Do Not Underestimate the Power of Prayer (Especially as a Parent)
A smiling baby resting in the arms of a grandmother
All Who Ask Will Receive
Jesus told his followers, and we see in many other places in the scriptures, that all who ask will receive an answer. All who seek will find, and all who knock shall have the way or the door opened to them. I have wondered, probably like all of us at some point, if this is just an unlimited or unqualified promise for us. Can I have anything I want just for the asking? The answer to that is obviously “no”. Thinking about and pondering what the Lord is saying here is crucial. It is a beautiful blessing. He says ALL who ask will receive. The questions on my mind are: what should I ask for, and what do I want to receive?
This is not a genie-in-the-bottle situation. We can easily see with a bit of logic or fundamental gospel wisdom that the Lord is not just a genie granting wishes. What happens if I ask for untold wealth? Or for a great car and colossal house to make my co-workers jealous? Will I receive it? Does the promise from Jesus cover me seeking to make myself look richer and more powerful than my neighbors? What if I ask for the death of my enemy? What if I ask for all the rules and commandments of the Gospel to be removed? Will any of that happen? We all know the answer is no. So what should we ask for?
Let’s start with the assumption that we have faith in the Lord and want to do God’s will. Yes, we are human and weak, and we would like life to be easy and have many comforts around us. Deep down inside, those with even small faith know that, in the end, following the Lord is where joy is. We also read that “ … men [and women] are that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25). Joy comes from the Lord; while not always easy, it is there for us.
May I suggest a few questions to start with? I have spent many years teaching service and sales associates the importance of asking questions and different types of questions they can and should be skilled at. While there is more than one way to ask any question, the list below is a great place to start when we talk about asking the Lord. I also know he will open the door and provide answers to these questions. We must be patient and listen, but these questions are a great starting place to “reason together” with the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18).
What am I not seeing in those around me who I can help?
What is the best way for me to help [insert name here]?
How can I better feel God’s love?
What would you have me understand from my scripture reading today?
What is most right in my life right now? Help me understand what I should keep doing and build upon?
How can I better feel your love and know who I truly am?
What is most wrong in my life right now? Where should I work first to improve my life? What would you have me focus on to become closer to you or a better person?
What do I not see in myself that would help me improve my life?
These questions are a little like diagnostic inquiries. They are imperfect and should not be used repeatedly so they become overly repetitious. Ask more questions after these as you find answers or feel inspired to burrow down to the roots of what you are genuinely looking for. These are examples and a way to start a conversation of “asking” or “knocking.” That conversation may take many days or, more likely, many years, but this is a good way to start finding the will of God.
The door will be opened for you, and you will find all you could ever imagine. I have hope that this is true and my faith has grown as I have asked the Lord my own questions.
Prayer Takes Action To Receive All The Blessings
One of the greatest gifts God has given us is our agency. Our Father will never take our agency away nor force us to follow Him. We are here to choose to follow and live by faith. He will never compel us.
This is also true for many blessings that He would love to bestow on us. Our loving Heavenly Father wants to bless us but will not infringe upon our agency. For some blessings, we need to ask. To gain some wisdom, we need to converse with the Lord. Increasing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives takes asking in faith. We do this through prayer. As Elder J. Devn Cornish told us in 2011, "Prayer is one of the most precious gifts of God to man." It is through prayer that we use our agency and ask the Lord for guidance, as well as show our gratitude and willingness to repent daily.
Our Bible dictionary says, "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them." This reiterates the concept of prayer as a means to align our will with God's, fostering a deeper connection with our faith.
Prayer is not just words spoken. It is an active process that includes listening, a humble willingness to follow, and then taking action. We should think of prayer like medicine. Simply getting the prescription is not enough. We need to actually take the pills we are prescribed. Use as directed is written on all our medical containers; it should also be on our prayers.
Do Not Underestimate the Power of Prayer by Parents
In our “Come Follow Me” study this week, I found encouragement and a great lesson in the story of Alma, “the younger”. Alma the younger, or the son of Alma, was working against the church at this time and working to lead people away from the teachings of God. What I find encouraging about his conversion story is why and how it happened. We find this story in Mosiah 27. As Alma and his friends went around causing havoc, they were visited by an angel sent to convert them to the truth of God. In verse 14, I find something encouraging for anyone who prays for someone else. Especially those who pray for their children or grandchildren.
And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.
Look at what the angel tells Alma the younger here:
The Lord has heard the prayers of his people.
The Lord has heard the prayers of his servant - Alma the younger's Father.
His father has prayed with much faith that his son would be brought to know the truth.
The angel came to convince Alma, the younger of the power and authority of God - that the prayers of his servants (his father) would be answered.
The angel is not there because of what Alma the Younger has done. He did not ask for or expect this and may not even deserve this help based on his own actions. The angel is there to fulfill his father's prayer. As a parent, you should never stop praying in faith for the Lord to help your children. He will answer your prayers. It may not always be in our time frame. It may not even be in this life, but we can be assured that those prayers will be answered. God will not force anyone to believe in the truth, but he will surely fulfill the prayers of faithful parents. He is our Heavenly Parent and He is filled with more love for his children than we can imagine. His heart and love must go out to parents pleading for their children’s help.
Mormon writes this to benefit us and build our faith. In times of struggle or frustration, we need to remember these truths from the scriptures. The Lord will send us his peace, and our prayers will be answered.
As children learn to speak, they may babble as the desire hits them, even at seemingly the wrong times. As children grow, they speak out as thoughts hit them. We should think of our prayers that way. When the thought hits you, pray about it. You don't need formality to speak with God.