Look Up!: Prayer

Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Trust in Him

Wow, it has been a very crazy month! I have had so many experiences that have been both overwhelming and an answer to my prayers all at the same time. First off, I have been dating a young man, who I thought in the beginning, was my Mr. Right. But, as we continued to date and as I continued to get to know him, I realized that we both wanted different things. For starters, I am not sure he truly even wants to be in a relationship. I realized he was being selfish and only thinking of himself, not making me one of his top priorities. He was more concerned about his material things than he was in building a strong relationship. It was through dating him that I realized I was looking for all of the wrong things. I wanted somebody who was done with school and who I knew could provide for me. Of course I wanted someone who could make me laugh and the happiest person on Earth. Someone who would do whatever they could to spend time with me and learn and grow together in unity. But, my focus was on the wrong things. So, as I have prayed and pondered these things, an old boyfriend kept popping into my mind. Finally I called him up and asked him out to frozen yogurt. Things went incredibly well and I realized that in a year and half since dating him, I have grown through experience and have learned so much. Matthew treats me like a princess. He wants to do whatever he can to make me happy. He is incredibly easy to talk to and can make me laugh. He does whatever he can to make time for me, even in his busy life. He makes me feel special and treats me like I am the daughter of a King. He is all of the things I want in my future spouse and I know that with him, we can grow as one in unity.
Matthew only lives 8 minutes away from my work. This is such a blessing since we work completely opposite of one another on most days. I am also blessed with flexible lunches, so I head to his house to eat. We make time for one another. There is effort from both ends and this is the way a relationship is supposed to work. We both want to make the time and we DO make the time to see each other as often as we can! I am just lucky that he is still around after a year and a half!

I am so grateful for the hard things in life that make us stronger, the challenges that make us better people. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and the knowledge I have that I can go to Him in time of need. He guides and directs me and knows the experiences I must have in order to understand things of the future. I am so happy now and I know that things will work out.

"But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen" (1Nephi 9:6)

Learn from the HARD things in life and move forward a STRONGER person with a GOOD attitude!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Prayer Answered

This past weekend, our dog went missing. Rex is part of our family and we all love him so very much. I will admit, he can be a big pain and is the world's greatest trouble maker, but has become apart of our family. At the beginning of October, 6 years ago, I bought him as a puppy. He quickly stole our hearts and brings us joy to have have around. Then, Friday night, he went missing. Rex is like Houdini - he can find his way out of anywhere! At first, I didn't think much of it because he is always getting out and then easily finds his way home. But when I found out he still hadn't returned by nightfall (I was out on a date and then with friends) I became more worried. It didn't fully hit me until I climbed into bed, then the tears began streaming down my face. I kneeled before my Heavenly Father, pleading to bring him home. Praying for his safety and given direction as to where we should look.

Morning came and in hopes of seeing him chillin' on the front lawn, wondering why we had left him out all night, there was no Rex. We had to rush off to get family pictures done, but the moment we were finished, we began posting flyers, called the pound, and I circled the neighborhood on my bike, asking if anyone had seen him. No luck. We posted 21 posters and listed him on KSL as missing. I couldn't study, I had a hard time functioning. I was trying to have the faith that he would return, but I also know that our will isn't always the will of the Father. I had done everything I could to return him home again, now it was up to the family's faith and prayers that we would have him back in our arms. Aspen even said a little prayer for him while in the middle of eating lunch. Nick and Zoe were praying too. I began praying that he would come home, not only because I missed him terribly, but also that Nick could see a prayer answered.

Saturday night, Zoe's mom saw a Found Dog ad on KSL "Found Dachshund, no coller, Sandy". It was too late to call, but I got down on my knees again, hoping this would be him. First thing Sunday morning, mom calls. She rushes down to my room, "Sarah, I think it is Rex!" I jump out of bed and we rush the 1.9 miles across Highland to see if it was an answer to our prayer. There they were, a cute young couple. He was holding their baby and she had Rex in her arms! I was so relieved and thankful! Mom and I were hugging her and thanking them for taking care of him.

Thank you Alisha and Eric for keeping him safe. However, he was hit by a car (we think that is what happened) before showing up on their street. We took him in to the vet and another prayer answered. No breaks and nothing serious, just a sprain or strain in his hind right leg.

I am so grateful for prayer and for Heavenly Fathers awareness of all we are going through. He watches over and protects our loved ones and I am so grateful to have Rex home again. Now...I am praying that Nick and Zoe can see that this was an answer to our prayers and not just a coincidence.

"As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. 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. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." (Bible Dictionary - Prayer)

This is Us!

We're two best friends who were put in each other's lives for a special purpose. We later realized our uncanny connection was more than uncanny! Together we have endured years of chronic health problems that have allowed us to be strengthened and polished by the Lord. In the process we have only grown closer to Him and to each other. We know that everyone has their own crosses to bear and it is through this blog that we hope to inspire and strengthen others.

LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson’s encouragement to "Look up!" is a metaphor for remembering Christ. As we remember Him and trust in His power, we receive strength through His Atonement. It is the means whereby we can be relieved of our anxieties, our burdens, and our suffering. It is the means whereby we can receive the faith, strength and hope to endure all things.