What does this chapter teach me about God's relationship with His children?
What does this chapter teach me about my Savior?
How can I use the principles and examples from this chapter to improve my own relationship with the Savior and my Heavenly Father?
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS TO PONDER
In reference to verse 6, please share any positive experiences you may have had in which fasting and prayer on behalf of the welfare of those who know not God has made a difference.
Some people and faith groups feel that the very concept of missionary work is arrogant and intrusive. How would you explain to a neighbor who has such feelings why missionary work is so important in our church? What are some differences between proper and improper approaches to missionary work? How do you think the Savior would have us share the gospel with those around us?
If you talk about your life and include the church, people aren't usually offended. Everyone wants to be invited even if they don't want to attend.
ReplyDeleteWhen I get anxious about missionary work, I think about Noah and the Ark. If you knew the rain was coming wouldn't you tell all your friends that you love not just the one's that seemed to be Mormon-like?
If you just share what you are doing as a part of your daily life no one is going to be offended. I always think of my mother saying, everyone likes to be invited. That is my job to invite, not to convince, just to invite. That is what the brethren have asked us to do. Start inviting...
In answer to the first additional question, I remember a time on my mission when my companion and I fasted and prayed for a particular person with whom we were scheduled to visit that day. We really focused our minds on the outcome we desired so that this woman and her family might be blessed with our visit, and I felt so sure that the Lord was aware of our desires and would answer our prayers. When we went to her house, she wasn't home. The interesting thing was that I didn't feel deflated at all and instead felt the same powerful assurance I had felt all day that the Lord had wanted us to fast and had a purpose in our coming to visit her. I felt so strongly that we were supposed to be exactly where we were. So, I suggested that we knock the doors in her apartment complex, even though tracting was something we didn't do much in our area in Russia, as it wasn't very effective. In doing so, we found a woman who was seeking spiritual guidance and we were able to give her a Book of Mormon and share with her our testimonies of its truthfulness and its power in our lives for good. Even though subsequent followup with the woman didn't result in any tangible progress that we could see during our time in that area, the Spirit had witnessed to me so powerfully that we were supposed to be there to be able to give her the Book of Mormon. I am absolutely confident that the Lord had great purpose in that visit, even though I am unaware of what exactly that is.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we are spiritually preparing ourselves, perhaps even with fasting and prayer, for something specific and the Lord has something else wonderful in mind that will come as a result of that preparation. Perhaps because we are trying to share the gospel with someone, we are better prepared to share it with someone else whom the Lord has better prepared at that time. Even if nothing ever comes of that visit (Which I highly doubt) the spiritual experience alone to feel the Spirit direct our companionship was worth all that effort.