It’s a question we’ve all asked.

While I think pride is absolutely a big factor, Alma tells Helaman about one big sin to look out for:⁣

“. . . do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way.” (Alma 37:46)

Saying my prayers every day should be something pretty easy. ⁣

It’s just a few minutes in the morning, a few minutes at night, and all I need to do is turn my attention to God for a bit. ⁣

That sounds so simple!⁣

And yet, those slothful temptations seem to pile on. ⁣

”I’m too tired right now – I’ll do it later.”⁣

“I can’t focus right now.”⁣

“It’s not that big of a deal to skip it tonight.”⁣

And slowly, I’ve built up an arsenal of excuses for not doing the most simple thing I can do–

A task that involves zero supplies and only my mind communing with God for a few short minutes. ⁣

When it is so easy to do something that will build up our testimony, strengthen our connection with God, bring our families closer together…

Then it is also really easy to not do it. ⁣

So I think it’s good to reflect.

What slothful excuses are keeping me from doing the simple things right now?

And when I start to break down that wall of excuses, I realize yet again how simple it is to connect with heaven.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Too tired to pray  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I LOVE reading.

When people ask me what book I’ve read recently and I say that I haven’t really read anything, I usually say:

“I don’t have any time to read.”

But what I really mean is, “I wouldn’t feel productive if I just sat down and read when I could be doing other things. That would be lazy of me.”⁣

About a month ago, I had some time without kids, and I was headed downstairs to work or clean or organize something.

But when I passed my bedroom, I saw the stack of books sitting on my bedside table that I hadn’t touched.

And I saw my nice cozy bed. ⁣

And I just decided that I would go lie down in bed and read. ⁣

And I did.

And when the kids were back awake and home from school, I felt refreshed and ready to play all afternoon. ⁣

I feel like I keep having to relearn this lesson:

Avoiding being slothful does NOT mean being “productive” all the time. ⁣

We can relax.

We can do things we enjoy just because we enjoy them.

We can leave the dishes in the sink a little longer and not feel any guilt.

We can follow our passions. ⁣

We can avoid being slothful, and give ourselves time to find joy in life. ⁣

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12)

Paul gives the counsel to use our FAITH and PATIENCE. ⁣

Patience and slothfulness might outwardly look pretty similar.

They both look like a lot of waiting. ⁣

But, as with most things, it’s the inside intent that counts. ⁣

Are we wasting our precious time away?

OR are we allowing ourselves to slow down and enjoy life?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Am I being slothful or patient? first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

How could they not follow the liahona’s directions with pure faith?!

I’ve certainly thought these questions before.

And while I think pride can be a large contributing factor, Alma tells Helaman about one big sin to look out for:

“Do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way”. Alma 37:46

Saying my prayers every day should be something pretty easy.

It’s just a few minutes in the morning, a few minutes at night, and all I need to do is turn my attention to God for a bit.

That sounds so simple!

And yet, those slothful temptations seem to pile on.

“I’m too tired right now – I’ll do it later.”

“I can’t focus right now – I’ll try again in a little bit.”

“It’s not that big of a deal to skip it tonight.”

And slowly, I’ve built up an arsenal of lazy excuses for not doing the most simple thing I can do – a task that involves zero supplies, and only my mind communing with God for a few short minutes.

When it is so easy to do something that will build up our testimony, strengthen our connection with God, bring our families closer together,
then it is also really easy to not do it.

Over and over.

The good news?

Things that are easy to do are also easy to do!

Once we break down the wall of slothful excuses, we see how simple it is to build righteous habits.

So see what lazy excuse you can break yourself free of today, and look, and live.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Look and live first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.