Episode 35: The Art of Aligning Your Will with God Through Prayer

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Alright I want to start off this week's episode with a quote from Elder Martino about Laman and Lemuel that will help us take a deeper look at how we can align our will with God through Prayer.

But first just a note that I have created a handout of all the amazing quotes from this episode so you don’t have to take notes as you listen. Just click here and it will take you right to the download.

Elder Martino said, 

“Laman and Lemuel did the same exact things as Nephi. It is interesting to note that their choices allowed them access to potentially faith-building experiences. They left their home and their riches. They suffered through wanderings in the wilderness. They eventually helped build the boat, and they agreed to journey to an unknown land.

Nephi passed through these same experiences. But did these actions build their faith? Nephi’s faith was made strong, but Laman and Lemuel grew more cynical and angry. These brothers even saw and heard an angel, but alas, they continued to doubt- Nephi asked them if they had “inquired of the Lord.” Notice their response: “We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.” 

Note the one difference that made a major fork in the road on what direction they were each going.  Nephi used prayer to align his will with God and therefore was pointed in the right direction and we know how that turned out. Then Lamen and Lemuel did not use prayer to proactively know what God would want them to do. 

They waited, expecting God to do the work and expecting to receive the blessing without doing the work.

Prayer as Work

If you listened to last week's episode, you know that prayer is not to give a request and expect God to do the work. Also prayer is a form of work. Prayer is to align our will with God and ask for help doing God’s will.

The Bible Dictionary says that:

"Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings"

So it is our responsibility to pray to know what God would have us know and do and then do what God is asking us to do WITH God’s help.

Elder Ballard said,

“After we kneel in prayer, we need to get up from our knees and do what we can to help—to help both ourselves and others.”

Truly the art of aligning your will comes through prayer which is work.

Receiving Christ's Power

Even the Savior used prayer to align His will with God and do the work.

President Monson noted that,

“When He faced the excruciating agony of Gethsemane and the cross, He prayed to the Father, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” Difficult as it may at times be, it is for us, as well, to trust our Heavenly Father to know best how and when and in what manner to provide the help we seek.”

Let's note that when Christ was in excruciating pain, he prayed to God for help. Then after asking God if there be another way, and recognizing that there wasn’t submitted to the will of God.

But as President Monson pointed out here, He did not just say ok you do what you want and I will stand by. He trusted that the will of God was what was best because the Savior had faith that God knew the end from the beginning and saw the bigger picture. 

But he didn’t stop there, President Monson also said that God knows how to provide the help we need with what God is asking us to do. When we align our will with God and fervently seek what God wants us to do then get up and do the thing, God will provide the means to do God’s will.

Words of Mormon 7: ​And I do this for a ​​​wise​ ​​​purpose​; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord ​​​knoweth​ all things which are to come; wherefore, he ​​​worketh​ in me to do according to his ​​​will​.

There it is, "He worketh in me to do according to His will"

Becoming a Team With Christ

That is the part I love most about aligning our will with God through prayer, it is that when we do we are yoking to the Savior and working side by side to accomplish God’s will.

We become a team working in tandem to help God accomplish Their work here on Earth.

You are not left alone with a giant burden on your shoulders to bear. You are entering into a covenant with the Savior when you do God’s will. That you will covenant to do the work necessary and the Savior will provide the power necessary to accomplish the will of God. 

President Eyring says it so beautifully,

“The work which has to be accomplished in the last days is one of vast importance, and will call into action the energy, skill, talent, and ability of the Saints, so that it may roll forth with that glory and majesty described by the prophet Daniel; and will consequently require the concentration of the Saints, to accomplish works of such magnitude and grandeur.”

Ok how do you feel after hearing that quote?

Motivated to join in the pursuit or overwhelmed at the thought?

Either are ok, it just tells you where you want to put your efforts

If you are motivated to join the pursuit, then you may already know your purpose and will from God and excited to continue to help , with your energy, skills and talents

If you are overwhelmed then that is ok!

There is nothing wrong with that. You are in the right place!

How to Align Your Will Through Prayer

You are going to want to start small and start working on your prayers so that you can learn the art of aligning your will through prayer.

It isn’t about doing more or being better at any of the primary answers, say your prayers, read your scriptures or go to church.

It is about recognizing that each of those efforts are about aligning your will with God and receiving Christ’s enabling power as you do.

Elder Martino said,

“These personal religious habits—obedience, scripture study, prayer, and fasting—strengthened the sons of Mosiah. The lack of these same personal religious habits was a major reason that Laman and Lemuel were left vulnerable to the temptation to murmur and doubt.”

I have a few suggestions that might help you start small and make these personal religious habits more of a connecting experience with God rather than a checklist.

1. My first suggestion is to check out last week's episode where I discussed ways to change your questions in prayer to align your will with God

2. Also you could look at my Meaningful Prayer Journal that is very affordable and start learning to change the way that you connect with God through prayer

Get Yours Today!

3.The Meaningful Prayer Journal is a mini version of my Seek Personal Revelation Journal that helps you have meaningful prayer and scripture study, Hear Him  and Prioritize your day through the Spirit.

Get Yours Today! 

Also be sure to download this week's handout with all the amazing quotes so you can continue your learning, share with someone else or even use them in a lesson.

If you remember one thing from this episode I hope it is this. And I took these works straight from 

President Henry B. Eyring 

“The Father is at this moment aware of you, your feelings, and the spiritual and temporal needs of everyone around you.”

I encourage you to learn the art of aligning your will with God through prayer.