So the travelers are enjoying their long anticipated, long planned for Norway trip and me?....I'm on my relaxed sabbatical and it's been very nice and I have a greater understanding of where I am and where I need to change and what is going on.
I went into this desiring more personal revelation and wondering about personal ministries. That was my mindset and desire at the beginning, on Thursday. 5 days later, which included in that time frame, going to the Temple and fasting and praying and creating some quiet time and pondering and reading and endeavoring to listen for insight. I did get some insight.
Don't we all have to learn to pray, to develop faith, to access God, to get answers, to receive personal revelation? isn't that what the blessing of the Gospel is? I found that I've been blessed with personal revelation many times and I was somewhat off track in my request. (I said I wanted more direction, more personal revelation, more. more. more.) Personal revelation, at this time in my life journey, falls into 4 categories.
1) Personal revelation for Church callings.... What needs to be accomplished in this calling. Callings that I know absolutely nothing about, have never been involved, have not one idea of what I need to do. I fast. I pray. I exercise faith. When the answers come, I write them down on my blank sheet of paper. Overall plan sketched out. I now have my to do list and I'm ready to go. I can think of 5 different callings that I've had that blank piece of paper in readiness, knowing I was clueless but knowing He would direct me. and He did through personal revelation. a dream. a voice. ideas that weren't of me. a variety of ways. I was so thankful! and I still am.
2) Personal revelation for details of Church callings. again....no experience or ideas to draw on but ideas would come forth and I was thankful to fill out yet another blank sheet of paper.
3) Personal revelation of things being recalled that have been studied or learned or life experiences that can be used to help someone in some way or words for a lesson etc.. Ideas that pop into my mind. My mind appearing to be the blank piece of paper, with no ideas or perceived thoughts and then what to say or do pops in.
So the commonality of all 3 of these super reduced paragraphs, in content, is interesting. I learned in all 3- I was open to receiving revelation as I truly was drawing a blank. I was ready to receive. I was open minded. Faith filled me. The Lord knew my heart and He knew what was needed. I was willing to serve but had no idea of what that encompassed. So I have absolutely no need to wish for more personal revelation in this area of my life. Should a need arise, it will be taken care of in this pattern in my life. If receiving personal revelation, just stays as this holding pattern, for the rest of my mortal life, then I know that I will receive the guidance I need (and I will ever be thankful for the marvelous experiences I've had of personal revelation in Church service). So asking in faith, knowing an answer will come, and being prepared to fill that blank piece of paper- is just a wonderful private spiritual experience for me.
4) no blank piece of paper on this personal revelation- category 4. I have a to-do list all filled out. Things I just know will work. Things that- if the Lord does this, then that will cause something else to happen, and a certain outcome will result and I will succeed at this, specific long sought-after, goal. and I of course know what's best for myself. Don't I? Now this is not a to-do list of errands, or chores, or those sorts of accomplishments. This is a list of personal improvements, overcoming shortcomings, that I've thought out etc., and I really feel it is best. I've read and studied and I'm fervently seeking His help, in order to succeed with my very latest inspired plan of overcoming. My plan for me. Not His plan for me. But wait...isn't my plan for me also His plan for me? In all these years of trying, my plans have never worked out to anything lasting but I never give up. Until now. My plan of action?... I decided to wad up my most recent long detailed list, remove the safety net of.... if it's written in detail then it's really going to happen.... and lay a blank sheet of paper on the table.
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