Counsel with the Lord

I am working really hard at getting the scriptures back into our morning routine. I have done really good the past couple of weeks and we will be starting Mosiah in the morning. One of the things that impressed me one morning was in Jacob 4:10. This chapter is talking about the atonement and how we should come unto the Lord through the Atonement of Christ. But this verse really got to me it says "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works."

The first part of the verse is what struck me, "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand." We shouldn't tell the Lord what we want, we need to listen to Him and He will tell us what He wants from us. Yes, it would be great if we could pray to Heavenly Father and ask him for things that WE think WE should have, when we should be listening to HIM, since only HE is the one that truly knows what is best for us. We need to listen to that and take heed to that. I don't like it when my kids tell me what I should be doing and that they want a certain thing, so why should we do that with the Lord?

In the April Ensign there is an Article about prayer called "Families That Pray Together". In this article there is a story about a young man who was training to be an electronic technician in the U.S. Navy. He was getting below average test scores and he didn't know what he should do. His ability to attend the school was in jeopardy if he didn't get his grades up. He began studying every opportunity that he had and it soon became an obsession for him. One day he was walking in a hall and he had a strong impression come to him that said to keep studying and praying. He followed the prompting and was able to pass his classes and graduate from the school.

I had a similar experience one day when I was pretty discouraged and was walking to my car. I received an impression that I just needed to ask and He was there. I will admit that I have failed in that area recently but after many similar impressions I know that I just need to ask and he will help me. I still need to study and the answers won't just magically appear in my head, but I feel that if I ask Him to help me retain the information then I will be able to pass my class.

With General Conference coming up this week and the help that I am needing in my classes to retain the information, I am truly going to ask the Lord for some direction this week and put my faith on the line. As I have sat at my table doing homework all day and typing this I keep looking at my window where there is a little saying that says "Prayer Changes Things" and hopefully He will help me out this week in my struggles and my issues that I have. Hopefully He will help me become a better person this week and that my faith and my testimony will be strengthened.