Monday, September 27, 2010
Educational advice
So i am supposed to post a spiritual message or at least a topic or question, but ive been so busy with school i havent had time to think about it let alone do it ha ha. So i decided for my post I would seek advice, whether scriptural or personal experience on how to find that balance between being successful in an education, while not neglecting our spiritual needs. cuz believe me i could use it.
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It does always seem that when we are pressed for time our spiritual needs go out the window. Sometimes we just need to simplify. On a day when you feel extremly busy, just make sure you give at least 5 min to the scriptures. It could even be while you are doing something else. For example, Maggie reads her scriptures while eating breakfast. This one may sound silly but you could also take your scriptures to the bathroom with you and read every minute or two that you're in there. It doesn't matter when, as long as you are getting some reading in. As far as prayer goes, I have found that if I don't roll out of bed directly to my knees, my morning prayers probably won't happen. Just find the little habits you can get into that will keep you on the right track. In YW we have a new challenge that is called the 100% challenge. It means that you need to be saying morning and nightly prayers and spending at least 5 min a day in the scriptures 100% of the time. Richard, I challenge you and me and whoever else needs this challenge, to do this and see how much better your daily activities go. Thank you for the question, Richard. I hope we can all find that balance.
ReplyDeleteLove you all,
Kaylene
One thing that helped me when I was in school is that I made a commitment to keep the Sabbath day holy. I didn't go to the track on Sunday when my teammates were getting some one-on-one time with the coaches and I also didn't do homework or study for tests on Sunday either.
ReplyDeleteTo say that taking a day off from those activities made me more successful seems counter-intuitive, but I know that it is true.
It seemed that my mind was clearer during the times that I did study and there were several occasions during a test that I remembered things I typically would never have remembered. Once I woke up early Monday to study for a test later that day. The teacher had announced in class the previous week what would be on the test and she had excluded a good chunk of one of the chapters. I felt prompted to study that section anyway. Of course, there were several questions in the test about that section which I never would have studied were it not for that prompting. I am certain that those blessings are a direct result of keeping the Sabbath day holy.
I know that all things are possible with the Lord. No matter how busy your life is, if you put Him first everything else will fit somehow. It really is miraculous.
Maggie
Let us all remember that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. Life is busy and it is surposed to be. It will not be easy to find time to invite the Spirit into our lives each day. It needs to be a priority and we need to do the hard things it sometimes requires of us to qualify for the Spirit. If we find ourselves to busy for the Lord we had better take a long hard look at what we are spending our time on. When we have our hours of need I don't think we want the Lord to be to busy to help us. Do you surpose the Lord is just a little busy? I can only imagine. Everybody has 24 hours in every day, spend them wisely. The Lord does not give us more time when we make Him our top priority but he helps us develope the skill of getting more done in those same hours this I KNOW from personel experience. I love you all.
ReplyDeleteLove DAD
I am so glad I can post this week. Richard, if you can believe it, I found it a lot easier to get my prayers and scripture study in when I was a student compared now to being a mother. It is because I had my own schedule, not somebody else's. And that is my advice to you--YOU determine your own schedule.
ReplyDeleteDuring one semester of school, I was going to school full time, working part time as a tutor, was the leader of a service group on campus, and was serving as our ward relief society president. There were days that I woke up with my head in a whirl. During that time, everyday I took 45 minutes to 1 hour in devotional. I found a quiet spot in the library, would pray, read a hymn, read some scriptures and just meditate. I gave that time to the Lord. I didn't have to hurry because I knew that I had already set apart that time to the Lord. I knew that the Lord could help me accomplish better work in less time if I put Him first, and I testify that He did. Days weren't always easy, but I survived and did well.
One reason to make sure you determine the time beforehand is because each day is different. Sometimes you may think the biggest thing in life is that test tomorrow, but it is not the biggest thing. The Lord will show us what is most important that day, and I often think it is the simple act of remembering Him. How can we expect to receive His direction in the biggest decisions in life--marriage, career, where we live--if we don't seek Him out?
Now, I am not telling you when or how long you need to schedule these things in, you should just do it. I know that it is worth the loss of sleep, study time, or play time because the Lord will make your other time more useful.
I love you and think of you often. I know this is a challenging time in life. Believe me, I wouldn't go back, but I sure am glad how Heavenly Father saw me through it.
Kim
The Holy Ghost has a tremendous effect on our lives. The Holy Ghost stimulates our intellect and increases our ability to learn. Not just to learn but to truly understand and can recall to our memory those things that we learn and give us inspiration to take that knowledge further. It also effects every other aspect of our lives, such as health, abilities, our countanence, etc. (There is an excellent quote concerning this, I will get it for you.) Setting time aside for the Lord and our spiritual learning and health will actually increase our ability in schooling, because true knowledge and understanding come from the Lord through the Holy Ghost. We can,t afford not to, don't you think? The scripture says "seek first the the Kingdom of God and all else shall be added unto you". If we seek to be successful to be of service in the Lord's kingdom on the Earth, He will bless and sanctify our efforts. I love you and I know that life can be a challenge right now, but apply your faith, it will build your character and increase your faith. I love you so much!
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
I would like to follow up with Melody's comment. We all have read Moroni 10: 4-5. Most of us remember this as the Book of Mormon Promise. However, in verse 5, I'm not sure we pay enough attention to the promise in this verse. This is a promise not just about the Book of Mormon but all truth. "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." Yes, that means chemistry, calculus, english (blah!, no offense Nate), political science (he, he) and any other subject that has eternal truth. Laws are laws. Truth is truth. I know that when I was in college, trying to work nights, completing my church calling, taking care of my grandpa, and trying to date, it all seemed a little overwhelming. Everyone has a different yet similiar story. I know that because of this promise, I was blessed on tests that maybe I shouldn't have been. Even on tests that I should have prepared more. It seemed that some truth was taught to me from on high. I know that this time of life is busy, but remember that your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is right there with you. They know what we really need, they know what our desires of our heart are, and they want to bless us. We do the best we can. In closing, take time not to just get through the journey, but to enjoy the journey. There are so many wonderful scenic views in life that if we don't stop to smell the roses, we can miss. Remember, Mosiah 4: 27 and Alma 37:36-37. People have told me to keep my chin up when life has gotten hard, and I always respond, "Which one?" :) lol Paul
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