It’s one of my favorite songs that I learned as a child. ⁣

My language? ⁣

My actions?⁣

What would I do if the Savior was right next to me?⁣

It helped guide me to more Christlike decisions as a little kid. ⁣

But now, years later, with three kids of my own, it brings a different meaning to me. ⁣

Fear. Weakness. Dismay. ⁣

I’ve felt it all. ⁣

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9)⁣

My understanding of the Savior has grown a lot since I was a kid. ⁣

He’s not just there, watching me, hoping I say and do nice things. ⁣

He is with me in my weakness. In my dismay. In my fears. ⁣

He’s with me when I feel exhausted after putting out my kids’ little fires all day. ⁣

He’s with me when I think that I’ve messed everything up. ⁣

He’s with me when I hear more bad news. ⁣

He’s with me when I remember everything that’s on my to-do list. ⁣

“He is always near me, though I do not see him there; ⁣

“And because he loves me dearly, I am in his watchful care.”⁣

He’s there cheering me on. Guiding me. Comforting me. Loving me. ⁣

His Spirit can always be with me, whenever I have the desire. ⁣

And because He is with me wherever I go, I have no need to feel fear and dismay. ⁣

I can be strong and have courage to conquer whatever comes my way.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Be strong and of a good courage!  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

Joshua, the new leader of the Israelites, approached the city of Jericho.

This was the climax of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and now what?!

Well, the Lord tells Joshua:

“See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.” (Joshua 6:2)

The Lord then proceeded to tell Joshua exactly what to do– march around the city once a day for six days, and on the seventh day, march seven times more. The priests will then blow ram’s horns, the people will shout, and the walls of Jericho will come tumbling down.

The prophet Joshua told his people the plan, they followed the directions, and the city was theirs.

Easy peasy, right?

Asked and answered.

Sometimes, the Lord is ready to give us the exact answer that we need.

But the tricky part then becomes having enough faith to actually follow through on the plans.

Have you had an experience like this before?

Receiving direct answers to prayers is the best.

But then we have to trust and act.

Because receiving the answer is only the first half of the equation.

Whether that means to quit the job, have that conversation, or march around a city blowing horns and shouting, it takes a lot of faith to follow through on our answered prayers.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Answered prayers first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.