Motivation

[Soul_Searcher]

I'm really trying to get back into church but I'm finding it so hard to motivate myself. If I leave it a few days without doing anything churchy its like I'm back to square one. I have to pick myself up and go through it all again. I have been asking for a spiritual experience. Its not like asking for a sign, as it says in the scriptures if you ask you will get one. I feel I need this.

I prayed the other day to have a good day at work as Ive been having a really hard time there. It was a great day and I felt my prayer was answered. The next day, I prayed even harder, as I was working with a woman who hates me. It was the day from hell, she was awful to me and I spent half of it in tears-The worst working day of my life, without a doubt.

Did God abandon me? Did he even answer my prayer in the first place? Was it just a coincidence?

Me and my DH have been working on going back to the temple, we let our recs lapse and I haven't been in 4 years, since we got married. I'm very nervous about this, it all seems overwhelming. I'm finding it hard to pay tithing, its a drain financially after you haven't paid it for a while. I'm trying so hard to listen and feel something and be interested at church but its difficult.

Will it always be like this? how can I get a bit more motivation rather than just plodding through all of this and feeling overwhelmed?

[Hemidakota]

Could you described on what you felt as an answer.

[Misshalfway]

Good days don't mean God is there and bad days don't mean that God is gone. Life is a roller coaster and He lets us have bad days and good ones and rainy ones and tragic ones too. It is all part of the deal with this earth life. Your bad day was only a bad day cause it didn't go the way you thought it should. But maybe it went exactly like it was suppose to. It gave you another opportunity to practice being better, don't you think?

Yes, coming back to the church IS hard. It is meant to stretch you. If it didn't stretch you, it wouldn't produce the spiritual growth that is such a blessing in our lives. Pay your tithing just like you might go to the gym. Let it hurt a little and know that your spiritual muscles are strengthening. And then wait for the Lord to bless because He always does. Just remember that He does it in His way and His time. It is for us to trust and obey and wait for the hand of the Lord to be revealed.

I now look back over the gnarly trail of my life and I remember feeling abandoned and even being angry about it. But He didn't really leave me. He sometimes let me stand on my own against a foe or He allowed me to feel pain so that I would learn or so that I would become less selfish and more able to understand things. He is absolutely in the details of our lives but He doesn't baby us and He doesn't lower his expectations because it is hard. And sometimes He lets things play out over time before He explains Himself to us.

So honey. If you want the temple, then get determined. You gotta wanna! (as Pres. Monson says). It gets easier and soon you will be paying tithing and you won't feel a burden. In fact the gift will flow from you without reservation and it will feel like a huge blessing you don't want to live without.

Motivation comes by believing that something good is on the other side of committed obedience. Let this kind of faith drive your commitment, not the proof that God is there every second. And watch those around you who do live the commandments. Don't be fooled into thinking they don't struggle to do it. But watch and feel what such devotion does to ones spirit and ability and life.

Edited April 27, 2009 by Misshalfway

[Soul_Searcher]

Could you described on what you felt as an answer.

I prayed for a calm day where I would get the chance to learn and show what I can do. I prayed for no trouble, stress or hassle like the other days. It was the best day I'd had in the unit. When I left I really felt god had answered my prayer.

Misshalfway-thanku so much! I suppose I know the answers really I just need lots of encouragement!! I suppose it will be worth it. I need to hang on to the fact that it will. :)

[Hemidakota]

I have to add, even those who are considered the greater ones that roam this earth who had their callings made sure [receiving the Second Comforter], still suffer the world and feel the pain of mortal life. This is nothing new here.

We are never alone as MissHalfway stated, it is matter for us go through trials of life or through those refiners fire. "If they are mind, they will suffer as I suffer." When you think you had reached that level of threshold of evil and cannot go any further, do what the prophet did in Liberty Jail [read D&C 121]. I can say, He will answer your plight but expect some counseling in return. Brother Jared is a classic example of what not to do. Even my journey has its bumps.

The expectation for us is do what we can – meaning 100-percent - based on our own abilities than seek the Lord for guidance or help afterwards.

A great article to read is “A Latter-Day Saint Theology of Suffering” Mary E. Stovall, Carol Cornwall Madsen, Heritage of Faith: Talks Selected from the BYU Women's Conferences ( 1988)

[applepansy]

Good days don't mean God is there and bad days don't mean that God is gone. Life is a roller coaster and He lets us have bad days and good ones and rainy ones and tragic ones too. It is all part of the deal with this earth life. Your bad day was only a bad day cause it didn't go the way you thought it should. But maybe it went exactly like it was suppose to. It gave you another opportunity to practice being better, don't you think?

