Yesterday and this morning I've been pouring my heart out to God asking for answers and asking for help. My husband is working 60 hr weeks at two jobs, and with my kids home all day for the summer I feel like I'm barely maintaining my household, and not very well at that. If I get any cleaning done in one room I'm sure to find another that my kids have messed up worse than the one I was just cleaning. I don't feel like I'm making any progress in any areas of my life right now. Then while praying this morning the word popped into my head, "eddy," so I asked God, "Who's Eddy? I don't know anyone named Eddy." I can feel Him almost laughing at me, "Not 'Who?' what!" It suddenly clicks! I'm in an eddy in the river of life right now. Just swirling around not really going forward or backward. What are the eddies of life for? What should I do about it? The answer came to just keep doing what I can to strengthen myself and to practice the essential things I really need to master as a mother and homemaker. Once I'm strong enough I'll be able to break out of the eddy without getting swept away by the current or smashed on the rocks up ahead. Life isn't like the lazy kind of rivers I see in Kansas it's more like the mountain rivers and streams that have rapids, cascades, and waterfalls with huge rocks every where. So I should be thankful for the little eddies too that give me the time to strengthen myself and prepare for what is coming down stream, even though I can only really see a small unsure glimpse of what's downstream from where I am. And most of all it's okay to be in an eddy for a while now and then. They are there for a reason.
Showing posts with label understanding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label understanding. Show all posts
Monday, July 11, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
"Be not children in understanding..."
Last night I went shopping and brought along my oldest (4) son. When we were
in the parking lot at the first store we went to he saw the full moon
and got very excited pointed at it saying "Mom, mom, the moon, moon!"
"Yes, sweetie, it's a full moon tonight."
At the next store he saw it again and exclaimed, "Mom, mom, another moon! Two moons, mom!" I explained it was the same moon and we could just see it from another location, but he was sure he was right, "No mom, two moons!"
How often do we think we are right when we might not be? From our observations and limited understanding the conclusion we come to seems the only one that could be true. It has to be right. It makes so much sense. Of course there's two moons. I saw one and it was in one place, and now I see another in a totally different place. It must be another moon. There's just no other logical explanation! (At least none that a four-year-old can understand.) But if when he gets older he never allows me to teach him differently there are many other things he will also lack understanding about, because one false conclusion will lead to many others. Now, as a parent I'm not too worried about this. As his brain develops he will be capable of understanding different concepts than he can now. I expect he will give up the idea that there are two moons long before he enrolls in a college astronomy class. For all I know he will forget the idea completely by the end of the week.
Sometimes when it comes to the gospel we seem to be satisfied with the understanding of a child, and have quit seeking after the mysteries of God. We're perfectly satisfied thinking there are two moons, and how dare God try to tell us otherwise. The apostle Paul wrote, "Brethren, be not children in understanding, howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1Cor. 14:20) How do we gain greater understanding than that of a child? First we must be willing to put aside foolish or childish notions when presented with new knowledge. We must be humble enough to admit when we are wrong, and be willing to follow a different path when we learn a better way. And then be willing to do it yet again, and again, as we come to better and better understandings of God's truths. Sometimes we have to be patient while walking a new path for the understanding to come as to why we are on this new path. God might give us a new instruction and we might have to follow it for some time before he enlightens our minds with the understanding we are seeking. But He will give it to us when we are ready. We have to trust in His promises that He will teach us here a little and there a little. This means that we must live in such a way that we are preparing to receive greater understanding. If we are given a new instruction and do not follow it we show God that we are satisfied with our childish understanding and don't want the further light and knowledge He has to offer us. The more we follow God the more He will continue to teach us.
The decision to think we know enough is the most dangerous decision we can make in this life. That is when we will start to lose even that which we have. Repentance is ultimately when we choose to soften our heart and say to God, "I'm sorry I've been dwindling and stagnating. Please give me strength to change and teach me more about Thy kingdom."
