briannaraldridgeI love these words given in a General Conference given by Thomas S. Monson, “Never, never, never postpone a prompting.”
“Never delay a prompting,” said President Monson during a Church News interview just an hour or so after he learned of his friend’s death. “When you honor a prompting, and then stand back a pace, you realize that the Lord gave you the prompting. It makes me feel good that the Lord even knows who I am, and knows me well enough to know that if He has an errand to be run and He prompts me to run the errand, the errand will get done. That’s the testimony of my life.”
–Serving Others Is His Way of Life
I want to add onto his words being shared that when the Holy Ghost prompts us to choose a good thought or action, to do our best to follow through.
I can tell you that I am an anxious person. I’m trying my best to not identify as that but I am also accepting that I do it at times.
I feel overwhelmed by the things I want to get done during the day. All while wanting to have spontaneous moments with my family that bring joy. I also hope to invite a spiritual experience into my day.
Schedules Over Promptings
I am still trying to get a schedule or a groove of things down with us now living in Texas.
I’m trying to get a routine down with my kids for school, errands, chores, meals, scripture study, bedtime, my aspirations,…etc.
This week I felt like I needed to write down everything I was going to do this week. I felt like that would ease some of my stresses I have built up in my head.
While saying my prayers and feeling like I had a lot going on for the day, I could feel the spirit impress upon me to complete tasks that would draw me closer to my Father in Heaven, my family, and help me become a little better.
These items didn’t include all my chores or errands. I wanted to be specific on what mattered most with my time.
As I was reflecting on my day, I thought back at the moments I had where I felt the spirit prompt me to remember what matters most.
I wanted to follow through with my promptings I received throughout my day.
These are some where I listened and did my best to complete what I felt was most important or felt the best for me at the time…
Following Through
These were moments where I felt the spirit prompt me to do something. I did them because I knew they would help me be a little better. I also want to be guided by the spirit because I know Heavenly Father wants me to become my best me.
- At the beginning of the day after my run I felt the prompting to complete an assignment for my calling.
- While I was working on my email for my blog, I felt the prompting to set it aside to color and play with my daughter for a few moments.
- When my son came home from school, I wanted to catch up on emails while the kids played outside. I decided to go outside to jump on the trampoline with my kids. It was much more fun anyway. 😉
- While my kids were looking at books, I read through Come Follow Me and summarized what I learned. (This is a big prompt I wanted to follow through with! I have been trying to be very detailed with our scripture study. Our kids have been struggling to pay attention and understand what I am talking about. While praying about it, I felt a direction to read through the week’s lesson and give a very brief few minute lesson on what the topic is and how to apply it to us. Followed by a few minute church video. I could see the benefit of this when my kids were more involved than they have been for a while.)
- I have been dragging out when I would write at night because I want to wait till my kids go to sleep. With them going to sleep at close to 10 every night because they are still adjusting, my nights have been later than normal. I felt the prompting to have them lay next to me while I write and share briefly how the spirit is influencing and creating wonderful experiences in my life.
Each of these promptings I could feel the impression of the Holy Ghost and I followed through with the prompting.
I could tell they were a good spiritual prompting because of the peaceful and loving thoughts I had when I received them.
They helped me draw closer to my Father in Heaven and family. I also was able to feel more guidance from the Holy Ghost and invite more positive experiences in my day.
I do like schedules and structures but it’s good to allow spontaneity. It was a way for me to listen to the spirit and follow through with the prompting.
Because I was able to follow through with these promptings I was able to connect a little more with my children, be open to new ideas in teaching, and also feel a little more accomplished.
We Are Being Looked Out For
I know Heavenly Father is looking out for each of us. He gives the promptings to us so that we can learn and grow. To really become better and He hopes we will listen.
Inviting the spirit and obeying it’s promptings will lead us closer to God.
That’s what I want the most. I want to feel closer to God. If I can do that by obeying His commandments, trying to be like His Son, and following through with promptings, I will feel a light that desires to grow brighter.
“We do not postpone following promptings of the Spirit.” Sometimes spiritual promptings are urgent. More often, however, they are gentle. Heavenly Father has promised to instruct us “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30).” –Follow The Little Promptings