Yes, coming back to the church IS hard. It is meant to stretch you. If it didn't stretch you, it wouldn't produce the spiritual growth that is such a blessing in our lives. Pay your tithing just like you might go to the gym. Let it hurt a little and know that your spiritual muscles are strengthening. And then wait for the Lord to bless because He always does. Just remember that He does it in His way and His time. It is for us to trust and obey and wait for the hand of the Lord to be revealed.

I now look back over the gnarly trail of my life and I remember feeling abandoned and even being angry about it. But He didn't really leave me. He sometimes let me stand on my own against a foe or He allowed me to feel pain so that I would learn or so that I would become less selfish and more able to understand things. He is absolutely in the details of our lives but He doesn't baby us and He doesn't lower his expectations because it is hard. And sometimes He lets things play out over time before He explains Himself to us.

So honey. If you want the temple, then get determined. You gotta wanna! (as Pres. Monson says). It gets easier and soon you will be paying tithing and you won't feel a burden. In fact the gift will flow from you without reservation and it will feel like a huge blessing you don't want to live without.

Motivation comes by believing that something good is on the other side of committed obedience. Let this kind of faith drive your commitment, not the proof that God is there every second. And watch those around you who do live the commandments. Don't be fooled into thinking they don't struggle to do it. But watch and feel what such devotion does to ones spirit and ability and life.

Very well said. Its nice to have you back.

applepansy

[Guest missingsomething]

I'm really trying to get back into church but I'm finding it so hard to motivate myself. If I leave it a few days without doing anything churchy its like I'm back to square one. I have to pick myself up and go through it all again. I have been asking for a spiritual experience. Its not like asking for a sign, as it says in the scriptures if you ask you will get one. I feel I need this.

I prayed the other day to have a good day at work as Ive been having a really hard time there. It was a great day and I felt my prayer was answered. The next day, I prayed even harder, as I was working with a woman who hates me. It was the day from hell, she was awful to me and I spent half of it in tears-The worst working day of my life, without a doubt.

Did God abandon me? Did he even answer my prayer in the first place? Was it just a coincidence?

Me and my DH have been working on going back to the temple, we let our recs lapse and I haven't been in 4 years, since we got married. I'm very nervous about this, it all seems overwhelming. I'm finding it hard to pay tithing, its a drain financially after you haven't paid it for a while. I'm trying so hard to listen and feel something and be interested at church but its difficult.

Will it always be like this? how can I get a bit more motivation rather than just plodding through all of this and feeling overwhelmed?

You probably know this, but we get a few different answers from God. I say it like this... He says... Yes, NO, and maybe so. Sometimes he can answer a prayer quickly with YES -if it does not require an action of faith or additional work on our part. Sometimes he will just say no. A prayer is never unanswered, sometimes he just wont do it. He's not like Cinderallas fairy godmother - he doesnt wave his wand and bippitdy boppity bo.. its done. Sometimes we NEED to experience bad things... sometimes what we are praying for is not the right thing for us... And, sometimes the Lord hears us... will give us what we ask for - but not at that moment. We either have to do some work on our own part, we have to show faith, etc. And when we do, our prayer answer will be Yes.

Its a simple view of this - sure many can get more detailed and throw scripture in too.

There is a saying... that "God will always give a bird food.... but he wont throw it in their nest."

Here is a thought... prayers are not individual... they link together.. they build on one another. Asking for a "sign" can come in many ways. You felt your prayer was answered but just as quickly when things didnt turn the way you wanted, you immediately thought he abadoned you. Try to work on believing He is there - try to concentrate on what YOU are DOING to GET answers to your prayers. Sometimes when we get a no answer it is because the Lord is trying to prompt us in a different direction. If all our prayers were answered quickly, without effort or pain, then really - what outlay of faith is that? Thats like having a genie.

I understand though- its so hard, soo sooo soooo hard to build that faith. Just remember this - pray in the morning to tell the Lord the things you want to accomplish that day- ask for his spirit to be with you... Update throughout the day... (in the middle of that awful day- did you say- Father, please strengthen me. Please soften Ms. Meany to not be so rude...) and when things are going well...say Thank you father for that warm sunshine, etc... and then at night... report back - how did things turn out - do you still need answers to something... give the Lord your conclusions and thoughts on how to solve your own problems and ask for confirmation if that is right.

But whatever you do -just keep praying. Faith is built precept upon precept, line upon line.

[Madriglace]

I prayed for a calm day where I would get the chance to learn and show what I can do. I prayed for no trouble, stress or hassle like the other days. It was the best day I'd had in the unit. When I left I really felt god had answered my prayer.

