Hello Friends!
Well, I was more intentional yesterday. I prayed and asked and pondered (which really I didn't have to ponder too long) and a neighbor came to mind. A different neighbor than the ones I've mentioned before.
I was just going to go over to her house and check on her. When I started walking over there I saw a car there that's not one of her family's and I almost turned around. I didn't want to bother her if she had company. I pushed through those thoughts and continued on.
Her husband answered the door. She wasn't there. She was in the hospital...again. I never would have found that out if I hadn't acted on that prompting, or listened to those thoughts that told me to go back home.
What a blessing it is to take heed of those promptings that we receive to reach out to others. Sometimes, oftentimes for me, we need to overcome our fears - whatever they may be - and move forward anyways.
"One true key to happiness is to labor for the happiness of others."
There is one thing that I think I should share. I don't think that I have mentioned this before. If I have then it will be a good reminder. 😄 Something that I do every day is study my scriptures and pray. Every day is not the same. Sometimes I study intentionally. Other times I just read some verses. It is always better when I actually study to understand, to learn more about the Lord, to know His commandments and apply them in my life. I love when I come away from my scripture study with ah-has. It lifts my spirit and brings me joy. I know that the Lord was speaking to me.
Prayer is the same way. When I really pour out my heart and take time to listen I feel so much closer to my Heavenly Father.
Scripture study and prayer are powerful in helping with my emotional health. My day starts out on an uplifting note. I use these other tools - truths and lies, gratitude, service - to help me overcome those thoughts and fears throughout the day. Right now I am still reading my truth statements about twice a day, each night writing down things I am grateful for and now striving to be intentional about reaching out to someone with love daily. Starting my day out focusing on Christ helps me focus on Him and creates a desire to want to seek out His ways of handling each area of my life.
"As we look heavenward, we inevitably learn of our responsibility to reach outward....'Love thy neighbor' is more than a divine truth. It is a pattern for perfection."
In the New Testament it says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me." I love what a leader of my church said about this..."there is no road to the heart of God that does not lead through the heart of man." ~Thomas S. Monson
Wouldn't it be so great if we could let down our walls, our fears, our insecurities and just reach out to others in love with no fear of what they may say or how they will react? If we are truly doing service out of love we will have their best interest at heart and want to bless and lift them however we can. Sometimes that might mean getting others to help as well. After all, one major reason we are all down here on this earth is to serve others. If we are on the Lord's errand we can know that what we are doing will help the other person and most assuredly will benefit us in some way as well. Even if it is only that we have more love for that person whom we are serving.
Things to ponder
Are you including scripture study and prayer into your day? In what ways do you look heavenward?
In what ways do you look outward? Who is the Lord telling you to reach out to?
Are there fears keeping you from following those promptings?
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