Most of the time, they were just quick questions. Not a big deal.

Sometimes they were super positive and kind! ⁣

Buuuut sometimes they were not very kind.

At all. ⁣

When I first started teaching, I would immediately try to tackle writing a response. ⁣

Even though I’m pretty good at keeping things professional, I was still writing it in an emotional state.

I’d want to refute every point they had made.

I’d want to fully explain every detail of the full story.

When I would read the correspondence a few days later, I would feel a little regret with a few lines that I felt I “needed” to include at the time. ⁣

What I quickly learned was the importance of being

SWIFT TO HEAR,

SLOW TO SPEAK, and

SLOW TO WRATH. ⁣

I’ve tried to become the best listener ever.

I don’t want to assume or butt in with my own thoughts.

I just want to listen.

But the most important element has been as I’ve learned to be SLOW to speak.

There is so much power in a pause.

Even if my first reaction is anger or frustration or disappointment…

I know that I need to WAIT. ⁣

This has applied everywhere in my life, from parenting to social relationships, from church issues to huge trials.

Sometimes the “waiting” is just a few seconds.

A quick breath to remind myself that my toddler is a toddler and isn’t supposed to do everything “right”. ⁣

Sometimes “waiting” is a few days.

A change in a calling, church policy, work situation, or routine.

If I literally just wait a few days, I find the change isn’t as dramatic as I thought.

And other times, the “waiting” takes… a really long time.

There are hard feelings towards another person or situation.

It just takes some waiting, a lot of prayer, and a lot of reflection. ⁣

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. (James 1:19)

To me, this verse is practical AND spiritual.

It’s brought so much peace to my life as I’ve slowed down and stopped thinking about myself so much, learning to listen and wait.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Slow to speak first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

I mean, he has always been a great speaker.

But there was something different about how he spoke now.

I could feel this spiritual power behind the words that he said.

A friend reminded me that what I was noticing was the mantle of his calling which gave him new authority to speak and prophesy to the entire world.

After Jesus gave His beautiful Sermon on the Mount, the people listening to Him were astonished because He taught with authority. ⁣

“For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:29)

I’m not the prophet, and I’m certainly not Jesus.

But can I speak with authority, too?

I’ve spent a lot of time recently pondering on and studying about priesthood power.

What is priesthood power?

And how can I access more of that priesthood power— God’s holy power— in my own life?

The Church General Handbook says:

“God’s priesthood power flows to all members of the Church —female and male —as they keep the covenants they have made with Him.”

Priesthood power comes through covenants.

So accessing priesthood power means actively keeping my covenants.

What can I do with my priesthood power?

I can act with authority in my callings at church, within my home, and when seeking revelation for my own life.

Covenant keepers have access to priesthood power.

It’s an area I’ve been living below my means in, and I’m ready to step up and humbly claim the power that God is already willing to allow me to use in order to speak and act with authority when it comes to those I have stewardship over.

And in my own small but confident way, I can also speak with a new level of power and authority because I am keeping covenants.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Accessing my priesthood power  first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.