(I might be repeating this, but I couldn’t find it amongst the published. Perhaps it needs to be seen again.kdm) Continuing thoughts from Larry Tippetts and the previous post Pray Always
Other Insights on Prayer: . . . . The greatest pattern for our prayers, is found in Jesus’s prayer in Gethsemane. In my opinion, the second most important prayer found in scripture is Acts 9:6. Saul, (later Paul) was on his way to Damascus to arrest and persecute the Christians when Jesus Christ appeared to him. Saul’s first question was, “Who art thou Lord?” (Acts 9:5). Once he understood who this being was, Saul demonstrated his utter humility by asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me do? (verse 6). When I served as a bishop, it was a tradition to have a scripture theme for the year. In 2003 the theme was simply, “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?” Every sacrament meeting talk offered by ward members during the year was related to that theme. The talks were heartfelt and down to earth, as each speaker personalized Paul’s prayer to their own circumstances—marriage relationship, parenting struggles, spiritual development, and many others. I have uttered the prayer hundreds of times and written it dozens of times in my journals, usually when I am perplexed as to the course I should follow. It is a prayer of great humility..
The living Apostles have given exceptional counsel on prayer. Elder Richard G. Scott taught: “How are prayers answered? Seldom you will receive a complete response all at once. . . . His answers will seldom come when you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response” (“Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,” Ensign, May 2007, 9). My experience has been exactly as Elder Scott suggested. The answers to my prayers most often come in the hours, days, and weeks that follow, and my journal is a significant resource in monitoring the granting of those petitions.
From a Student Journal—Communication with Heaven. . . . I used to have a serious problem remembering morning prayers. I tried a bunch of methods to remember: notes, an embroidered pillow, etc., etc. What finally helped me was when I realized that I remembered to check my phone every morning for missed calls and texts. I asked myself. “How is it that I rush to connect with friends each morning but can’t remember to connect with my Heavenly Father?” After that any time I would go to check my phone in the morning, I’d remember to pray first. Soon it became natural to wake up and speak with God. (Katie)
Prayer Walking. . . . I discovered the value of combining prayer and walking in 2003, when I had developed serious problems with my back that kept me from work for nearly four months. During this time I was unable to kneel or sit in a chair for more than a few minutes, so I spent those months either in bed or a recliner or standing. My doctor instructed me to take ten-minute walks every couple of hours. On one occasion I had been feeling particularly blue. Two of our married sons were out of work, and my back was not healing. It was a cold, foggy November morning. I took a short walk to try and clear my head. I acknowledged the fact that I was having a difficult time hearing the voice of God. Here is a portion of the journal entry I wrote when I returned home: “I walked along thinking how nice it would be if He whispered to me. I thought to myself, ‘What would God likely be saying to me if I could hear Him?’ I pondered that question as I walked and finally said out loud. Larry, I love you, I am aware of your difficulties. Keep trying: don’t let up.’ I was strangely comforted by hearing my own voice speak those words. It truly seemed to be the Lord saying them to me. Although the day remained foggy, light returned to my mind and heart.” (November 27,2003) ~Larry Tippetts, Receiving Personal Revelation, (American Fork, UT, Covenant Communications, 2017) 83-85 (continued)
