God does not hurt His children.

I've been pondering through some Mormon Myths this week. Here are the results of said ponderings:

Myth #1) Because we suffer in this life, it's God's will that we suffer.

This LIFE is a gift from God. The horrible things that happen are a result of the Fall. Not God.

We chose to come here, shouting for joy at the chance. God did not act upon us, forcing us to come here.

When I chose to go to college, my parents made it possible for me to do so. They took me to the school to drop me off and get me settled in, they helped to support me while I was there, and allowed me to make my own choices and learn. My parents were not in any way responsible for the hard and sometimes deeply painful things I experienced while I was there--that stuff was a result of the choices of other people around me, or my own choices. My parents knew that going to college could introduce me to painful situations, but they did not create those situations, nor did they force me into them. Much to the contrary, they advised me as best they could, warning me of potential pitfalls. They are good parents, just as God is the perfect Father.

Myth #2) God is all-powerful, and so it must be His will that we suffer.

If I believe God is all-powerful, then I accept what He said in scripture, including that He is a God of truth, and cannot lie. The knowledge of those two things alone are what the Lord told Mahonri Moriancumer redeemed him from the fall, bringing him back into the Lord's presence (Ether 3:9-13).

Believing those things--and being willing to let go of everything else--was what precipitated the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost in my life.

God the Son came to this benighted place, giving up His glory in heaven, clothed in flesh, lived a life wholly submitted to His Father, committing no sin whatsoever, yet experiencing every temptation either in His life, or in Gethsemane. He triumphed over ALL sin and death, and has said repeatedly that He offers salvation to all those who come unto Him. He offered milk and honey without cost and without price, living water so we never thirst again, a yoke that is easy, and a burden that is light. Everything about Jesus Christ calls us to rise from bondage, to step out of the chains with which we are bound. There is power in the name of Jesus, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Cor 3:17, Jeremiah 10:6)

Our God IS generosity, IS love, IS freedom, IS kindness, IS gentleness, IS patience, IS tolerance, IS healing. It is not His will that we suffer. Not ever. In D&C 19, the Lord says that He suffered for ALL, so that we don't have to, if we repent . . . and He took upon Himself our sickness and infirmities so that He would know how to succor us (Alma 7:11-12).

His calling card in His earthly ministry was healing. It was the proof of His authority and calling. His instructions to the Seventy included healing all those whose homes they stayed in. Why go through all of that additional anguish and injury and horror if He wasn't going to use it to liberate all of us, whom He so loves? Why would He suddenly become a respecter of persons, telling one here and one there that, unlike everyone else, He wills that they suffer? He knows what it is like for a child to live in a hellishly abusive home. Jesus knows what it is like to be terrified and terrorized by an abusive parent or spouse, knows what it is like to be abused emotionally and verbally, denied the very most basic human needs of love and acceptance. His entire purpose IS to heal every hurt, to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, to fill us with His spirit.

Our illnesses, weaknesses, and sin are not something to be borne in patience, waiting for the end of our lives so we can be free of them.

We all are equal in the sight of God. All repentant souls have equal claim on His grace: we all can lay claim on ALL of it, because He has already given us all of it. That gift was complete, finished, and given to us, when His victory was complete.

This life is HARD WORK. We get hurt, we feel pain, we experience, we learn, and we draw close to God. It's like the labor pains of childbirth. I chose to bring six children into this world. Even after my first labor, which was incredibly painful and really traumatic, I chose to have more children, and I chose to endure the pain for their benefit. (Long story--no heroism here. My first baby was adversely affected by the epidural anesthesia, and I simply couldn't bring myself to put another one of my babies through that.)

1 John 4:8: "He that loves not, knows not God; for God is love."

What is love?

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 AMP)

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (Moroni 7:45)

The pure and perfect love of Christ, He who is the example by which we understand love, cannot be injury to someone. Love is not willing someone to suffer. Love is being willing to suffer, yourself, so another does not have to.

