For personal prayers?

I went years without doing this.

Honestly, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal.

Until I started hearing people mention it a lot more.

Encouragements to pray vocally.

So… I tried it.

And it felt really awkward at first.

I had to slow my thoughts down more to say the words out loud instead of just jumping through them in my mind.

I had to have intention.

I had to say things out loud that I didn’t usually say out loud, like admitting to my weaknesses and sins for the day, sincerely praying for others, and asking questions.

But by the end of that first prayer, I could already tell this was going to be transformative.

And now anytime that I’m all alone in my room…

I pray out loud.

The Lord said:

“I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart”. – (D&C 19:28)

“Our prayers ought to be vocal when we have the privacy to so offer them.” – Jeffrey R. Holland

What has your experience been with praying vocally?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Pray vocally first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

They tell me about a dramatic, heartbreaking event in their lives.

I offer condolences and empathy.

And then they tell me something like:

“I actually don’t really feel that sad about it.

“I thought that this would be worse, but I just feel this sense of peace.”

And I say:

“YES! I know exactly what you mean!”

Because I’ve also had not-so-great things happen in my life.

And even though logic would tell me that I should be in deep despair, I have felt an underlying undeniable peace.

And this, my friends, is what I’ve learned is the true blessing of the gospel.

The true blessing of the gospel isn’t that we will be healed when we get sick.

It isn’t that we will have amazing jobs.

It isn’t that loved ones won’t die.

It isn’t that our bank accounts will stay full.

The true blessing is described beautifully here:

“Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” (D&C 19:23)

That is the perfect blessing that Jesus offers.

Not perfect lives, but perfect PEACE that comes with being a follower of Christ.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Peace in Christ first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

That fridge you keep saying you’ll clean out?⁣

That person you keep meaning to text?⁣

I do. ⁣

It’s like there’s this unpleasant list of all the things I don’t really want to do, that I need to do…⁣

And it just weighs me down!⁣

When I finally call and schedule that appointment, I always always always think:

“Man, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and I feel a million times better now.”⁣

And that’s basically what the Lord is telling us all the time. ⁣

“Release yourself from bondage.” (D&C 19:35⁣)

In this case, it was the Lord telling Martin Harris to just pay off the debts to publish the Book of Mormon, and move on. ⁣

In other words, release yourself from the mental “unknown” and anguish, and just get it done. ⁣

And in the kindest way possible, that’s what He’s inviting us to do all the time. ⁣

Whether it’s a big sin we’ve been carrying around on our backs, or a minor little task that we just can’t seem to do, He has lovingly already done His part. ⁣

And He’s ready for each of us to decide to release ourselves from the bondage. ⁣

The bondage of sin, yes, but I think that also includes the bondage of heavy mental loads, too many commitments, or a long to-do list. ⁣

As soon as we start to make the first move, to pick up that phone, to decide that today is the day, He is right by our side doing more than His fair share of the heavy lifting. ⁣

But we have to make that decision to release ourselves. ⁣

What will you release yourself of today?

“The fact that we can repent is the good news of the gospel! ….We can be freed from feelings of despair and the bondage of sin.” – Elder Renlund

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Release yourself  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit

“—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink.” (D&C 19:18)

The final phrase of that scripture has always stood out to me.

Because the Savior of the world, faced with a truly painful and unpleasant task, asked not to have to face it.

At that moment, He did not want to drink the extremely bitter cup that had been placed before Him.

It is okay to ask.

It is okay to ask for our pains and sorrows to be taken away.

For our trials to end.

For our miracles to transform us.

But then, our perfect example said:

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father.”(D&C 19:19)

Nevertheless…

God’s will be done.

We can ask for what we want…

While also submitting to the Father’s will if it is different from ours.

I’ve learned that it’s okay to not always love whatever life throws at me.

I can wish and pray that it was different.

But ultimately, I have found the most peace when I give glory to my Father, no matter the circumstances.

And when I do hard things, the greatest blessings await on the other side.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post I don’t want to have to do this first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.