Be Still and Know

I find it interesting that the Lord provides for us spiritually when we need it. There have been Sundays, and I know this is going to be hard to believe, but there have been Sundays when I have gone to Church and walked away without getting much. I know that this is probably my own fault for not being prepared enough. Some Sundays the kids are tough and I have to focus so much energy on them that I simply don't get anything out of it. I had a lot of those Sundays when I was the nursery leader in Lakeland. As I am able to attend Sunday School and Priesthood more regularly I find myself getting more from the day. The Sacrament should be the highlight of the day and I do look forward to that ordinance each week but struggle to find myself immersed in the Spirit of it as I am trying to keep my kids quiet or still. I know that this season will not last forever and so we remain faithful despite the challenges.

Again, the Lord provides for us spiritually when we need it. I am not saying that we do not have to put forth any effort or seek to have the spirit in our lives. On the contrary we must faithfully seek for the spirit in our lives and find ourselves consistently doing those things the prophets and the Lord have invited us to do. I find that in that journey of obedience there is not always an overwhelming spiritual feeling taking place in my life. There are spiritual spurts that lift and strengthen. These are like manna from heaven and I love them. Today I was able to enjoy such an experience.

Brother Graff had the lesson in Gospel Doctrine today. His lessons are always very well prepared and tend to be more of a lecture. Bro. Graff taught Seminary and Institute as his profession and is never short on additional material and commentary. It just so happens that todays lesson had some participation and one of the topics being discussed had to do with prayer. The particular discussion had to do with receiving answers to prayer and stories were shared relative to feeling the spirit in prayer and waiting on the Lord. Sometimes our prayers for something specific can take hours, days, years to be answered and regardless of the rate of the answer we must remain faithful and trust in the Lord. During this process of faith we grow in ways we otherwise would not. Well, sometimes instead of waiting on the Lord we want to hurry him along and we lose patience. This does not work. Sometimes the answers that come differ from those we seek. We must trust in the Lord. Brother Graff shared the thought that we need to remember: Be Still and Know that I am God.

Yesterday I posted a discussion about Time and how I've got none. I shared some thoughts of loneliness and other challenges. I failed to acknowledge the Lord and the many blessings that he bestows upon our family. It can be so easy to get swept up in the pace of life that we forget or fail to recognize the hand of the Lord. I just felt peace today and assurance that the Lord is aware of me and my struggles. He knows me and the desires of my heart. He knows the loneliness that I feel on occasion and he is saying to me 'Trust in me. Be still and know that I am God'. I am grateful to the Lord and I will trust in him.

Shortly after this we opened Priesthood by singing the hymn I Know That My Redeemer Lives. I love this hymn. I struggles to sing it today as I felt its message as we sang. I close tonight by sharing those words:

1. I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

2. He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

3. He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

4. He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.

Music: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858–1921

Job 19:25

Psalm 104:33–34