Access from Heaven

Good morning my friends! As you recall, our topic this week is Ask, Seek, Knock.  On Tuesday’s we will be looking back to previous conference addresses.  Today I will be referencing  President Russell M. Nelson’s 2009 general conference address of the same name.  If you get the chance I highly recommend you go and listen to it.  I’ll link it in the show notes.  In it he talks about how we are so blessed to have wireless technology in these times.  Most people can talk to anyone, anytime, almost anywhere!  We also have the ability to see loved ones almost anytime and anywhere.  It is such a great tool that we have to help us keep in close contact with those we love.

But one of the most marvelous gifts that has been given us is to be able to access our Father in Heaven and our Savior.  We have direct access anywhere, anytime, and anyplace.  And it is available to ALL of God’s children!  We are so blessed and yet do we take the time and make the effort to access this great gift?

As I was thinking about the gift of technology I was reminded about an experience that I had just last week with my 2 year old granddaughter.  She had messaged me on Marco Polo just to tell me about her little fall.  She sobbed with the most tender little cry “Gigi, I fall down, Gigi I miss you!”  It was so precious and I loved it so much.  And that made me think about our Savior and how he looks forward to hearing every detail about our day.  I think sometimes we get caught up in routine prayers.  And while He loves to hear from us, how much more anxious do you think  He would be if He knew he was going to be able to have a conversation with you, who he loves so deeply?  I know that through several experiences of my own that he does hear me.

And I wanted to share that with you today.  When I was a young mother with 4 children under the age of 6, I was really struggling with my oldest child.  He wasn’t listening or minding, in fact he was outright defiant doing everything in his power to make life miserable for all of us.  

I remember one particular night I had had all I could take and I knelt for my night time prayers.  Father in Heaven, Please I pleaded, please help me to know what this child needs.  I feel like I have exhausted everything and I just need some help here.  Immediately the words came into my mind, “just love him”.  At the time I remember thinking well of course I love him.  And then I heard it again, just love him.  And I remember this peace coming over me, allowing me to see my son from a different perspective.  Now I’m not going to say things changed overnight, it was definitely a process for me to forget the actions that he was doing and just respond in love.  But over time it worked.  The Lord knew what I needed and how to remedy the situation.  

Now I recognize that may be such a small thing, but if there is one thing I have learned over time it is that the Lord is very much involved in the details of our lives.  And He wants to help us, we just need to knock on that door.

Not all of our answers will come to us during our prayerful pleas. Sometimes they will come to us through music or thoughts throughout our day.  Or maybe they will come through the words of someone close to us.  But each of these is considered personal revelation. 

President Nelson said “To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ.”  “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given.”

“For each of you to receive revelation unique to your own needs and responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to develop “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God.” Then with your firm “faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, [and] diligence,” you may ask, and you will receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you.”

So my challenge to you today is to try and have a 2 sided conversation in your personal prayers sometime this week.  Take a few deep breathes to slow things down and then open your heart and mind and pause between each phrase. And listen for the Lord’s response.  I would love to know how this works out for you. Please let me know in the reviews, it would be so fun so share some of our experiences of praying in this manner.  Have a great day and we’ll do it again tomorrow!

XO Wendy