I had a strong impression of following that advice. When I started praying that way, I noticed that my attitude toward prayer changed completely.” Several years ago, during a visiting teaching visit, my companion said something that changed the way I do my prayers. She said we can feel the Holy Spirit and be guided to know what to say next. That way we get the most out of prayer and say what we need to say.” I had a strong impression of following that advice. When I began to pray in that way, I noticed that my attitude toward prayer changed, my relationship with Heavenly Father became stronger, and my ability to receive personal revelation increased.
Is anybody there?
I have always known that prayer is important, I believe in the power of prayer, but I had a hard time making my prayers. One time during a youth activity, we learned different examples of people in the scriptures who have prayed to Heavenly Father for a day (Luke 6:12, Enos 1:4, Mosiah 21:14).
I remember our leader telling us that one day we would be able to pray like this. She said that our relationship with Heavenly Father and our ability to pray should reach that point. I am no good at praying.”
Most of my life I spent praying using memorized and repeated phrases. I believed in prayer, I knew it was important, but I didn’t feel like I was “good” at it.
A power within our reach
When I started pausing during my prayers to allow the Holy Spirit into my heart, everything changed! I felt like my prayers meant something. I felt like I was talking to my Heavenly Father and that He was listening.
The things I said in my prayers became more personal and more necessary. When I allowed my lips to be still, so that the Holy Spirit and Heavenly Father could speak to me, I would remember things I had forgotten to thank Him for, or I would feel prompted to ask that someone be blessed or helped.
An answer to our prayer
In a talk by Sister Carol F. McConkie, “The Prayer of the Soul Is,” she teaches the same principle:
We pray by the power of the Holy Spirit because ‘he who asks in the Spirit, asks according to the will of God. ’ If we pray in faith, the Holy Spirit guides our thoughts so that our words are in harmony with God’s will.”
Inviting the Holy Spirit into our prayers allows us to know God’s will. We align our questions and actions with His will. I can attest to this through personal experience, as I now find it easier to hear the answers to my questions.
Sometimes my questions are answered while I am praying, and I know I am having a conversation with my Heavenly Father. Sometimes they are answered right after I finish my prayer.
Sometimes I don’t get an answer until the next morning, after a good night’s sleep. And sometimes, I am led to my answer through Scripture, our modern prophets, or a family member or friend.
Personal revelation
On a few occasions, I received answers to questions I had not yet asked verbally, but which were in my heart. This is called personal revelation.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, we are taught what to do to receive revelation and how we know we are receiving revelation:
“Yes, behold, I will speak to your mind and your heart by the Holy Spirit, which will come upon you and dwell in your heart.
Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation.” -D&C 8:2-3
But behold, I say unto you, that you must study it in your mind; then you must ask me if it is right; and if it is so, I will make your bosom burn within you; therefore you will feel that it is right.
But if it is not right, you shall not feel it, but a stupor of thought shall come upon you, so that you shall forget what is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred, except you receive it from me.” -D&C 9:8-9
The burning in your chest and the stupor of thought can be a little different for each person, so if you can’t describe your feelings in the same way, it doesn’t mean you’re not receiving personal revelation.
The Father’s “no”
Personally, a confirmation makes me feel peace or a drive to do something specific. For a “no” from the Father, I feel a resounding “no” or doubt. If I feel doubt, I eventually find out the answer is no so I need to let go and move on. Once I do that, I usually feel better.
If the answer to a sincere question is no, we may be tempted to believe that our prayer has not been answered. Sister McConkie reminded us that even our Savior, Jesus Christ, asked a question where the answer was no:
Even though the answer to Jesus’ question was no, He followed God’s will; and in doing so, God blessed Him with the strength and comfort to do what He needed to do. When we pray with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can also be blessed with the same strength and comfort in times of need.
As I open my heart to the Spirit in prayer and receive answers to my questions, my relationship with Heavenly Father grows and strengthens.
As my relationship with Heavenly Father grows stronger, I find it easier to open my heart to the Spirit and receive revelation.
I testify that the power of prayer is real. Heavenly Father hears our prayers. He answers our prayers. And as we open our hearts to the Spirit, our faith, our testimonies, and our relationship with our Heavenly Father will grow.
