Prayer

Lately I have been studying conference talks from the October 2016 General Conference. I recently read "The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches Us to Pray" by Elder Juan A. Uceda of the Seventy.
Why so many parts of the talk made me pause to ponder, this quote in particular made me think:

"Do you prepare yourself to make important decisions by praying to your Heavenly Father? Do you prepare yourself for a moment of prayer?"

While I always take my important decisions to Heavenly Father, I rarely specifically and purposefully prepare myself for a moment of prayer. This quote made me wonder, how does a person prepare themselves for a prayer. The following are only my own thoughts and I am sure, if I took the time, I could find many other conference talks and scriptures that would give greater insight to this principle.

-Before I pray, take time to breath. So often I am rushing, physically and mentally. I need to take the quiet time to slow down.
-Think about what I'm am going to say, what questions does Heavenly Father want me to ask him so that I can learn something. So often I just have a list of things I need.
-As I think about what to say do I ever allow the spirit to put thoughts in my mind of what I should say or ask for?

With these goals in mind, I really believe that prayer can be more than a routine (which is what it has been for me lately), it can be a recharge and a special time between you and Heavenly Father.

God is in the Details

This week this scripture came to my mind a lot:

Moses 1:13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? 

While this is a scripture commonly quoted by many people, and one that I have thought about often before, I thought about it a little bit different this time. In connection with a conversation I had with my mom where she reminded me that God is in the DETAILS of our lives (emphasis on the details, just in case you couldn't tell).  I am learning that because we are God's children, that he cares about every thing about us. Just as my own mother loves hearing about the little things in my life, Heavenly Father not only cares for, but provides for the little things. Even through times that are hard (and the first two weeks of this semester have definitely been hard) Heavenly Father is there. There is purpose in the "hardness." I learn more about myself and what he wants me to do.
So, when the going gets tough, turn to him :)

That Good Part

Lately I have had so many different things on my mind. I've also read so many scriptures recently that have answered questions of my heart. I love the scriptures and am so grateful to them. But, even with the many many wonderful scripture verses that I read I always come back to a scripture that means a lot to me. A really long time ago I had a very sacred and personal experience that related to the story of Mary, Martha and Jesus in the book of Luke. Since then these verses have always meant so much to me.
Luke 10:

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

So often I become cumbered in my life. I worry about whether I am making the best choices, am I really doing what Heavenly Father wants me too? Am I good enough? Or I worry how I am ever going to accomplish everything that I am supposed to in the timeline required (work, homework, etc.). We all have those things, it is just a part of life I suppose. But something this scripture taught me so long ago is that when we choose that good part (sincere prayer to our Heavenly Father, taking the sacrament with purpose, serving and loving those around us, going to the temple, taking the time to allow Heavenly Father to teach us through reading the scriptures) then everything else will either fall into place in our lives the way He wants it to, or it will fall out of our lives completely (when that happens we know we don't really need it). Really, it comes down to taking the time to allow our Father to become our best friend. He is a friend that will never be "taken away from [us]." I am definitely not very good at keeping Him first in my life all the time. He's never way in the back, but He also is rarely completely in front, and it is not very easy to follow Him when He isn't in front of me. However, during the times that I have put Him in front, I never feel completely alone, I feel peaceful about things in my life, and/or I recognize the things I need to change. He does care even about the little things in our lives, even if it is telling me which hall to go down in the Wilk building so I can find a seat to study in. Sometimes I think we say to ourselves that he doesn't want to be bothered with small and simple things, when in reality our Heavenly Father cares most about the small and simple things. If Heavenly Father had a motto, maybe it would be "Small and Simple Things." ;)
I know Heavenly Father loves us, and that he is just waiting for us to ask Him to lead us, guide us AND ESPECIALLY to walk beside us.
I'm so grateful for that! I'm also really grateful for my religion class that requires me to write things every week. I learn so much from actually sitting down and thinking through my thoughts!
If you ever get a chance to take "Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel" from Tyler Griffin at BYU DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!