Today’s Reading: Alma 18:19 – 19:14
35 And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God.
Knowledge and power. Two things I desire for. Every day. Multiple times a day. To be clear, power “of”, not power “over”. Knowledge to know how to teach small children. Greater power, potential, competence and capability in my life. Power to realize that I can’t do everything on my own. Knowledge to answer “why?” questions from my 3-year-old umpteen times a day. Power to not be frustrated by these questions. Knowledge to know how to heal a tiny broken heart. Power to testify to a neighbor. Knowledge to answer hard questions. Power to receive answers to prayer.
Knowledge, and the resulting power, gained from scripture study and allowing the Spirit into my life.
Our Primary children are learning the song, Scripture Power. Their young voices sing from the top of their lungs “Scripture POWER”. They flex their muscles, as they sing, showing the power that comes as we search for knowledge in the words of God. They love it. I LOVE it. Every week I go about my duties and head home humming the song. It’s been playing in my head, on repeat, for two weeks.
Inevitably, this helped me introduce the song to my children since they’re both younger than Primary age. As I knew he would, my 3-year-old grasped onto the catchy tune hand gestures. Daily, he asks for the song and plays it over and over again showing me his strong muscles. His younger brother has followed suit and immediately raises his arms in the air, as you imagine a super hero does, when he hears the word “power”.
Scripture POWER – every day I need.
The POWER that I get each time I read.
The repetition of this song has truly served as my reminder to choose to find His power in the scriptures.
I love the reminder from Ammon, in verse 35, that we can have the Spirit dwell with us. To make it even sweeter, he adds that we can have the all the knowledge and the power that we need. And, I love that it doesn’t come free. He reminds us that knowledge, power, and the gift of the Spirit come according to our Godly faith and our desires.
The knowledge to answer hard questions comes only after I have put in the work to study the gospel and understand what He would have me say. The power to hold back my temper when I find new artwork on our walls, courtesy of one curious little boy and one permanent marker, comes only after I have prayed for patience and allowed the Spirit to guide me.
The knowledge and power that is given to me – given to us – in this life, is given by our Heavenly Father. I imagine our Father in Heaven truly wanting to give us all we desire. And, in the same way I prompt my kids to say “please” when they ask for things, so does He.
God reminds us that we can have his Spirit to be with us. That Spirit will give us knowledge and it will give us power. BUT only according to the work we have given. That knowledge and power will be given according to our faith and desires that center in Him.
Our “please” is scripture study.
The Lord has commanded that before we seek to declare His word, we must seek to obtain it. You must become men and women of sound understanding by diligently searching the scriptures and by treasuring them up in your hearts. Then as you ask for the Lord’s help, He will bless you with His Spirit and His word. You will have the power of God unto the convincing of men.
Scripture Power is real. The knowledge and power that we need for our righteous desires will be given to us when we put God first in our lives and study His word. As the song says, because I want the power His word will give to me – I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.
A sun-lover living in the rain and beauty of the Northwest. Being outdoors is my love language. I’m a Wife to a handsome curly-haired man and Mama to two curly-haired little boys. I’m a sucker for a good joke, a well-fitting skirt, beautiful fabric, a hard work-out, good book and chocolate. As a perfectionist by nature, I’m striving to recognize and appreciate my Father in Heaven’s hand in my life. Day by day I’m learning to allow him to show me the way.
This is wonderful Amber & your graphics are AWESOME!!!!
❤️ thank you Jeni!!
Love, love, love it! I kept thinking “uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh” as I read about the knowledge and power needed to raise children (and how difficult it is in the face of a million “why’s” and untempered use of permanent marker) 🙂 Thanks for the great post!
It’s just so nice sometimes to know that other people are in the trenches at the same time with you! 🙂