Spirit; otherwise, we foolishly find ourselves yielding to the enticements of the adversary."

As a teen I loved to use the line, "But I have been given agency." Now that I'm a mom of teens, I just want to rip agency from my kids. But I know better. Thankfully he even gave the teens the Spirit to help them use their agency.

"“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moroni 7:16).

"There is a perfect manner of communication through the Spirit, “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”

I love that last scripture from Corinthians--PERFECT MANNER OF COMMUNICATION! WOW!

"That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. Pure intelligence can be spoken into the mind. The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes."

How often do we want the burning bush when it is our heart that is burning? How often do we want the mountain to move when it is our feet the Lord wants us to move? We don't need those things to feel or participate in spiritual things. We need a broken heart--one that is ready to feel the promptings.

"That same Spirit can prompt you and protect you."

I have been protected more often from the spirit than my seat belt. But we have to have a worthy spirit to hear it.

Since I feel like I've quoted most of his talk, I'll try to not quote but just give my thoughts.

The Lord tells is in our mind and heart but the Holy Ghost shall swell in your hearts. WHAT A GREAT AND AWESOME PROMISE! I want that!

Ok, I just have to quote this one--too good not to use his words.
"You can know the things you need to know. Pray that you will learn to receive that inspiration and remain worthy to receive it. Keep that channel—your mind—clean and free from the clutter of the world."

I fear my mind is cluttered. I have to do a "dump run." I have to get myself away from the adversaries trap--the one he says that I'm not worthy to pray so why bother.
I think he is working overtime on a son who could and will do so much great work, but he is believing a lie.

"Pray even if you are young and wayward like the prophet Alma or have a closed mind like Amulek, who “knew concerning these things, yet . . . would not know” (Alma 10:6).

"Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10; see also Luke 11:2; 3 Nephi 13:10).

"Do not expect to be free entirely from trouble and disappointment and pain and discouragement, for these are the things that we were sent to earth to endure."

If a prophet of our Lord is telling us this then maybe I need to listen. Maybe I need to pray more often. I need to draw nearer to Him so He can draw nearer to me.

This talk was timely when it was spoken, when I first read it and now when I'm writing my thoughts about it. It will be timely the next time I read it. I needed to be reminded that praying is the way we draw near, get inspiration, stay worthy and are protected.