On Gathering

Reading randomly in 3 Nephi recently, a pattern in the last part of chapter 21 leapt off of the page at me. I noticed that there were a lot of instances of "and then", and that they were laying out an ordered set of events. Check it out:

 22 But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance; 

STEP 1: There's a repentant group of gentiles among whom Jesus Christ will establish His church. Those who repent and come unto Christ are His church (D&C 10:67). This isn't a case of "the ONE and ONLY TRUE CHURCH" being set up among this group as the only place the ONE and ONLY TRUE CHURCH exists. These verses are saying that part of the body of Christ (those who repent and come unto Christ) will be this apparently smallish group of Gentiles. Later verses show there are other gatherings and other remnants all over the nation and world. This is just an initial, preliminary gathering for those who are called to do the work laid out in step two.

23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.

STEP 2: The remnant of Jacob and this repentant group of gentiles will build the New Jerusalem.

24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem. 

STEP 3: Now that there's a place to gather, more gathering of those who Christ openly claims as His own to the New Jerusalem can happen.

25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.

STEP 4: "The power of heaven" is Christ, and He will come to the New Jerusalem.

26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem. 27 Yea, the work shall commence among all the dispersed of my people, with the Father to prepare the way whereby they may come unto me, that they may call on the Father in my name. 

STEP 5: "The work of the Father" only commences at this point, with the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ is very simple: "Jesus won!!! And He can save you if you repent and call on His name!" It is nothing more, and nothing less.

28 Yea, and then shall the work commence, with the Father among all nations in preparing the way whereby his people may be gathered home to the land of their inheritance. 

STEP 6: This is when the gospel, in its simplicity, is openly preached "among all nations", so ALL who claim God as their Father can be gathered home.

29 And they shall go out from all nations; and they shall not go out in haste, nor go by flight, for I will go before them, saith the Father, and I will be their rearward. 

STEP 7: When gathered in the last and final gathering (which may very well be many years after that initial gathering to build the New Jerusalem), those gathered will not be refugees, and their way will be prepared before and sealed behind by the Father. Pretty amazingly cool, if you ask me.

I keep thinking over this chronology, and I'm just blown away. Such a beautiful, simple, pattern, and yet so considerate and well-planned. God is going to do things in wisdom and order, and we don't have to be afraid. If we're seeking Jesus Christ and following Him, then we will not be taken by surprise, and our God will make provision for those who follow Him.

Love Song of the Husband of Israel

'For this--the waters of Noah unto me,
   for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth,
   so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.
For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed,
   but my kindness shall not depart from thee,
   neither shall the covenant of my people be removed,'
   saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. 

'O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted!
Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors,
   and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
And I will make thy windows of agates,
   and thy gates of carbuncles,
   and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
   and great shall be the peace of thy children.
In righteousness shalt thou be established;
   thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear,
   and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.
Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me;
   whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire,
   and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work;
   and I have created the waster to destroy.
No weapon formed against thee shall prosper;
   and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
   and their righteousness is of me,' saith the Lord." (~3 Nephi 22:9-17)

The kindness of our Lord is eternal. His kindness IS, just as He is I AM. He has mercy on us, and promises to comfort us, provide for us, protect us, and to seat us in safety beyond the reach of our accusers.  He promises us a safe habitation, and the continuance of His care. He will not break His promises. Ever.

Father, thank You so much for Your promises. Thank You for Your perfect constancy, and for the understanding that You will NEVER fail me. Ever. In a world where all things change, where no person is perfect, You ARE. And I praise You for it, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Jesus is RISEN!

As I sit here at my computer, the newly-birthed glory of this morning streams through my windows washing the blue walls, the unmade bed, and my own still-rumpled self. But I couldn't help but rise before the sun this morning for some reason. There are things on my mind, but they're not what woke me up. I awoke to the phrase "Jesus is Risen!" sounding in my heart, followed by the words of a song I've known since I was a child:

Jesus is risen,
Jesus my friend.
Joy fills my heart,
He lives again!

As I see some of the fallout of yesterday's earnest opposing vote in General Conference, see the fruit of the responses of so many to that cry for help, my heart keeps turning back to Jesus. I pray for the souls of those who are hurting, who are confused, who are looking for answers, and often whose belief in the God of Israel hangs by a thread. I pray for those who are caught in a response that comes, not from the love of Jesus Christ that called all to come unto Him so He could heal them, but in derision, offense, and simple hatred for those whom they would have been happy to call "brother" or "sister" just an hour earlier.

Jesus is risen,
Jesus my friend.
Joy fills my heart,
He lives again!!!

