I don’t know if that’s 100% true, but I do know that when I study, truly STUDY, my scriptures every single day consistently, I know more about the gospel.

I’m able to teach better.

I receive inspiration more easily.

I feel like I’m showing my Heavenly Father and my Savior that I’m willing to put the work in to learn. ⁣

I feel comfort and peace in response to my complicated questions.

The people in Berea were ready to actually receive the gospel from Paul and Silas because they SEARCHED the scriptures DAILY. ⁣

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and asearched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

So how can we search and study the scriptures even better?

I like to take a little inventory of my current scripture study-related STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

Whether it is consistency, time spent studying, allowing time to reflect, finding life lessons, seeking inspiration, memorizing stories and references, teaching others about the scriptures…⁣

The gospel is all about STRIVING to be better!⁣

How can we be just a little better with our scripture study today?

Not tomorrow.

Not when I have the time.

Not once I meet this deadline. ⁣

What can I do today to make my scripture study bless my life even more, and be ready to receive God’s word?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post How can I improve my scripture study? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I love coming up with really good plans.

Whether it’s been for callings at church, my next career move, or ideas for how to help my child, I think of a lot of stuff.

And sometimes, God says, “no” to my carefully crafted plans.

Paul experienced this, too.

Paul really wanted to travel to certain areas to share the gospel. ⁣

“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” (Acts 16:7)

His desire was perfectly righteous!

And it made logical sense for them to preach to the people in Bithynia as they travelled, too.

Maybe Paul had travel arrangements or contacts there to make it super convenient.

But he prayed, and the Spirit told him, “no.” ⁣

For me, “no” answers usually come with stupors of thought.

I feel like the next step is not available to me.

Or I feel “off” as I pray about it. ⁣

It takes a lot of faith to NOT go through with something we want to do.

And then the trickiest part of all?

Usually the promptings for what we should do instead do not come until we have shown the faith not to go down the first path. ⁣

I’ve known that an idea I was really excited about was no longer right.

But it wasn’t until I took actual steps away from that first idea that the much better, much more powerful second idea came into focus.

It took a LOT of humility.

But I think that’s the point.

Slowly removing that pride, layer by layer.

It takes faith to align our will with God and accept that His “no” will bring the greatest future imaginable.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Accepting a “no” from God  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question during a time of spiritual struggle.

When you’ve had to deal with a toddler.

When you feel like you don’t have any friends in your ward.

Besides partaking of the infinitely important sacrament, Luke gives some commentary on Paul’s travels:

“And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.” (Acts 18:23)

He went around strengthening all the disciples!

What a fantastic reason to go to church.

Instead of focusing on teaching a lesson, conducting music, or listening to a teacher, we can turn outward!

We can focus on finding ways to strengthen the people around us.

I personally have been strengthened by people who had conversations with me in the hallway.

By people who have shared meaningful comments in lessons.

Or even by those who’ve just smiled at me in a moment of loneliness.

“This religion is not concerned only with self; rather, we are all called to serve.” (Elder D. Todd Christofferson)

And we certainly don’t need to be perfect to strengthen others!

Your strengths are probably someone else’s weaknesses and vice versa.

We all get to be strengthened, and we all get to strengthen others as we share what’s worked for us and how we’ve gotten closer to Jesus.

And if we aren’t necessarily feeling strengthened by others, then we can go to turn outward and lend our strength to someone who needs it.

Every time I do that, I end up feeling strengthened, too.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Strengthen each other at church first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

“None of us should be defined only by the worst thing we have ever done.” – Kevin R. Duncan

Other than not fully understanding Christ’s atoning power in our lives, this becomes a problem because we view ourselves as an imposter of some kind. ⁣

“If only they knew…”⁣

“I’m different than everyone else…”

Which leads us to separate ourselves even more from our family, friends, and ward members!

And to separate ourselves from Jesus Christ.

And then why do we sometimes do this to others?⁣

We happen to know of a big sin they committed, and we silently judge them as we see their social media pictures, because they were “that one kid in high school who…”⁣

We know of a difficult life circumstance they had to endure, and we thoughtlessly label them as “that girl who had to return early from her mission…” or “the divorced guy…”

I like to think of Paul. ⁣

Did anyone else just get EXHAUSTED reading about all his traveling and preaching?!

This missionary was on fire!⁣

And then, he gives a beautiful farewell speech to his brethren in Acts 20:18-35.

(I highly recommend you reread that speech again.)⁣

He talks about serving the Lord boldly. ⁣

He talks about never coveting what other men have. ⁣

He talks about being led by the Holy Ghost to preach of Christ. ⁣

And then his brethren weep, fall on him, and kiss him because they do not want him to go away. ⁣

And Paul emotionally closes:

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

Does this sound like Paul is thinking about his not-so-shiny days as the Pharisee, stoning Christians to death?

Does this sound like his friends still remember the terrible things Paul did to them and possibly loved ones?⁣

Nope. ⁣

Christ’s atoning power is real.

We don’t need to keep thinking we aren’t as good as anyone else.

We don’t need to keep thinking we have other people “figured out”.

Because of Jesus, everyone gets to change if they want to.

Our eternal potential is unlimited!

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Paul didn’t let his past define him first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.