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
5 Responses
“Prayer is more about changing our hearts than changing His mind.”…LOVE this!
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.”
Thank you for sharing! I love your perspective on the importance of making those sacrament prayers personal and powerful.
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
I love this perspective! He really does want to hear from us. Thank you for sharing!