This is the quote that stuck out to me from this talk during the week: "We cannot pray away another’s agency."
I like to have things under control and in order. Especially when it comes to my family. Sometimes when things aren't going the way I feel they should, I have found myself praying for someone to make a certain choice or take a certain action that will align with what I need or feel they should do. This never works! I realized that I had forgotten that they have agency and the ability to make their own choices- I don't need to do that for them. (This becomes increasingly more of an important lesson to learn as your children get older, and also important to remember this principle with your spouse also!)
The think I came to realize is that I need to change the way I prayed for them. I needed not to pray they would make certain choices, but pray for ways to help and love them more. Sometimes it would work out the way I had hoped, sometimes it didn't- but I always felt an increase of love for them.
This is pretty much the way things must work between us and Heavenly Father. He knows what He wants us to do, but he can't force us to do it, in the end it's our choice but He will be there to love us along the way.
This is a very deep thought. Jen's comments were great. I have had those same experiences. I know dealing with John that I could not do everything myself. I had to rely on Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ to put people in his path that could help him since I did not know what else to do. He always let me know if he was in a good placement or not. I had to learn to let John use his agency. We are at that point again where we can not get in touch with him and need to let the spirit guide him as best as he can as John uses that agency.
I remember when I was at my wits end with Mariah and did not know what to do I heard an actual voice that said. I knew her before you did and I will provide a way for here. The voice also said that Heavenly Father had entrusted her to me because he knew I would love her the way he did.
In the Philippines I learned to really rely on the spirit since I did not have much Tagolog. I would study language each day, and study my scriptures. Then we would pray that we would be lead by the spirit what to do and where to go. Often we would go out with missionaries. I would feel my bag with games and activities and rely on the spirit to say the right things when the missionary would turn to me and ask for a comment. Every time they would say I was inspired by what I said. I know the spirit is essential in my life.
This is the quote that stuck out to me from this talk during the week: "We cannot pray away another’s agency."
ReplyDeleteI like to have things under control and in order. Especially when it comes to my family. Sometimes when things aren't going the way I feel they should, I have found myself praying for someone to make a certain choice or take a certain action that will align with what I need or feel they should do. This never works! I realized that I had forgotten that they have agency and the ability to make their own choices- I don't need to do that for them. (This becomes increasingly more of an important lesson to learn as your children get older, and also important to remember this principle with your spouse also!)
The think I came to realize is that I need to change the way I prayed for them. I needed not to pray they would make certain choices, but pray for ways to help and love them more. Sometimes it would work out the way I had hoped, sometimes it didn't- but I always felt an increase of love for them.
This is pretty much the way things must work between us and Heavenly Father. He knows what He wants us to do, but he can't force us to do it, in the end it's our choice but He will be there to love us along the way.
This is a very deep thought. Jen's comments were great. I have had those same experiences. I know dealing with John that I could not do everything myself. I had to rely on Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ to put people in his path that could help him since I did not know what else to do. He always let me know if he was in a good placement or not. I had to learn to let John use his agency. We are at that point again where we can not get in touch with him and need to let the spirit guide him as best as he can as John uses that agency.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was at my wits end with Mariah and did not know what to do I heard an actual voice that said. I knew her before you did and I will provide a way for here. The voice also said that Heavenly Father had entrusted her to me because he knew I would love her the way he did.
In the Philippines I learned to really rely on the spirit since I did not have much Tagolog. I would study language each day, and study my scriptures. Then we would pray that we would be lead by the spirit what to do and where to go. Often we would go out with missionaries. I would feel my bag with games and activities and rely on the spirit to say the right things when the missionary would turn to me and ask for a comment. Every time they would say I was inspired by what I said. I know the spirit is essential in my life.