In Fall of 2015 I and the Lord embarked on a journey
together. He wanted me to come to know
Him, strengthen my faith, teach me where true joy comes from, and prepare me
for the storms that were about to hit me and I needed to be able to know what
source to turn to
.
Before Fall of 2015 I believed that scripture study was not
something I could do because I couldn’t recite scriptures, I don’t memorize
scriptures and most things I did read I didn’t see the “deeper” meaning in the
scripture stories that others around me did.
And most of all I didn’t understand when people would say “ I was
reading in my scripture and my book fell open to this certain passage”, Or the other favorite that I didn’t understand
is “all the answers are in the scriptures, you just have to look for it”. That wasn’t for me. I hated reading, studying is not my thing,
and pondering, what is that?
Well in 2015 the Lord blessed me with two amazing women that
changed my attitude on reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. One was Cindy Dobson and the other a Sister named Sylvia
Allen.
I will be honest my friend, I love your lessons and I wish
that I could attend more regularly, but the first class that you ever taught
was the one that I needed most and it is your first class at the beginning of a
new season. I hung onto every word that
was spoken that day; I felt that I needed to head your council
1. Figure out what were my obstacles to consistent gospel
study
2. What could I modify?
3. What was my learning style?
4. What study method could I experiment with?
You lit a fire in me that day that started my journey. So I worked out a plan and tried several
methods, I didn’t find my method until our Relief Society invited a Sweet
sister to come and speak to our sisters on how to get more out of my scripture
study. I knew that she was coming for
me.
I learned from you make an appointment with the Lord and
keep it, and meet with him in the same spot every day.
From Sylvia I learned my style. Sylvia shares 5 steps on receiving
revelations and getting more out of your scriptures that I have soaked up both
times that I have heard it.
You will recognize it because it is also what you taught; I
just needed her method of teaching to understand how to apply it into my life.
After hearing her council and receiving your council I went out and bought me a
white desk. I chose white because I knew
this would become my sacred and holy place and I wanted the Lord to know that I
understood that.
5 things I and you must do to receive revelations
1- Ask- I always struggled with this part, I could never
think of “good” questions because I am not a “deep” thinker, and I don’t
question the doctrine, so what was I supposed to ask? Over time I have learned that some days my
question is what doctrine do you want me to get out of this story, Is there
something you want me to learn today, I ask about those things I am worried about,
and what should I do to help my cute kids.
I learned there are no wrong questions, but not asking a question
doesn’t get you very far.
2-Search- This was the hardest for me. Sylvia taught the Spirit will show you where
to search if you will trust him and Lord.
I remember my first time sitting at my desk wondering if the spirit was
really going to help me search for my answer.
I had my question ready, but did I trust the spirit, did I have the
faith that Holy Ghost would attend with me with my appointment with the Lord? I
am happy to report that the Holy Ghost did come and attend my appointment with
the Lord. It has taken time and trust on
my part, but he teaches me every day that I show up and gives me the message
the Lord has for me that day. And yes my scriptures sometimes fall open to a
certain page, and yes, I will be turning the pages and have a feeling to stop
and read, and I was drawn to the conference talks that I need that day or old
journal entries
3-Ponder- As mentioned before, I had no idea what this
meant, ponder…. what? Sylvia finally
explained it in a term I understood, thoughts that come to you when reading a
passage of scripture, you know you were reading, but your thoughts are going
somewhere else. Pay attention to those wondering thoughts it’s most likely the
guidance you are looking for, you are just in a spot where the spirit could
talk to you.
4. Write- a Lot of my pondering happens when I am
writing. I have learned love to journal
my impressions. I never thought I would
be a journal writer, I hate writing. But
I can’t help it, I like to write the scriptures that influence me. I like to write the verses that “jump off the
page” I write my thoughts, and how I feel about what I am reading. Pres.
Hinkley said and I am paraphrasing “take time to write the scriptures that come
to you, it allows time for them to sink deep into your heart and gives the
spirit time to teach. I journal because I can say to my posterity I have 780 pages and rising every day, of proof
that my Heavenly Father loves me and is aware of me.
5- Give a pray of just saying thank you-
Sorry that this is so long, but this is something that I
have learned to be passionate about.
Have a delightful day
Charissa
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