"Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him."
Alma 34:19
I think that this combination (humility + prayer) is really essential in our relationship with God. It's easy to pray for the wrong things, and to continue our selfish ways when interacting with God, expecting him to conform to our desires, to accommodate our timetable, and to treat our drama as an emergency... and when we do those things, then we're not getting what we should out of prayer. We're throwing up barriers to communication because we don't understand fully what we're trying to accomplish here. It isn't that God isn't compassionate or sympathetic to our situations. It's that prayer isn't about changing God or convincing him to help us. It is about "reconciling [ourselves] to the will of God" (2 Nephi 10:24), and we can't get there without some significant humility.
We're mortal and human, and some pride typically comes with that package. We want to have things our way, and we royally screw things up a lot. We don't want people to guilt-trip us about our mistakes, and we don't want them to tell us that we can't have what we want. Additionally, you know, some of those things that God asks of us... I mean, they reek of effort. So, we want some low-stress shortcuts and for God to cut us some slack and realize that we're weak and stuff... or on the other hand, we want him to do things our way because we've totally thought it out, and we can't possibly be wrong or whatever...
Obviously, that approach isn't going to work. We can't demand that God prove things to us, or give him a deadline, or show him that we are an exception and deserve our very own loophole in the commandments. He's God. His commandments are right, and his timing is perfect, and he knows way better than we do what is ultimately going to make us happy. ... We legitimately wrestle with things like that, and wonder whether keeping the commandments is going to make us happier than going our own way.... the point is though that the answer is ALWAYS yes. There are no exceptions based on how well he likes us or how much we plead. If we do things the Lord's way, then we will always end up happier than otherwise. He's God, not one of the fallible people that we're used to. He doesn't make mistakes. So, even if we feel like a mistake or an exception, there is a reason that we just don't understand yet..., and no matter what, we're not going to find "happiness in doing iniquity" (Helaman 13:38).
Today, let's try not to compare God with fallible people, or assume that we can change God to conform to our will. Let's be humble and prayerful, always remembering to include "thy will be done," and meaning it. If we find ourselves clashing with God, then we need to step back. If there is a barrier to communication, the wall is ours. If we listen and learn, God will do wonders among us and show us the way to perfect happiness. Let's try to do things his way.
Alma 34:19
I think that this combination (humility + prayer) is really essential in our relationship with God. It's easy to pray for the wrong things, and to continue our selfish ways when interacting with God, expecting him to conform to our desires, to accommodate our timetable, and to treat our drama as an emergency... and when we do those things, then we're not getting what we should out of prayer. We're throwing up barriers to communication because we don't understand fully what we're trying to accomplish here. It isn't that God isn't compassionate or sympathetic to our situations. It's that prayer isn't about changing God or convincing him to help us. It is about "reconciling [ourselves] to the will of God" (2 Nephi 10:24), and we can't get there without some significant humility.
We're mortal and human, and some pride typically comes with that package. We want to have things our way, and we royally screw things up a lot. We don't want people to guilt-trip us about our mistakes, and we don't want them to tell us that we can't have what we want. Additionally, you know, some of those things that God asks of us... I mean, they reek of effort. So, we want some low-stress shortcuts and for God to cut us some slack and realize that we're weak and stuff... or on the other hand, we want him to do things our way because we've totally thought it out, and we can't possibly be wrong or whatever...
Obviously, that approach isn't going to work. We can't demand that God prove things to us, or give him a deadline, or show him that we are an exception and deserve our very own loophole in the commandments. He's God. His commandments are right, and his timing is perfect, and he knows way better than we do what is ultimately going to make us happy. ... We legitimately wrestle with things like that, and wonder whether keeping the commandments is going to make us happier than going our own way.... the point is though that the answer is ALWAYS yes. There are no exceptions based on how well he likes us or how much we plead. If we do things the Lord's way, then we will always end up happier than otherwise. He's God, not one of the fallible people that we're used to. He doesn't make mistakes. So, even if we feel like a mistake or an exception, there is a reason that we just don't understand yet..., and no matter what, we're not going to find "happiness in doing iniquity" (Helaman 13:38).
Today, let's try not to compare God with fallible people, or assume that we can change God to conform to our will. Let's be humble and prayerful, always remembering to include "thy will be done," and meaning it. If we find ourselves clashing with God, then we need to step back. If there is a barrier to communication, the wall is ours. If we listen and learn, God will do wonders among us and show us the way to perfect happiness. Let's try to do things his way.
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