"And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm."
1 Nephi 18:21
I really like this. The storm didn't stop when Nephi was released. The storm stopped when he prayed. It would be easy to say... they imprisoned their spiritual leader and that's why things went bad, and that definitely didn't help, but it seems like a deeper truth that they didn't consult God in their everyday dealings. That's why things went bad, and would continue to go badly for them, and in fact, why things go badly for us. We try to solve our problems in so many ways... but how often do we take our problems to the Lord and talk to him about them? I would venture to say, not enough. Counseling with him about how we can change ourselves or our environments, or whatever else comes up... that kind of continual communication with God makes a huge difference. We don't have to stop work or school or freeze-frame home life in order to pray. It can be a moment stolen here or there, or just mental pleading in the moment before we send the email or open our mouths. ... Not saying that longer or more formal prayers aren't a good idea too, but the quick ones are okay, and keeping God in our daily lives, in our thoughts and in our hearts constantly like that... that is what is going to be able to stop the storm and bring the "great calm" to our lives, just as it brought it in the story of Nephi. Today, let's pray. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing... and get on the same page with God about how to handle it. :)
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