Got Holy Habits?

A few weeks ago I had an experience using all three Holy Habits—Prayer, Scriptures, and Promptings.
Through a difficult situation I suddenly felt a loss of my typical peace. A silent question repeated in my mind, What should I do? As I went about tidying the house with my “helper” two-year-old, the thought came—“Pray.” Immediately I stopped what I was doing, bent down and told my toddler, “Mommy needs to pray.” Together we knelt by my bed and I prayed openly and aloud my specific concerns and needs.
After feeling a gentle peace return, I arose and continued to tidy when the clear thought came to me: “Trust in the Lord.” Thankfully, I didn’t do what I too often do which is to think, Wow, great thought, then go put in a load of laundry, get a popsicle for my son, or make one quick phone call and THEN process that thought more fully.
This time I went straight to my scriptures, opened the Topical Guide, and searched the word “Trust.” In just that small paragraph of references, several key scriptures leapt off the page and soothed my heart, answered my inner questions, and gave me direction.
So often our holy habits are jumpstarted by one simple thing—a question. Much of scripture, and life or world changes, comes from that very act—asking a question—and then listening for and paying attention to the answer.
In his article, “Healing = Courage + Action + Grace,” Jonathan G. Sandberg shares a prayer of Martin Luther King, Jr. He has come to a pivotal and frightening point in the fight for civil rights and has a silent question of what he should do. The answer comes to him like a voice that says, “Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo I will be with you until the end.”
His answer gave the needed strength to continue his journey and change the course of history.
Our answer may not be so globally life-changing. But it may change our own lives. Consider using one or two questions in your prayers or scripture study this week—some from real-life concerns, or some from scripture reflections. Jot down a few thoughts or notes in scripture margins, your Smartphone, or a little notebook. Then listen to what God desires personally to share with you.
And ENJOY getting Back to Basics~
Connie
GIVE IT A GO:
Julie B. Beck, former leader of the General Relief Society organization for women shared this thought on asking questions in our scripture study:
“Many answers to difficult questions are found by reading the scriptures because the scriptures are an aid to revelation. Insight found in scripture accumulates over time, so it is important to spend some time in the scriptures every day.”
Other good places for questions include: new testament, Is it I? When saw we thee a stranger? Dost thou lovest me? Which one of these was neighbor? Or Alma 5 which is filled to the brim with reflective soul-changing questions.
What’s a personal or spiritual question that you can ponder or study this week?