Our Lord is the victorious Son, seated upon His Father's throne. He is the One who heals all hurts, resolves all differences, clears all confusion and fills us with peace . . . but not peace alone: with joy and peace. He is the Lord of the empty tomb, the Lord who triumphed on the cross when He said, "It is finished". He took our shame upon Himself, nailed it to the cross with His body, then carried it to the grave and left it buried there when He arose that first Easter morn, the first morning the birds sang.

Oh those who call yourselves saints, who claim to worship Jesus Christ . . . can we not lay aside offense and see one another for who we each are? Precious, flawed, beautiful, broken, beloved, rescued, saved, redeemed! Our Lord Jesus broke the bands of death! He conquered sin so we wouldn't have to live a perfect life in order to do so, but could rely upon His merits alone. We can work and slave and check off all of the to-do's on our perceived path to salvation, and still be damned to hell if we do not find, and fall totally in love with, Jesus Christ. We have to have a personal revelation from Him . . . not that our leaders are something special, or a certain building is the only place certain work can be done. Jesus Christ must reveal Himself to us--first through His love, then through His spirit, and then in His very person. All other things are meaningless without Him literally changing our hearts, recreating us in His image, and giving us a completely new understanding of everything around us.

Do you yet respond as Enoch did, when he saw the wickedness of the world? And do you rejoice as He did when God showed him the future sacrifice of Jesus Christ?

If anyone can think of Easter without an insuppressible joy rising in their hearts, if anyone can think of Jesus Christ without feeling like they want to jump out of their seats and cheer louder than BYU fans when they beat Utah State for the Victory Bell, then I'm pleading with you to find some solitude, to still your mind and heart, and ask the Lord to help you understand the magnitude of His sacrifice, the overwhelming reality of His victory, and to fill you with the fruit of His life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus says, "Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

And He wasn't kidding.

Jesus says, "By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if ye have love, one to another."

He wasn't kidding.

Jesus says, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

He wasn't kidding.

Jesus says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

He wasn't kidding.

Jesus says, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

His word is eternal, just as He is. When He speaks, His words are both created, and creative. They cause things to happen, and take on life. They go on existing for all of eternity, co-existent with Him, and remain true forever.

We can TRUST HIM.

We can BELIEVE HIM.

We can KNOW HIM.

That was the whole reason He came. The whole reason He did what He did. The whole reason He descended below all things and then rose above all things.

HE LOVES US! Oh, how He LOVES US!

Lord Jesus, I'm in awe of Your majesty, Your victory, the love and total acceptance You so extravagantly lavish on me every day. You don't applaud my sin, my weakness . . . but You rejoice in them because they draw me to You and show forth Your power in my life. Whenever I venture to draw closer to You, You pour forgiveness out like many waters, and fill me completely. I'm astounded at the way You find every last possible way to tell me You are aware of me, to communicate Your love to me, if I will but make space in my heart and mind to hear You. You are never more than one breath, one ruach, away, and I rejoice . . . no, I REJOICE!!!! in You. My hope is in You, Lord. My joy is in You, and the joy of the Lord is my STRENGTH! Lord, let Your people find You. Let Your love and light be shed abroad. Lead those to You who earnestly seek You, and make a way for those who don't know You at all to stumble upon You despite their best efforts. Lord Jesus, fill the hearts of those who love You with a joy and a rejoicing so powerful they cannot restrain it, cannot contain it. Fill all of Your creation with the reality of Yourself, and with the revelation of Who You Are! And Lord, let Your testimony break forth as the morning among a people who sit in darkness, in Jesus' name, AMEN!!!!!!!

If the word seems dry . . .

God is so funny, and awesome, and aware of me. And so patient.

Yesterday, I began reading the book of Romans. Just however many chapters each morning as fit into my devotional time. As I read this morning, I fully admit I was distracted . . . by children, the rooster crowing outside, facebook (I know, I know), and more. I started the day by researching some historical context surrounding Jesus cleansing the temple, and then tried to get into Romans. I read chapter four, which seemed pretty dry. (Hint: when the Word seems dry to me, it means I'm soooo not filled with the Holy Spirit. It's not the scripture that's dry, it's me!) As I waited for the Romans five page to load, I was thinking along these lines:

I wonder why I'm even supposed to be doing this . . . this is really dry stuff . . . what does all this explanation about not needing circumcision have to do with me? . . . yeah, yeah, yeah, Paul, I know: I don't need circumcision to have access to God . . . should I really be slogging through this? . . . why am I reading this anyway . . . 

