- What are some routine activities you can do on a daily, weekly or monthly basis to enable the reception of revelation?
Jay E. Jensen said, “Hymns play an essential
role in spirituality, revelation, and conversion.”
(https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/05/the-nourishing-power-of-hymns?lang=eng)
Scripture passages that talk about things we
can do to be more receptive to revelation include Isaiah 58:6-12,
Matthew 5:22-26, Matthew 5:43-48, 1 Nephi 15:11, Mosiah 4:21, Alma
17:2-3, Alma 26:22, and Alma 34:27-29. Those scripture passages
discuss spiritual practices such as fasting, scripture study,
repenting of anger and mending damaged relationships, praying for all
people including your enemies, keeping the commandments, and giving
to the poor and needy.
- What are some specific things you can do to at least temporarily get into a very receptive state of mind and heart?
Some scriptures that describe things we can do
to be receptive to revelation include the following: 2 Kings 3:11-15,
Habakkuk 2:1-2, 1 Nephi 1:5-6, 1 Nephi 11:1, 2 Nephi 2:28, 2 Nephi
4:15-35, and D&C 98:1-3. These scriptures include listening to
music, using your imagination to visualize what the Lord says to you,
writing down the revelation that you receive, praying for other
people with all your heart, desiring to receive revelation, believing
that you will receive, pondering, and choosing to act on any
instructions that may be revealed to you.
H. Burke Peterson (who was a counselor in the
presiding bishopric of the church at the time he said this) described
a powerful method for praying to receive revelation:
As you feel the need to confide in the Lord or
to improve the quality of your visits with him—to pray, if you
please—may I suggest a process to follow: go where you can be
alone, go where you can think, go where you can kneel, go where you
can speak out loud to him. The bedroom, the bathroom, or the closet
will do. Now, picture him in your mind’s eye. Think to whom you are
speaking, control your thoughts—don’t let them wander, address
him as your Father and your friend. Now tell him things you really
feel to tell him—not trite phrases that have little meaning, but
have a sincere, heartfelt conversation with him. Confide in him, ask
him for forgiveness, plead with him, enjoy him, thank him, express
your love to him, and then listen for his answers. Listening is an
essential part of praying. Answers from the Lord come quietly—ever
so quietly. In fact, few hear his answers audibly with their ears. We
must be listening so carefully or we will never recognize them. Most
answers from the Lord are felt in our heart as a warm comfortable
expression, or they may come as thoughts to our mind. They come to
those who are prepared and who are patient.
(https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1973/10/adversity-and-prayer?lang=eng;
it is recommended that you read the entire talk)
According to Mark Virkler (a Christian teacher
and author who wrote a book called 4 Keys to Hearing God’s
Voice), four keys to hearing God’s voice are:
The first key to hearing God's voice is to go
to a quiet place and still our own thoughts and emotions.
The second key to hearing God’s voice: As you
pray, fix the eyes of your heart upon Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the
dreams and visions of Almighty God.
The third key to hearing God’s voice is
recognizing that God's voice in your heart often sounds like a flow
of spontaneous thoughts.
The fourth key, two-way journaling or the
writing out of your prayers and God’s answers, brings great freedom
in hearing God’s voice.
(http://www.cwgministries.org/Four-Keys-to-Hearing-Gods-Voice)
Here are more resources on Mark Virkler’s 4
keys to hearing God’s voice:
No comments:
Post a Comment