I’m really trying to do these “Sunday Ponderings” on Sundays here and there.  It may only happen once a month, but I love having a place to write the more spiritual things jumbled up with everything else on my mind.

I’ve been working hard on “self-discipline” lately, and one of the top things I’m trying to be better at is bringing in more of the spirit into my days.  When I bring the spirit into my days, I bring it into our family.  And it goes without saying that when a home is filled with the guidance and goodness of the spirit, it is a pretty great thing. 

Though the squabbling and messes and ruckus are the normalcy of daily life around here, it is a constant that when I carve out more deliberate time for prayer and scriptures, that spirit is bound to linger.

And make life better.  And more holy (more about holiness back HERE).

I may have written something about this “revelation” thought a while back because I’ve been thinking about it so much, but here are the details.  I was listening to the scriptures as I was getting ready one day and I was in Helaman in the Book of Mormon. 

Verse 23 says: And in the *seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year.”

Now, the context of this scripture isn’t totally apparent from that little verse, but I love to liken verses to my life now, and this hit me hard.  “There began to be much strife.”  All of us mothers can relate to that, right?

But I love that Nephi and Lehi “knew concerning the true points of doctrine” [in my mind that means they studied the word of God, they prayed, their hearts were soft and they had contrite spirits just as I want to be] and because of that, they had “many revelations daily.”

Oh how I want those “many revelations” from above as I make my way through life!  I love that when I make prayer and searching the scriptures real in my life and LISTEN, we get those “revelations” which I like to call “nudges” as to what to do in life.  How to deal with certain situations, how to respond to others, how to hone in on what others need.  (Isn’t the word “nudge” a great one?)

The other day I was so frustrated with one of my children (for a reason that isn’t really relevant to this story).  I was about ready to fly off the handle with her but I stopped and said a little prayer and tried to get that “revelation” as to how to deal with it and it was amazing how guided I felt.  We ended up having a loving, calm conversation that was so much more productive than me getting stomping mad.

Another nudge happened when I was sick with worry about Lucy’s handbell situation.  I had a nudge to call her Braille teacher (thanks to a comment from a blogger that I had a nudge to remember), and it has made such a difference.  (handbell story over HERE)

There were no gentle or nudges or “revelations” around when I let the last straw break the camel’s back at Zion’s National Park last weekend (more coming about that) and got so freaky mad at one of my girls I left her on the sidelines of the river walk for a little bit while we both huffed and puffed.

But you win some and you lose some, right?

Bottom line is that I know God will guide us on the little things AND the big things, and give freely of those “many revelations daily” when we put in our own effort and search for the guidance He is so willing to send.  He WANTS to guide us, we are His children after all.  And I’m so grateful for the guidance he’s given me and my family when we decide to LISTEN and let Him in.

Verse 19 below is pretty great too: 

May we all continue to SEEK which will lead to FINDING the guidance we need daily.

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7 Comments

  1. I love this. Thank you for sharing your testimony, your best efforts, and even some of your hang ups. I'm inspired to try a little harder, thanks to this post.

  2. One short quote that has helped me as I strive to keep this same goal comes from President Uchtdorf: "Don’t let a day go by without doing something to act on the promptings of the Spirit." (Said in April 2011 general conference.) It takes effort, but the days I remember to try are always better than the days I forget. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Thank you! I love the thoughts about that verse in Helaman (which a read just a few days ago and didn’t think much of) about strife and revelations daily. What a great reminder of the power I have available if I’ll just take the time to invite it and use it.

  4. This is great, Reminds me how Sister Eubank encouraged us as women to 'articulate' our faith in the last Women's Conference. You have done it beautifully:)

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