When I think of sincere prayer, the first scripture that comes to my mind is Enos where he wrestled, pleaded, cried before God all day and all night. I want that....... I want to have the closeness with God where I can pour out my soul unto Him and be completely honest and truly communicate with him about everything that's going on in my life. What do I need to do to pray like Enos did? How can I feel the same way as he did after he gained a remission of his sins that my soul will finally be rest in God. How can I have the change of heart that the prophets in the ancient went through?
First, I need to understand why he prayed and wrestled.
He prayed because he wanted the true joy that comes from the Eternal life.
So, what does the word Eternal life mean to me? Why is it so important for me to have the Eternal life? Did it sink "deep into my heart?" Am I humble enough to forsake my natural desires and depend my whole self to God? Am I willing to make the changes that he wants me to make when the prayer is finished? Do I have the faith that I can have the same experience that Enos had?
The reason why Eternal life means a lot to me is not only because I get to live with God but also, that was my whole purpose of coming down to this earth. For me, the very moment I forget my purpose in life is the moment where I just crash and get really really discouraged and sad. I don't want my time on this earth to be wasted. I want to achieve the goal of what I came to this earth for. I want to live with my family and see my heavenly father again and live in his presence forever. I want to make sure that the pain the Savior had to go through in Gethsemane and all the blood that he has shed for me along with all the sacrifices he made so that I can have the greatest gift of all - the Eternal life - is not going to be a waste. I miss him. I miss my Heavenly Father's love. I need him. I want the love that Elder Melvin J. Ballard described once from his dream. "He took me in his arms and kissed me, pressed me to his bosom, and blessed me, until the marrow of my bones seemed to melt... to have His love, His affection, and His blessing was such that if I can receive that of which I had but a foretaste, I would give all that I am, all that I ever hope to be, to feel what I then felt."
How can we pray like Enos did?
President Kimball gave us a good suggestion which was actually on how we can be humble but we can also apply it to praying like Enos did.
First, you evaluate yourself. What am I? I am the circle. I am the hole in the doughnut. I would be nothing without the Lord. My breath, my brains, my hearing, my sight, my locomotion, my everything depends upon the Lord. That is the first step and then we pray, and pray often, and we will not get up from our knees until we have communicated. The line may be down; we may have let it fall to pieces, but I will not get up from my knees until I have established communication—if it is twenty minutes, if it is all night like Enos. . . . If it takes all day long, you stay on your knees until your unhumbleness has dissipated, until you feel the humble spirit and realize, “I could die this minute if it were not for the Lord’s good grace. I am dependent upon him—totally dependent upon him.”
I'm so grateful for all the examples so many of the prophets and the leader has set for me. Especially the greatest example that Christ has set for me. I know that I'm nothing without him but with him I can achieve all the things he wants me to achieve. Like Enos said in verse 15, "Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it." If I have faith, I know I will have the peace and true joy that comes from God.
No comments:
Post a Comment