Can I get weirdly specific about a temptation I think a lot of us face, but don’t talk about that much?⁣

The temptation to NOT pray. ⁣

Not just forgetting to pray (although I think that can often be a side effect of the issue).

But choosing to NOT pray.⁣

In fact, Nephi even specifically calls out this strategy of the adversary in 2 Nephi 32:8:⁣

“…the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.”⁣

Why would we not pray?⁣

-I’m too angry to pray. ⁣

-I don’t have anything new to say. ⁣

-I feel like I just prayed. ⁣

-I’m too overwhelmed/tired to actually say a meaningful prayer. ⁣

-What’s the point? Nothing changes anyway. ⁣

-I’m not feeling grateful right now. ⁣

-It’s not that big of a deal. ⁣

-He knows what’s going on in my mind, so I don’t need to say a formal prayer. ⁣

How do we root out this temptation that is so specifically called-out in the scriptures?⁣

The good ol’ Bible Dictionary puts it perfectly:

“Many of the difficulties or temptations we face for not praying come from forgetting about our true relationship with Heavenly Father: that He really is our Father, and we are His children.”

-God wants us to talk to Him when we are angry and upset. ⁣

-He doesn’t care if we think we are too tired to have a meaningful conversation with Him. ⁣

-He doesn’t get tired of hearing from us. ⁣

-We don’t need to impress Him with outstanding new stories or phrases each time we talk with Him. ⁣

-We know His will will always be done, so prayer is more about changing our hearts than changing His mind. ⁣

When we are reminded about our true relationship with the God of the Universe, prayer becomes a little more instinctive and natural on our part. ⁣

And the temptation “to NOT pray” can start to lose its power over us.

So here’s your (and my own) pep talk for today:

Pray. Pray always. It’s worth it. It’s never something you’ll regret doing.

Don’t forget to (or be tempted not to) PRAY.

Happy Studying!

-Cali Black

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5 Responses

  1. Thank you for this little service. Your thoughts are so succinct, to-the-point…and powerful. You especially touched on something I’ve long thought about: do I make praying as important as it can, and should be? Is there real effort on my part to put myself in-the-spirit with HIM? I try to make partaking of the sacrament especially poignant: During my special once-a-week, brief private audience with my Heavenly Father…I pause and ponder, before ingesting the small piece of bread (broken, as was His body) and sipping the small cup of water…. I visualize the drops of His blood running down from the crown of thorns. What the sacrament represents! The sacrifice the Savior made for me. I think about the promise I have …If I qualify myself for forgiveness. President David O. McKay once told a group of young missionaries that I was part of, that “…the Sacramental prayers are the two most important prayers of all the prayers in the Church.”

    1. Thank you for sharing! I love your perspective on the importance of making those sacrament prayers personal and powerful.

  2. Thanks for this thought! I love how open you are!! It makes you so real and relatable (even though I already knew you before you did Come Follow Me Study). I have struggled with this temptation off and on. One of the best reminders for me is to think of Heavenly Father truly as my Father. I lost my earthly father when I was only 18 years old. Oh how I would love to connect with him! I can feel the same toward my Heavenly Father! Another reminder, as my children have become adults, is how much I love to hear from them. Of course my Heavenly Father wants to hear from me… any time, any reason, short “talk”, long “talk” – He loves me and wants to connect with me! Isn’t that awesome!! Your thought today has touched my soul and brought tears to my eyes! Thank you <3

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