In the pursuit of understanding a personal revelation journal is key. The first place to seek more knowledge is in the scriptures. Are we reading them to check them off a to do list, or do we come to them with a question, search out the topic we need particular growth in, and pray and ponder on it as we read so we can be inspired as to what to change in that aspect of our life? Another way to seek knowledge and understanding is through prayer. Our prayers need to be real two way communication with God. Ask Him a question and wait for the answer. Write the answer in your journal even while you are still in the act of praying. Prayer doesn't always have to be kneeling with eyes shut and arms folded. That is what we teach our children so they will stop poking each other and making faces. If we as adults still have to do this just to focus on our prayer then we've not grown beyond a child's understanding of prayer, and will consequently never get much more than a child's answers. You can walk, and write and still be in the act of praying, and it becomes a powerful tool when used together with a revelation journal. Prayer and scripture study might be typical answers but they don't have to be done the typical way. Do what feels right for you and your journey.
As always, I love you. These are the things that have helped me in my journey, and I hope they will help you in yours. Let us all progress beyond a child's understanding as we seek a real relationship with our Savior, and Redeemer.
"Yes, sweetie, it's a full moon tonight."
At the next store he saw it again and exclaimed, "Mom, mom, another moon! Two moons, mom!" I explained it was the same moon and we could just see it from another location, but he was sure he was right, "No mom, two moons!"
How often do we think we are right when we might not be? From our observations and limited understanding the conclusion we come to seems the only one that could be true. It has to be right. It makes so much sense. Of course there's two moons. I saw one and it was in one place, and now I see another in a totally different place. It must be another moon. There's just no other logical explanation! (At least none that a four-year-old can understand.) But if when he gets older he never allows me to teach him differently there are many other things he will also lack understanding about, because one false conclusion will lead to many others. Now, as a parent I'm not too worried about this. As his brain develops he will be capable of understanding different concepts than he can now. I expect he will give up the idea that there are two moons long before he enrolls in a college astronomy class. For all I know he will forget the idea completely by the end of the week.
Sometimes when it comes to the gospel we seem to be satisfied with the understanding of a child, and have quit seeking after the mysteries of God. We're perfectly satisfied thinking there are two moons, and how dare God try to tell us otherwise. The apostle Paul wrote, "Brethren, be not children in understanding, howbeit, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men." (1Cor. 14:20) How do we gain greater understanding than that of a child? First we must be willing to put aside foolish or childish notions when presented with new knowledge. We must be humble enough to admit when we are wrong, and be willing to follow a different path when we learn a better way. And then be willing to do it yet again, and again, as we come to better and better understandings of God's truths. Sometimes we have to be patient while walking a new path for the understanding to come as to why we are on this new path. God might give us a new instruction and we might have to follow it for some time before he enlightens our minds with the understanding we are seeking. But He will give it to us when we are ready. We have to trust in His promises that He will teach us here a little and there a little. This means that we must live in such a way that we are preparing to receive greater understanding. If we are given a new instruction and do not follow it we show God that we are satisfied with our childish understanding and don't want the further light and knowledge He has to offer us. The more we follow God the more He will continue to teach us.
The decision to think we know enough is the most dangerous decision we can make in this life. That is when we will start to lose even that which we have. Repentance is ultimately when we choose to soften our heart and say to God, "I'm sorry I've been dwindling and stagnating. Please give me strength to change and teach me more about Thy kingdom."
In the pursuit of understanding a personal revelation journal is key. The first place to seek more knowledge is in the scriptures. Are we reading them to check them off a to do list, or do we come to them with a question, search out the topic we need particular growth in, and pray and ponder on it as we read so we can be inspired as to what to change in that aspect of our life? Another way to seek knowledge and understanding is through prayer. Our prayers need to be real two way communication with God. Ask Him a question and wait for the answer. Write the answer in your journal even while you are still in the act of praying. Prayer doesn't always have to be kneeling with eyes shut and arms folded. That is what we teach our children so they will stop poking each other and making faces. If we as adults still have to do this just to focus on our prayer then we've not grown beyond a child's understanding of prayer, and will consequently never get much more than a child's answers. You can walk, and write and still be in the act of praying, and it becomes a powerful tool when used together with a revelation journal. Prayer and scripture study might be typical answers but they don't have to be done the typical way. Do what feels right for you and your journey.
As always, I love you. These are the things that have helped me in my journey, and I hope they will help you in yours. Let us all progress beyond a child's understanding as we seek a real relationship with our Savior, and Redeemer.
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