The Process of Prayer

The following is an excerpt  from one of my journal entries written over 5,000 moons ago.  It continues to be relevant to my experiences of today.  How funny that we should continue to face some of the same lessons at different seasons in our lives.


A friend of mine asked me to lunch and shared her concerns about wanting to do what the Lord wanted her to do--not wishing to make changes because of her need for change only.  She had prayed for new challenges before work that particular day and promised that, whatever it was, she would be up to it.  Then, as soon as she got to work, she had a voice mail message from a guy in another area of the state who was trying to put a team together to set out for a new venture with a different focus.

My friend was amazed and wondered if it were just a coincidence or not.  I said that it probably didn't matter.  She said it did, though, because if it were really Heavenly Father trying to tell her something, that she should pay more attention.  And, if he gave her a confirmation of where she should be heading, then--when things got rough--she could have confidence that everything would work out fine.

I then found myself just restating the idea that it probably did not matter much whether or not the call about the job were a coincidence.  I said I didn't really think it mattered much to the Lord whether she had this job, or that.  In the true perspective of the Lord, what matters most is the process of learning to more reliant upon the Lord in finding out what His will is for us.

I spoke aloud thoughts that I had never thought before.  Then, I suggested that she make her prayers more specific and diligent.  "Specific?" she asked.  Yes.  Sometimes, the words of our prayers are so generic that they can refer to our jobs one day and our callings the next.  Also, in being diligent in prayer, I suggested that the prayer be offered more than every few days and that it be offered in the spirit of fasting and prayer.  Not that fasting actually need be done (though it would be to her advantage); rather, that an attitude of prayer and fasting be developed.  When we are fasting, we are almost constantly aware of our needs and we seek to have the help of God in fulfilling them.  Such reliance upon the Lord must be developed in our everyday lives.

These words which flowed through me may have become a partial answer to her prayers for increased understanding.  As pertaining to entirely separate events of the day that I was experiencing on a personal level myself, these words most certainly became an answer to mine.

When seeking answer to prayer, I have always been one to have "good feelings" about one thing or another--nothing astoundingly positive nor disconcerting--just enough to cause me to continue moving towards the goal.  Drawing from my own experience, common sense, and already set strengths and capabilities, I have made and carried out decisions for my life.  Though I pray often about such decisions, rarely am I moved about by the assurance of direct, unmistakable answer to prayer.  Most of the time, anyway, I am okay with that.

I know that God does hear and answers my prayers.  But, it remains for me that the clearest part in finding answers to prayer is to brave the process of the search until a more sure reliance upon the Lord is developed.  Then--then, the answers will become more apparent.


For more thorough and inspired thoughts on the subject, read or watch Elder Richard G. Scott's March 2007 Conference Address, Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer.  For the written address, click here.   For the broadcast address, click here.