Misshalfway-thanku so much! I suppose I know the answers really I just need lots of encouragement!! I suppose it will be worth it. I need to hang on to the fact that it will. :)

Maybe for the day that didn't go so well a change was needed ... instead of praying for the obvious sometimes if we pray for the not so obvious it works out better. Instead of a calm day, with no stress or hassle and no trouble maybe pray that you will be able to handle the stresses of the day in manner pleasing to Him. He doesn't hand things to us ... we have to work for it. Some days I say "Enough already I have as much character as I can handle". When we pray for things that will make us grow and be better as opposed to things that just make it easier for us we tend to reap even greater rewards.

The Lord will never ever leave you ... when it seems like He is not there it is not Him who has drawn away but us.

As for motivation I think it was Pres McKay (correct me if I am worng) who said "Do it." That's how to get motivated ... just do it and then the motivation comes. Just like when we exercise faith and then the spiritual experiences come. I am not just giving lip service here .... I have dealt with severe depression and this is the way to get moving ... put one foot in front of the other and do it. May the Lord bles you on you journey.

[Faded]

I'm really trying to get back into church but I'm finding it so hard to motivate myself. If I leave it a few days without doing anything churchy its like I'm back to square one. I have to pick myself up and go through it all again. I have been asking for a spiritual experience. Its not like asking for a sign, as it says in the scriptures if you ask you will get one. I feel I need this.

I know that both my wife and I have been there and done that. It may have taken this year's total disaster in our life to really and truly wake the both of us up.

How would I describe it? It feels like a weight of "I don't really feel like it" is pushing back every step of the way. You start looking for excuses to not go to Church, to not pay tithing, to not fulfill callings, to not read scriptures every day, to not pray every day, etc, etc, etc. What my wife and I learned the hard way: This is Satan setting you up for the greatest disaster he can trick you into. His purpose is quite simple: Making your life miserable. And once he succeeds in ruining your life, he abandons you and laughs at you.

Moses 7:26

26 And he beheld Satan; and he had a great chain in his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.

This was how Satan reacted to the total destruction of everyone by the flood in the times of Noah. That entire chapter is worth reading on this very topic as it offers a good perspective on how God views His Children and how Satan views us.

I prayed the other day to have a good day at work as Ive been having a really hard time there. It was a great day and I felt my prayer was answered. The next day, I prayed even harder, as I was working with a woman who hates me. It was the day from hell, she was awful to me and I spent half of it in tears-The worst working day of my life, without a doubt.

Did God abandon me? Did he even answer my prayer in the first place? Was it just a coincidence?

This one comes down to "God didn't answer my prayer because he didn't do what I asked him to. You need to move beyond thinking in this fashion. You are here on this Earth to experience all manner of things, some good, some bad. God will protect you when you call upon him if it is beyond your ability to withstand, but if God saved us from every little trial then there would be no point in experiencing Earth Life.

Consider the experience of Oliver Cowdery:

Doctrine and Covenants 9:6-9

6 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong ...

Herein is a starting point for learning to better communicate with your Father In Heaven: Asking questions and feeling for the answers. This is a lot like strenuous exercise -- it seems very very hard at first, but it gets easier if you refuse to give up and throw yourself into it wholeheartedly. This is also a lot like riding a bicycle: Once you learn it you know it. From there, it's only a matter of learning to listen better and eventually expand beyond the "yes" and "no" questions. The biggest key when praying: Do not assume that it is God's will to do what you want Him to do. It may or may not be. Developing a personal relationship with God in this manner is the most wonderful thing any human being can possibly experience. So rather than basing your faith upon getting what you want from God, seek to truly communicate with Him. Seek to truly know Him and the rest of life will improve. Life won't have changed, but you will have.

Me and my DH have been working on going back to the temple, we let our recs lapse and I haven't been in 4 years, since we got married. I'm very nervous about this, it all seems overwhelming. I'm finding it hard to pay tithing, its a drain financially after you haven't paid it for a while. I'm trying so hard to listen and feel something and be interested at church but its difficult.

Will it always be like this? how can I get a bit more motivation rather than just plodding through all of this and feeling overwhelmed?

The best advice for overcoming that feeling of resistance every step of the way: Develop your personal relationship with your Father in Heaven. Do that and you will always be able to commune with God and ask for and receive greater spiritual strength. Dig very deep and work very hard and I promise that if you are sincere God will change you and your entire way of thinking about the world. The feelings of resistance will return from time to time, but you will have the power to eliminate them.

[Wingnut]

Did he even answer my prayer in the first place?

Just because it wasn't an answer you may have been looking for doesn't mean it wasn't a viable answer. God always answers prayers, we just don't always recognize them because we may be looking for something other than what He's giving us.