Then I started to read the first verse:

"Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith . . ."

And these thoughts flashed through my mind:

Man, I'm really not feeling close to God this morning . . . yeah, Paul, I know: more stuff about how faith is independent of circumcision. Got it . . . I'm doing something wrong . . . I shouldn't have done that other study first this morning . . . I'm not getting this whole "getting up early and spending time with God thing" right . . . why can't I get this right? . . . I'm just going to have to try again tomorrow morning . . . but I'm not looking forward to an entire day, isolated from Him like this . . .

But I read on, and these words shone into my mind like the dawn:

. . . let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 

Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. ~Romans 5:1-2 AMP

And then I realized the last set of thoughts that went flashing through my head were temptations, the enemy trying to discourage me from getting into the Word, luring me into the old, still-too-familiar resigned acceptance of isolation from God, and that it was the goodness and mercy of God, coming like the dawn, that overcame those temptations because He loves me, and I was (blunderingly, so imperfectly) trying to do what He asked of me. And He planted verse two on my screen this morning, like a friendly elbow in the ribs, for me to read so I could, by faith, have access to Him.

Not because of my works.

Because of His love.

My study, up to that point, was pretty worthless. {facepalm} I surely wasn't getting anywhere by my own merits. I definitely needed a nudge, a reminder, that it's not my strength that reaps a harvest from the Word. It's His Spirit, poured out upon me in His good pleasure, if I will but be a vessel for it.

And I chuckled, because I felt God chuckling good-naturedly as He saw the realization come over me, and knew my thoughts and my heart. Knew how I would respond {facepalming}, knows that I far prefer to laugh over hard things than cry, and rejoices in who I am, who He made me to be, in everything about me. My quirks amuse Him as much as they do me, my flaws tie me to Him in beautiful symbiosis. He's just so good . . . He knows me so well . . . and He has planned out carefully everything that I truly need. And He speaks my love language fluently. ;o)

Lord, thank You for Your endless patience, Your endless love, Your persistent mercy, Your relentless grace, and for the numberless chances You offer me, as I walk in full acceptance of the price you paid and the reality of Who You Are. Thank You for Your friendship, Your company, and Your affability. So much. You amaze me, Jesus. And make me so happy! :o)

What will I choose as my Truth?

3 What if some did not believe and were without faith? Does their lack of faith and their faithlessness nullify and make ineffective and void the faithfulness of God and His fidelity [to His Word]?4 By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That You may be justified and shown to be upright in what You say, and prevail when You are judged [by sinful men].  ~Romans 3:3-4

It's up to me to choose.

While I walk here, through this life, I can choose what I will believe is true. It doesn't change what is actually true, but it definitely changes the way I see everything around me, the way I think about things, and pretty much every choice I make.

Will I decide the view behind me is what is true, allowing my past to determine my future?

Will I cling to the word of God, refusing to believe anything other than what He has said?

How will I respond to times when, for whatever reason, something doesn't turn out the way that I thought the Word said it would? What then?

Lord, thank You so much for Your Word--both written and spoken, logos and rhema. Thank you for confirming my faith in You over and over, even though getting to the point where I actually had true faith took me so very, very long. Thank You for Jesus Christ, all He had given me so generously, and the solid foundation His words provide. And thank You for a brilliant new day, in which to glorify Your name. Lead my family and I, Lord, as we face whatever trouble lies before us, and bless us with powerful faith to bring about miracles and wonders, so Your name might be further glorified, in Jesus' name, amen.

Who can ever be against us?

Romans 8 (Really, the whole chapter, but I'm just quoting verse 31. ;) )

"What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is FOR us, who can ever be against us?" (NLT)

That verse, and this song, have been playing tag in my head since last night:

I stand before You now
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in

I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way

~Bethel Music - You Make Me Brave

I just want to keep walking where God leads, no matter how crazy my old self might think it sounds. My faith is growing, day by day, into something I can walk on, no matter what might lie beneath it: enemy territory, raging water, or clear blue sky. Jesus gives me direction, tells me where to place each step to do His work, and the fears that would have constrained and defeated me before have no power now. Scripture is a precious treasure to me, keeping me grounded, and opening up so much more beauty before me every time I crack open the book.

