The Lord Watches Over Me

Day fifty-five

Yesterday was one of those days where everything just fell into place.  In anticipation of the snow (which I was very happy to see this morning) I went and ran all my errands to be prepared for today.  Everything I needed was available and on sale, I never stood in line for longer than 5 minutes, traffic wasn't bad, and the people I met along the way were kind and we even shared some laughs.  I love those days!

I know my prayers have been focused on gratitude for the things in my life lately, but I can not help but feel that the Lord is taking extra good care of my family lately.  I have learned over the years that this usually means we are being prepared for some hardship, the Lord builds us up before the trial comes.  So my prayer included lots of gratitude, but also a request that the Spirit remind us of all these blessings when the trial comes. Just as I prepared for the snow, I want to be spiritually prepared for whatever may come.

To help with my spiritual preparation I am studying Abraham Chapter two today.  As I was reading, I was noticing how the Lord worked in Abraham's life to direct him to where he needed to go and what he needed to do.

verse 1 -  Famine.  Note how the Lord used the famine to influence Abraham and his family to move from one place to another, until they arrived in Egypt.  It got me thinking about the hardships the Lord has put in my life to get me where he wants me to be.  At the time of the hardship I don't think I was able to see how the Lord was working in my life, but looking back it's nice to know that he has been so active in my life.

verse 6 - Communication.  Abraham was blessed with numerous occasions when the Lord spoke or appeared to him.  I have not had such experiences myself, but the Lord communicates with me through spiritual promptings or through others.  Whether or not I actually receive an appearance of the Lord is not important to me, keeping the communication lines I have open is what I need to focus on.

What does it mean to know that the Lord is watching over me?  President Joseph Fielding Smith explained:

“The descendants of Abraham, the tribes of Israel, became the chosen people of the Lord according to the promise. The Lord honored them, nourished them, watched over them with a jealous care, until they became a great nation in the land the Lord had given to their fathers."

Do I recognize the ways the Lord honors, nourishes, and watches over me?  Sometimes I can see how He has nourished and watched over me, but not as often as I should.  To be told that the Lord watches over His people with a jealous care, makes me feel so loved. I know that I am important to Him. 

I never really thought about how the Lord honors me before.  I have always focused on the ways I should honor him.  But when I think about it, the Lord has always honored me.  He has trusted me with my agency from the beginning, He lets me make mistakes to learn from,  He has faith in my abilities, and He never abandons me.  Wow!  I hope I honor Him as much as He honors me.

What happens when I don't recognize the Lord in my life? 

President Smith's quote continues:

"Notwithstanding this tender care and the instructions and warnings this people received from time to time through their prophets, they failed to comprehend the goodness of the Lord and departed from him. Because of their rebellion they were driven out of their land and eventually were scattered among the nations” ( Doctrines of Salvation, 1:164).

I can't imagine being 'departed' from the Lord, yet I don't always make Him the priority. Something for me to think about, because if I truly comprehended the goodness of the Lord, then I would always recognize His hand in my life. He would always be the priority in my life and my actions would reflect that.

God has given me a lot to think about from this study session, which is good, it is just one more way the Lord is watching over me!