How Can I Increase Spirituality in my Life?
Part 2
Continued from last week’s letter
2. Prayer… is the Soul’s Sincere Desire
Have you ever stopped to read and think about the words to this favorite hymn? From it we can learn much about types of prayers and how prayer works.
-Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire, Unuttered or expressed; The motion of a hidden fire That trembles in the breast.
-Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.
-Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer, the sublimest strains
That reach The Majesty on high.
-Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.
-Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
-The saints in prayer appear as one
In word, in deed, and mind,
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.
-No prayer is made by man alone
The Holy Spirit pleads,
And Jesus, on th’eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.
-O Thou by Whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray.
Prayer is a measure of the desire of our soul to be ‘one with God’. We teach our investigators, “If you desire to receive an answer to the question of the truthfulness of the precepts we are teaching, you must pray”. A corollary to this logic for our lives is “If you desire to have increased spirituality in your life you must pray”. If we have a sincere desire to draw near to God, prayer will become second nature to us. It is an expression of the fire of testimony in our hearts. Prayer can either be spoken or in silence. In fact Christ asks that we pray continuously as we go throughout the day. He commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts, 3 Ne. 20:1 Prayer is the way to feel God’s love when we are feeling alone or vulnerable. Prayer is no better or worse based on how eloquently it is delivered. It is just as available to the smallest child as to the wisest patriarch. Prayer is central to the process of repentance. Surely God must rejoice when the sinner approaches Him in prayer to seek forgiveness and asks for help as he travels the road back. Through prayer the saints can find the unity with each other and with Deity that marks true discipleship. Christ is our advocate with the Father. When we pray we enable that divine intercession. Our words to the Father are through the name of Jesus Christ. Prayer allows us to express gratitude and to request blessings of which we stand in need.
President Brigham Young said, “It matters not whether you or I feel like praying. … If we do not feel like it, we should pray till we do” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young).
Sister Brubaker and I desired a particular blessing for one of our children. We prayed several times a day for more than 3 years wondering if our prayers would help. Finally, in a matter of a few months the concern was cleared up in a way that was beyond our greatest expectations. I know that God hears and answers our prayers and as we seek blessings through prayer we gain as a natural byproduct, greater spirituality.
3. Is my fasting meaningful?
Some of us really have to work at making fasting more than to just get hungry. I remember as a young boy wondering why fast Sunday went so slow.
Meaningful fasting is one sure method of cultivating spirituality in our lives. Here is a practical suggestion: Choose something very specific—maybe one of your investigator’s challenges or a principle of the gospel that you desire to more fully understand. Focus, fast, and pray. It seems that every time the scriptures refer to fasting, prayer is also mentioned. They go together.
Fasting is an activity perfectly suited to missionaries’ needs. As we fast with a missionary purpose in mind we gain more spirituality.
Alma mentions fasting as one of the qualities of the sons of Helaman that impressed upon him that they were great missionaries.
But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. Alma 17:3
This coming Sunday as we fast together let’s pray for our investigators and especially that throughout the mission we will see major progress in bringing families to the waters of baptism.
We are seeing many wonderful miracles in the mission. After a 2-week delay waiting for visas, the newest missionaries finally made it to the Netherlands last Thursday. Several of them have already called to tell us of setting baptism dates in their first couple of days in the country. Please let us know of a miracle that you saw this week.
Our quest for greater spirituality will lift our mission. We will better be able to share the love we feel for God and our investigators, as we draw nearer to Him. We will ask questions and extend invitations as directed by the Spirit. We will enjoy greater power of discernment so that we can teach to the specific needs of individuals being taught the gospel.
May we be ever faithful so that it can be said of us … if they had faith to believe that God could … point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day. (Alma 37:40)
Have a great week, full of miracles,
Much Love,
President Brubaker
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