Resisting God

Look for what Lyman was resisting.

  Therefore, let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing, and resist no more my voice.

Doctrine & Covenants 108:2

God had been speaking to Lyman. Through the gentle promptings of the Spirit, the Lord had been telling Lyman to go seek counsel from Joseph Smith. But apparently, Lyman has been resisting.  Why would anyone resist God’s voice?  Doesn't everyone want God to speak to them more? Often not, because when the Lord speaks to us, He is may be asking us to do things that are out of our comfort zone. So here the Lord tells all of us to “resist no more my voice.”

What would happen if every single time the Lord prompted you to do something, no matter what, you did it?  Would promptings become more frequent?  I am sure you would have the Lord speaking to you and directing you more in life.  On the other hand, what if every time the Lord nudged you, you ignored the prompting? Would the rate of how often you got promptings go up or down?  I think they would go down. Why would the Lord speak to someone who refuses to listen and act?  I think our living Prophet is a perfect example of this.  By being resolute in always following even the least promptings of the Spirit, President Monson has learned to easily recognize God’s voice, and the Lord knows he can count on His directions being followed. This has made him a much used instrument in God’s hands.

Today’s Recharge: Be listening today. I am almost sure that today, each one of us will receive a prompting to help someone or do something good. If you follow that prompting (even if you are not 100% positive it is the Lord speaking to you) you will learn to recognize and hear God’s voice better.  Soon we will become the kind of disciple the Lord goes to when He wants something to get done.  And that is an unspeakable honor. 

Knowing For Yourself

What words show a change in Joseph’s Testimony?

   He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.” It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

Joseph Smith-History 1:20

I love those words of Joseph’s “I have learned for myself”. For a long time Joseph had paid the price.  Verses 8-20 show the great struggle to get the testimony he needed.  He had studied it out in great detail, pondered, prayed, studied scripture, and more.  And finally he got the answer he needed from God. At 14 he could have just gone along with what other family members were doing and joined their religions (see verse 7).  But instead, he knew he had to find out for himself. 

Heber C Kimball taught, "The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light.  Each will have to be guided by the light within himself." Thank goodness for the borrowed light parents, teachers, and others have shared with us.  But eventually we must know for ourselves from God, that we are aligned with His will.

Today’s Recharge: Through God’s Spirit, have you learned for yourself? If you have already gained that testimony, reflect back on how you gained it and how to strengthen it and share it.  If you haven’t found out for yourself yet, study and follow the pattern in Joseph Smith-History 1:8-20. You have to know for yourself. 

The Power of Pondering

Look for a formula for personal revelation.

 19 And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.

Doctrine & Covenants 76:19

Great revelations happen when men and women study the scriptures and then ponder. This is a pattern all through the ages.  This is what Joseph and Sidney were doing when they received this great revelation. When Joseph F. Smith had his vision of the Spirit World, he said “I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures” (D&C 138:1). You will see the same in Joseph Smith-History 1:8-12, Moroni 10:3-5, Helaman 10:2, and more. In my margin I wrote the simple formula:

Scriptures + Pondering = Revelation

Today’s Takeaway: When is the last time you pondered and meditated over some verses in the scriptures or some words of the Prophet? Today find a particular verse in the scriptures and take some time to ponder and chew on it.  Ask the Lord how He would want you to apply it to your life. 

Guaranteed Way To Hear God Speaking To You

Look for the promise.

3 Verily I say unto you, my servant William, that you are clean, but not all; repent, therefore, of those things which are not pleasing in my sight, saith the Lord, for the Lord will show them unto you.

Doctrine & Covenants 66:3

Would you like a guaranteed way to hear God speaking to you? The secret is right there in that verse.  If you are asking God, “What changes should I be making in my life?” you will start to feel God directing you. If you keep asking God what things He wants you to change, “the Lord will show them unto you.”

Today’s Takeaway: Ask the Lord what changes He wants you to make in your life.  If you will do it with real intent, you will feel God directing your mind and communicating to you. It can be scary and a bit painful to realize how we need to change, but it is so worth it, and you will find yourself closer with God.