Help Me Find God

I think there comes a point for just about everyone when we need to find God in our lives. How do we get to that point? Usually, it takes some form of adversity to get us to realize our need for God, and then to seek the joy and the peace that come with having that need met.

Why God "Lets Bad Things Happen"

Often, we hear people ask, “Why does God let bad things happen?” There are many reasons for this, depending your particular situation. But the biggest one – the common reason for all adversity – is to remind us that we need Him. Far from a narcissistic ploy for attention, letting us experience adversity in this life is God's way of letting us realize our need for His help on our own terms. Allowing us to have the sometimes painful experiences of life is His way of respecting our our right to choose to believe and trust in Him, while at the same guaranteeing that as many people as possible will know the joy that comes with seeking His help in their lives.

So, if life, or a decision on your part, has brought you to that point, maybe that's why you're asking now, “Please help me find God”.

Purity of Heart

The journey of finding God in our lives starts with making room for Him in our hearts. During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8) It takes having a pure heart to have the kind of spiritual sensitivity that allows us to feel God's help in our lives. So, what is purity of heart, and how do we achieve it?

A prophet by the name of Alma the Younger wrote, “...I know that [God] granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; ...to [him that knoweth good and evil] it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.” (Alma 29:4-5)

Purity of heart has to do with the desires of our hearts. What is it we really want? Do we still itch for the fun we've had outside the bounds the Lord has set? Or are we ready to do what it will take to know the joy and peace that come with having God's help in our lives? Do you want God's help badly enough to do anything He might ask to have it? When you are ready to get on your knees and let God name his price, you have achieved purity of heart. More importantly, that willingness to trust in Him and do as He asks has a way of getting Him to open the windows of heaven. Even if all you can do is want more of God's help in your life, and you're willing to do something about it, that's enough of a start.

In ancient America, there was a wicked old king who, seeing the example of a Christian missionary named Ammon, was puzzled by it. Wanting to know more, he asked Ammon to teach him about Jesus Christ. Ammon sent a fellow missionary by the name of Aaron to teach the old king about the joy that would come if he would be willing to make sacrifices to have God's help in his life – a joy referred to in the scriptures as “eternal life”.

Having heard this, the old king asked, “What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? What shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive His Spirit, that I may be filled with joy...? Behold I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.” (Alma 22:15)

They told him, “if thou wilt bow down before God... and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.” Having heard this, the old king lay himself down on the ground and prayed, saying, “O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be... saved at the last day.” (Alma 22:16-18)

When he had said those words, the old king had a powerful spiritual experience that resulted in himself and his whole household – servants included – being converted to the Lord. The king's willingness to sacrifice to know the Lord had opened the windows of heaven!

You may not be ready to give up everything you have just yet, and you probably won't be seeing angels or having visions anytime soon. But if you're willing to do something – anything – to have more of God in your life, and you start doing it, it's just a matter of time before you feel Him beginning to respond to your efforts.


The Life-Changing Power of Prayer

The biggest thing you can do for yourself, if you haven't already, is pray and ask your Heavenly Father, "Are you really there?" If you do it for the right reason, you'll be amazed at what He'll teach you in your heart, if you'll just ask. That's how the journey of finding God in your life begins! Learn how to pray 

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