Growing up in Northern California, I felt like we were always taking road trips.

Whether it was across Nevada to visit family, down south to Disneyland, or just to the mountains.

I learned from a young age that I like to just stare out the window of a car.

My mom would get really fun activities for my sisters and me…

But I would still find myself spending half the day just staring out my window, thinking.

Does this make me weird?

Probably.

But I love just letting my mind wander!

My life is much busier now, so it takes a lot more effort to find time to be still and think.

But making time to ponder has completely transformed my relationship with God.

Moroni counsels us to, “. . . receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.” (Moroni 10:3)

All of my moments of transformation have come from letting my mind think on things.

When I’ve made big decisions, when I’ve had greater resolve to keep a commandment, when I’ve received impressions of which relationships to pursue and which to let go, and even when I’ve grown my testimony…

I’ve been pondering.

Because when I stop everything and let my mind run free, I find that God speaks.

“Being still is an act of faith and requires effort.” – L. Todd Budge

At the busiest time of year, how can you show an act of faith and WORK to stand still and ponder on the simple truths of the doctrine of Christ?

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Staring out a window first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

In my personal life, I’ve been experiencing a lot of change.

Honestly, most of it has been really good!

But good, bad, mediocre…

Change is always a little bit uncomfortable.

I’ve thought:

God is refining me.

Jesus is waiting for me at the other end, ready to embrace me once I’ve become more Christlike through this change.

But one morning, I was listening to music and heard an arrangement of the hymn, “Be Still, My Soul.”

I love that hymn.

But one phrase in particular stood out to me this time:

“The Lord is on thy side.”

The Lord is on my side!

I don’t have to “get through” these changes and adjustments in order to find my Savior on the other side.

He’s with me right now!

He wants me to conquer and smash and totally rock every challenge and change coming my way! ⁣

He’s walking next to me, helping me find some peace even when I need to adjust again.

God is not the author of confusion.

He’s not trying to trip me up by throwing things my way.

He’s not waiting to see if I make it or not.

⁣He is the author of peace. ⁣

And He is on my side.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:33)

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post God is not the author of confusion first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

And it’s absolutely true.

“Be still, and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10)

But I can’t stop thinking about the second half of this phrase.

Like, I haven’t been able to get it out of my head all week.

“Know that I am God.”

Do we know who God is?

Do we know what it means for the God of the Universe to also be our loving Heavenly Father?

Do we know that God knows everything?

That He knows the end from the beginning?

He knows our divine worth and our weaknesses.

He creates.

He orchestrates.

He loves.

Do we know who God is, what He knows, what He does, and who He loves?

Because when I reflect on the glimpses of truth that I know about my God, I want to find even more still moments.

My problems don’t seem as big.

My priorities become sharpened.

My desire to share selfless love with others is strengthened.

My distractions seem silly.

Yes, it is vitally important for us to find stillness in the craziness of life.

But I think it’s even more important to know what to do during those quiet times.

Ponder.

Worship.

Love God.

Be still.

And know who God is.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Know who God is first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.

But have you noticed how many people, prophets, and scriptures describe the Spirit as a “still small voice”?

Elijah noted the Lord wasn’t in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in “a still small voice”. (1 Kings 19:12)

I’ve found that be true in my life, too.

He often speaks to me in a still, small voice.

Giving guidance, correction, love, comfort, peace, strength.

But I’ve also noticed something about how I hear Him.

I’ve also got to be still and small.

I need to be humble. My ego needs to be small. My pride needs to be gone.

And I’ve got to be still, even if it’s for just a moment smack dab in the middle of a crazy day.

I need to be still and small to hear the still, small voice.

It’s that little invitation.

That little sign that I’m ready to listen.

That unfairly small effort that allows the Spirit to enter my heart and give me what I need.

I’ve got a million excuses for not taking still, small moments.

But whenever I get out of “busy victim” mentality and get to work to have a moment of quiet, I’m always surprised at how easy the direction comes.

Still, small moments for a still, small voice.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

The post Still, small moments first appeared on Come Follow Me Study with Cali Black.