Father God, how I love Your work and Your instruction. You are a Good Father, such a Good God. I rejoice in learning more of You, in the answers You send to my prayers, and in the riches continually poured out for me in Christ. Keep me in Your paths, show me Your ways, and I can't wait to see what You lead me into next, Lord. With all my love, I pray, rejoicing, in Jesus' name, amen.

He Makes Me Brave

I stand before You now

The greatness of your renown

I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you

King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

As Your love, in wave after wave

Crashes over me, crashes over me

For You are for us

You are not against us

Champion of Heaven

You made a way for all to enter in

I have heard You calling my name

I have heard the song of love that You sing

So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore

Into Your grace

Your grace

You make me brave

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way

You make me brave

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the promises you made

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way

~Bethel Music - You Make Me Brave

Lord of Heaven's Armies, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, my Living God, You make me brave . . . and I can't thank You enough. In Jesus' name, amen!

We Should Bless One Another Freely

Whatever house you enter, first say, Peace be to this household! [Freedom from all the distresses that result from sin be with this family]. And if anyone [worthy] of peace and blessedness is there, the peace and blessedness you wish shall come upon him; but if not, it shall come back to you. And stay on in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. ~Luke 10:5-7 AMP

 Lately my focus has been on the "how to" of Luke ten; the four things Christ told the seventy to do in order to prepare people to meet Him. This first part of the instructions, though, really stood out to me this morning. Jesus told the seventy to bless those in "whatever house" they entered. Not whatever house seemed like it was worthy, or whichever members of the household seemed to be willing to receive. He then explained that those worthy of receiving the blessing would receive it, and those who weren't, wouldn't.

When we bless, it's not up to us to decide who we should bless and who we shouldn't. Jesus said to offer blessing to every house they entered, and those who are able to receive it, will. Those who are not able, won't feel a thing. I feel like the same thing is true with all kinds of blessing--not just saying "God bless you", but in all of the miracles that follow them that believe, including healing.

Lord, teach me better how to bless those around me, both in word and in deed, for I want to be a blessing to those I love best, and to all the world. Give me the words to say, the things to do, and lead me more surely in the ways I should go. In Jesus' name, amen.

Let's talk about prayer.

Here's what I've learned, over the last couple of years:

1) Language does NOT matter. All that matters is what's in your heart . . . and even then, we worship a big, strong, mighty God. He can take whatever it is that we're struggling over, and hear it all. He has big shoulders, and will listen to, will hear, anything we need to unload on Him. After what He went through to win the victory for us, I can guarantee that nothing we throw at Him in our extremity will do damage to His love for us--no matter how rough the language might be we choose to express it. All He cares about is that we're COMING to Him.

2) Stand on the Word. You'll see me, in my prayers offered here, that I declare things I know to be true about God's nature and character, as well as things that He has promised.

"This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (1 John 5:14-15)

When God says something, He means it. Linear time has no hold on Him, and so His words, His decrees, are continually before Him, and exist throughout eternity as part of the truth and beauty of His existence, part of the great I AM. When we pray in agreement with what He has said in scripture about our situation, we pray in agreement with His will, His desires. That doesn't guarantee that our hearts are in alignment such that we can immediately receive that for which we pray, but I can guarantee you that if you keep on praying, you will receive what you need, and He will reveal more to you.

3) Praise. Tell God how good He is, praise Him lavishly for all He does for us, confess His beautiful Name, glorify Him in prayer, lift Him up high as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise" (Psalms 100:4)

4) Declare. Declare Him your God, your Savior, whatever role you need Him most to play. When He says He wants to heal, believe it and declare healing. If you're not quite sure the Holy Spirit has told you to pray for healing, you can stand on the Word of God, and have faith in His own declarations that He is waiting, ready, to heal us:

"O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?
 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.
 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name." (3 Nephi 9:13-15)

Promises of healing are rife in scripture: D&C 112:13, 3 Ne 18:32, John 3:17, 3 Nephi 17:7, and more. He isn't called Jehovah Rapha without cause. Jesus Christ IS healing. That's His desire--to save, heal, and restore us in all things.

What things have you learned about prayer that have revolutionized the way you interact with the Living God?