Asking God

James 1:5-6 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally; and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering…”

Alma 34:37 “And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ.”

It seems that people sometimes just don’t know that they can ask God for whatever they need in order to ultimately receive salvation.  Often times we live completely passive spiritually and expect through God’s grace and omniscience that He will guide us or give us the experiences needed to change us.  Sadly, we don’t get to just ride the wave of life.. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ expect us to do our part in order for us to deserve to receive salvation (though, honestly, not of us personally and individually deserve salvation, but it is through the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf that we may receive mercy for our imperfections and have salvation bestowed upon us).  So, we are expected to think out our own standing before God at any given moment, and then ask righteously what it is we need to change in our behavior so we become more Christ-like.

I have seen in my own life at times being enlightened to what else I could pray for in order to get additional help towards my salvation.  These enlightenments are usually things I had not thought of before, but sometimes, when I truly put my work into it, I have been enlightened with understanding with what I specifically need to pray for to receive the virtue or gift that will lead me to a higher ground.

SO, I want to start a list of specific prayers that can be offered up unto the Lord God so we all might remember and understand that we can ask for anything that leads us back to God. Granted they have to be things within the will of God, and, as the scripture in Alma says above, you need to actually work it out in your mind and have to choose to believe that your prayer will actually yield a difference in the blessings that Heavenly Father gives you.

LASTLY: I have a personal testimony of the reality of each of these, and testify that you may see the same blessings in your life if you ask, knowing it will help you in your work towards salvation, and if you ask with faith.

• Ask Heavenly Father to teach you through the Holy Ghost how to better listen to and understand what the Holy Ghost is telling you.

• In the Old Testament it talks about a day being lengthened. I learned from a companion on my mission, Elder Lutz, that you can also ask for a night to be lengthened so you might get a fuller night’s rest.

• Ask for the light of Christ to be within you, and around you (thanks mom).

• Ask to be protected from the temptations of the devil (both in the day, and while you pray… or in the hay, what do you say? Shall we go down by the bay?)

• Pray for yourself to be submissive to the Holy Ghost’s promptings.

• Ask for Heavenly Father to send His ministering angels to strengthen you, comfort you, teach you specific principles, and guide you through the day.

• Pray to have your dreams inspired so that you may learn what Heavenly Father wants you to know at that time (oh, what sweet dreams I have had due to this), or to give you experience and prepare you for upcoming events in your life (I had this multiple times in Japan as I prepared to come home).

• Ask for the Gift of Charity towards all of Heavenly Father’s children (the world is so much more peaceful when you do not have a judgmental heart).

• Ask that you might be a tool of the Lord where you may help others in any way He seems fit.

• I think it’s important to add that ANYTHING the Lord asks, commands, guides and inspires you to do you have a right and duty to ask for as many confirmations of that command as you want and need. He does not want you to be confused, and He wants you to have faith in what He is saying to you. So He will ALWAYS tell you, “Yes, I want you to do/know this . . . ” You can pray and ask Him for that confirmation.

Deut. 31:6 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”