Tag Archives: heavenly father

Philosophic, Religious

How Do I Approach God?

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When my 7 year old wants something and comes to me whining about how he does not have it and then throws a fit because I am not getting it for him that very instance, I am less inclined to do anything for him.

When my 7 year old wants something and comes to me speaking in a very calm and rational tone, showing forth appropriate deference, I am much more inclined to give my child whatever he wants.

How do I approach my Heavenly Father in prayer when I want something? I am sure that my own attitude toward Him greatly influences what He is willing to grant unto me.

parenting, Philosophic

Do I Give Like I Ask?

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I had another parental inspiration the other day. It came as my son was asking me for something and I immediately said “no” without even really hearing what he was asking about.

The inspiration I received made me stop and compare how I was interacting with my son, with how my Heavenly Father interacts with me (a habit of mine).

I ask my Heavenly Father for things all the time. There is so much I need every day. Is He quick to say “no” to me? He is not. I know that Heavenly Father is patient, loving, and kind. He responds to my requests using those traits.

What traits do I use when responding to my son? Impatience, selfishness, pride? Why? I love my son. Why would I choose to be so abrupt and unkind in responding to him?

Apparently I have picked up a bad habit, for whatever reason. It could have developed for any number of reasons. Perhaps it is a natural response to his own personality which conflicts with my own. My son has a personality that is similar to my mine. This make sense, since I am his father and example. A great majority of what he learns is from what I teach him by the example I set for him. The fact that he has his own will, which, I have learned, I cannot bend, probably causes me to become defensive.

Whatever the cause, I am glad that I have realized how I react. Now that I recognize my bad habit, I can start to change my behavior.

This being a parent thing is such a great learning experience!

Philosophic, Religious

How Much Do You Trust God?

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Here is a scripture I read this morning:

Alma 38:5

And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

It’s a simple math equation. I have never noticed it until now.

(Level of Your trust in God) = (Your level of Deliverance)

That reads: Your level of deliverance from anything is equal to the level of Trust that you put in God.

In other words, the more you let go of your fears and prideful thoughts of not needing help from anyone, and put your Trust in God, the more He will deliver you out of whatever troubles or trials that you are in.

I read this to mean, that one of our main purposes for being here in mortality is to learn how to let go, and learn to trust our Heavenly Father.

How much do YOU trust God?

Education, Philosophic, Religious

How to Wake up at 0500 Every Day

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I love waking up early. Early for me is 0500. I do that every day. It feels great! Has it always been like this? No. My name is Jonathan, and I am an addict. I am addicted to sleep. Given the choice my body will always choose sleep over waking up. My body is naturally lazy.

The problem with having a lazy body that is addicted to sleep is that there are so many things I want to do every day. If I am sleeping in I am wasting precious time. There is so much to do and so little time. Sure my body needs to sleep, but not longer than is needful. God did not put me on this planet to sleep. Sleep is only necessary because this mortal body gets tired and needs to rejuvenate.

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Philosophic, Religious

Do we need pacification?

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Sometime babies cry for what seems like no reason at all. The may have clean clothes, a clean diaper, they may be nice and warm, they may be well fed. Yet they just cry. Seemingly inconsolable.

Then along comes their mother, who gently and lovingly picks them up, craddles them and allows them to suckle. All is well and the room that was moments ago rended with miserable sobs is now utterly silent in comparison. All is calm.

Tonight my little baby was clamoring for pascification. His mother was not home, having stepped out to run an errand. Being inadequately equipped to pascify my son in a motherly way, was left only with a pascifier. I offered it to him many times and tried holding him in many different positions. Finally, one combination worked and he finally settled down.

As the calm settled in, I found myself asking my baby what it was that could cause him such anguish and discomfort. As I held his tiny hand and rocked him tenderly I wondered how one so small and with so few cares could find it needful to carry on so boisterously.

As this scenario played out, the thought struck me that perhaps we (adults and such) are also at times in need of some pascification. Perhaps our Heavenly Father often hears our clamoring and complaining. Then, as he holds our hand and lovingly rocks us so gently, asks us, “why does one so small and with so few cares, carry on such as if you had something to worry about?”.

It pascifies me, to think that one so powerful, great, and filled with the concerns of an entire universe actually takes the time to comfort each and every one of us, His children.

How often do we recognize the comfort he gives to us? What truly do we have to worry about when the Master of the Universe is our Father in Heaven?

I know He lives and loves me too. The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true.

I love you Father. Thank you for everything.