Messages from God. Wouldn’t it be great if we got these every day? We can through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Our own personal revelation is important in major decisions but the small stuff needs confirmation too. I don’t think I get significant messages every day but I can if I put forth an effort. Think about this:
This past General Conference (October 3rd-4th), there was a talk given by Devin Durrant which caused a lot of buzz around the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Elder Durrant introduced the idea of a word not found in the dictionary: Ponderize. Ponderize the scriptures.
He explains it this way: “…. it’s a combination of 80 percent extended pondering and 20 percent memorization.”
I found that idea to be most fascinating. As a family we read scriptures together, but when I get on my own during the day, I have a hard time opening up the scriptures again and reading some more. This ponderizing idea was great for me. We would choose one scripture verse each week and read it over and over, think about it, ponder it and then read it again. Insights came in abundance.
I would type up our scripture verse each week, paste it on a 3 x 5 index card and hang it on the refrigerator to remind ourselves of what we were to ponder. The task of choosing a meaningful scripture had its challenges but many times throughout the week and especially on Sunday a particular scripture would catch my attention.
Last week in the middle of a particularly busy couple of days, I had been trying to prepare for a project that I felt was a calling from God for me to accomplish. The restoration of an old hotel close to my home which would become an asset to the community and a place for people to meet and even stay overnight if needed. This 16 room, 5,800 square foot edifice would help the community when completed.
For the past five years I have been working towards the completion of this project and was very motivated to press forward. We sponsored fund raisers, painting projects, dinners, festival booths and even published an old southern cookbook to promote this building. Then last year I hit a wall. I was so burned out I could not think about this building another minute. I felt that we were just spinning our wheels and we could not get any farther so I stopped and took a break. I became so weary and I didn’t even know if I should keep going. Was this what the Lord wanted me to do? My feelings went back and forth between a resounding yes, to I’m not sure if I should be doing this.
Then a scripture caught my eye. Without connecting the scripture to what I was feeling I felt impressed to type out Doctrine and Covenants, section 64, verse 33:
“Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”
I read this scripture over and over again and posted it on the fridge. Then a few days later when I was having those same feelings of doubt I was at the fridge and read it again. A light bulb went off in my head and I got it. God wanted me to know that I was doing the right thing. He was speaking to me through that scripture; I just knew it in my heart. I was laying a foundation of a great work. Be not weary in this well-doing. The little things I am doing now to prepare for what lay ahead were that right things to do.
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I was so happy. I know that God spoke to me through that scripture. It was so simple yet so powerful. God speaks to all of His children. We get answers for many of our concerns. We just have to read, “ponderize’ and read again which takes time. Then the Holy Ghost leaves an impression on our minds and we can then act upon that impression. It is good to know we are watched over by a loving Heavenly Father.
Valerie Steimle has been writing as a family advocate for over 25 years. As a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she promotes Christian living in her writings and is the mother of nine children and grandmother to twelve. Mrs. Steimle authored six books and is a contributing writer to several online websites. To her, time is the most precious commodity we have and knows we should spend it wisely.
To read more of Valerie's work, visit her at her website, The Blessings of Family Life.
