Write It Down

There are a few of the action plans under my Spiritual Goal : Pray with Purpose. One of them is to take a few minutes before I pray to think about things I need or want to pray for, or things that I am thankful for. Consider writing the things down to help me remember.

The other one is to set a goal to pray morning and night. Create a reminder such as a note or a picture, to help me remember to pray.

Eventually, I have combined this 2 action plans and make a small pocket notebook to remind me of the above 2 little goals of mine.

I noticed and remember that most of the prophets and apostles counsel us to keep to write it down whatever impressions or thoughts that come to us.

The very first time when I came across this counsel was from a talk from Elder Richard G. Scott (1928 – 2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Write down in a secure place the important things you learn from the Spirit. You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will available throughout your life.”

“Always, day or night, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Express gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will reinforce your capacity to learn by the Spirit. It will permit the Lord to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent in your being.”

I was touched by Elder Scott’s promise that the Lord will give us more direction when we write down what we receive. I was confused at the same time that I was not sure if I even knew how to receive personal revelation or the promptings of the Spirit.

That was the reason why I did not do anything and seriously find a pocket diary for that. But Elder’s Scott’s words stuck at the back of my mind whenever I was not so busy, and I still do not take action on it.

Ever since I have kicked start my Focus on Fitness Goal and Get Cooking Goal, it gives me more confidence and discipline to start to listen the counsel of the apostle and try on it.

I used a used small pocket notebook from the children that I can get at home, pasted a laminated prayer girl to make it as a cover. So that it would remind me to pray at morning and night at the same time whenever I look at the notebook.

I just started about few days. I jotted down whatever thoughts that came to me; I jotted down the things that happened on that particular day, so that remind me to give thanks to Heavenly Father at night.

Even though I just started for few days. I kind of, feel that, I think, I started to recognize the Spirit’s voice. First helping me feel His love, then testifying of truth whenever as I read the General Conference talks, and finally giving specific direction for me when I was troubled within my mind.

I feel joy even in the midst of my not so good condition, I think I am start learning how to recognize personal revelation. write it down in the small pocket notebook help me to start journal more often as I would have the desire to pen down my experiences.

Whenever I feel discouraged or struggling with my current circumstances, there is a source that I can go back and read about my own specific experiences where I received the divine help.

I feel grateful that at least I have start to take action and kick start this spiritual goal of mine, and it shows a little faith grows.