Honesty
Another principle that has had a big impact on spiritual growth has been learning to be honest with my Father.
It has been said that "Honesty is the highest form of intimacy." To be honest you expose your true self, you make yourself vulnerable. Sometimes when we pray we want to put our best foot forward-- to show we aren't complainers, we have a lot of faith, and we know the right thing to do. I have learned that the Lord doesn't need or expect your posturing-- he intimately knows your heart, and he knows how you act when you are not in prayer. When you decide to be honest with him, you form intimacy with him, and that is a completely different level of relationship than simply a dignified prayer. It helps to compare it to your relationship with your spouse-- your spouse has seen you at your worst and at your best, they've heard your complaints, your fears, your frustrations, your deepest desires and your true feelings. Because they've seen you totally unmasked, fully known, you have a deep intimate relationship that binds you together.
“For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name” (Isa. 54:5)
The most incredible part about having the Lord as your "husband" is that not only do you get to enjoy that deep bond with him, in addition it allows him to change you!
“Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?” (3 Ne. 9:13).
Yesterday I was feeling sorry for myself at the end of the day. Through tears, I complained mightily to Ben and then went to my room to wallow in how sad my life was. While still feeling those big emotions, I knelt and prayed to my Heavenly Father. I told him how unfair it all was, and how hard I was trying. I told him what I deserved, and what I should get. I did not hold back one whit what I felt.
In turn, He gave me the most beautiful gifts. He spoke scripture to me: "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him" (Nahum 1:7) and "All things work together for those who love God" and He filled me with love and peace and comfort, and reminded me that any unfairness I suffered in this life would be made right. It calmed my troubled heart, and I felt those stirrings no more.
In a word He healed me. I don't have to complain anymore because He filled me. Being honest with your Father in Heaven allows him in to your soft, squishy moldable parts. You've cracked the hard outer shell, and now he can enter into the part of you he can change. We all want to be kinder, humbler, complain less, and it's when we allow him in, through our honesty, that He can change our very natures.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”3
“[Their souls were filled] with joy and consolation … because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”9
"the Spirit of the Lord wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually." Mosiah 5:2
I am indeed grateful for a brother who loves me and wants to comfort me! I'm so grateful that, through my agency, I can choose him and he can change me to become more like Him.
