A Quiet Heart

Too many times in my life I have told God what I need, when I need it. It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but I think my prayers have gotten rather bossy at times. Recently, I have been learning a lot about how I need to just shut up sometimes and listen. I am not God; He is. I should be asking Him what I need, not telling Him what I need. I should be expressing my desire to fulfill His will, not a desire to have all my problems taken away.

I've also realized that I need to be more mindful as I pray. How do my prayers reflect my attitudes toward and relationship with Heavenly Father? Am I a spoiled child who forgets to say "thank you"? Am I a bratty child who goes to her Father, catalogues all her needs and wants, and then walks away? Or do I remember to thank Him for all that He has given me (including the greatest gift of all--the saving and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ)? Do I remember to ask what He thinks would be best for me? Do I seek His counsel, or am I fixated on what I want and how I can get it from Him?

I feel like I am receiving this message over and over again as I read the talks from last general conference. Here are some of the quotes that reflect this message:

A quote by President Faust in Elder Stucki's talk "Prayer, Faith, and Family: Stepping-Stones to Eternal Happiness":
"A fervent, sincere prayer is a two-way communication which will do much to bring [Christ's] Spirit flowing like healing water to help with the trials, hardships, aches, and pains we all face."

From Elder Eyring's talk "As a Child":
"Somewhat to my surprise, I found myself praying, 'Heavenly Father, it doesn't matter what I want. I don't care anymore what I want. I only want that Thy will be done. That is all that I want. Please tell me what to do.' In that moment I felt as quiet inside as I had ever felt. And the message came, and I was sure who it was from."

Prayer is a TWO-WAY communication. If I sincerely want to receive answers to my prayers, I need to quiet down my heart and listen to what the Spirit is telling me to do or what the answer to my question is. If I sincerely want to make the right choice, I must be willing to submit my will to God's. That is the only way to make the right choice.

From Elder Uchtdorf's talk "See the End from the Beginning":
"You have a responsibility to learn what Heavenly Father wants you to do and then to do your best to follow His will."

From Elder Holland's talk "Broken Things to Mend":
"It seems clear that the essence of our duty and the fundamental requirement of our mortal life is captured in these brief phrases [in which Christ] is saying to us, 'Trust me, learn of me, do what I do. Then, when you walk where I am going,' He says, 'we can talk about where you are going, and the problems you face and the troubles you have. If you will follow me, I will lead you out of darkness.' He promises, 'I will give you answers to your prayers. I will give you rest to your souls.'"

I have a responsibility, a duty, a requirement to give up what I want, to listen to what God's will is for me, and then to do it. And once I do that, I will be led out of darkness and into His marvelous light. And He will make far more out of my life than I ever could.