Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 4:15-18
These verses are very interesting. Nephi has just spent the past few minutes wrestling with the spirit of the Lord. He had to make a choice. Once the choice was made, once he had shown the Lord that he would follow, the Lord enlightens him. Nephi's eyes understanding have been open.
So, what does that mean? What does he understand? What does he see? What is different? I have thought about this one quite a bit. The more I think, the more I learn. Nephi realized that he needed help. Not only did he pray with his brothers, but I am convinced that after he left his brothers at the front gates, he found a place where he could kneel down before the Lord and petition him for help.
Sometimes, this is one of the hardest things to do. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord and ask for help. Especially when we are sick. It is easy to see others needs and pray for them, but some of us have a hard time asking the Lord for his assistance in our personal lives. We pray for our spouses, our children, our extended families, but we feel selfish asking for help for us. This is not what the Lord wants. He wants us to come to him. This is the purest of pure prayer.
After Nephi prayed, he listened. I note that he did not just listen, but conversed with the Lord. He did not understand the thoughts that were spoken to his mind. It is not the answer he was expecting. He continued to seek understanding in his conversation. The Lord continued to instruct and inspire.
Once Nephi committed to follow what the Lord was instructing him to do, his understanding was opened. The rightness of what he was doing was confirmed through the spirit. It was not a pleasant task. It is not what he wanted to do, but he understood. The Lord opened his understanding.
Now that Nephi understands the Lord's purpose, Moses 1:39, he is starting to think as the Lord would think. He sees the events before him as the Lord sees them. Finally and most importantly, he acts upon this guidance. He obeys.
What do we learn? When we pray, we must be willing to do whatever the Lord asks of us. We cannot go to the Lord with this idea that He will give us exactly what we want. We need to humble ourselves before him, willingly submit to His instruction/will, and then act. We need to act with boldness and confidence. As we do so, the Lord will continue to build us up.
Are you willing to do so?
These verses are very interesting. Nephi has just spent the past few minutes wrestling with the spirit of the Lord. He had to make a choice. Once the choice was made, once he had shown the Lord that he would follow, the Lord enlightens him. Nephi's eyes understanding have been open.
So, what does that mean? What does he understand? What does he see? What is different? I have thought about this one quite a bit. The more I think, the more I learn. Nephi realized that he needed help. Not only did he pray with his brothers, but I am convinced that after he left his brothers at the front gates, he found a place where he could kneel down before the Lord and petition him for help.
Sometimes, this is one of the hardest things to do. We have to humble ourselves before the Lord and ask for help. Especially when we are sick. It is easy to see others needs and pray for them, but some of us have a hard time asking the Lord for his assistance in our personal lives. We pray for our spouses, our children, our extended families, but we feel selfish asking for help for us. This is not what the Lord wants. He wants us to come to him. This is the purest of pure prayer.
After Nephi prayed, he listened. I note that he did not just listen, but conversed with the Lord. He did not understand the thoughts that were spoken to his mind. It is not the answer he was expecting. He continued to seek understanding in his conversation. The Lord continued to instruct and inspire.
Once Nephi committed to follow what the Lord was instructing him to do, his understanding was opened. The rightness of what he was doing was confirmed through the spirit. It was not a pleasant task. It is not what he wanted to do, but he understood. The Lord opened his understanding.
Now that Nephi understands the Lord's purpose, Moses 1:39, he is starting to think as the Lord would think. He sees the events before him as the Lord sees them. Finally and most importantly, he acts upon this guidance. He obeys.
What do we learn? When we pray, we must be willing to do whatever the Lord asks of us. We cannot go to the Lord with this idea that He will give us exactly what we want. We need to humble ourselves before him, willingly submit to His instruction/will, and then act. We need to act with boldness and confidence. As we do so, the Lord will continue to build us up.
Are you willing to do so?
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