lead me, guide me, walk beside me

We all have those 

 --situations that make us uncomfortable, 

 --thoughts we'd really prefer not to let into our minds,

 --and feelings we'd like to put an end to..

How do you do it?

I personally like to sing songs, generally in my head, and the ones that always seem to come to mind are songs I learned as a child. 

Most often it is, "I am a Child of God" written especially for children to learn but also for all members of the world to enjoy. 

The chorus at the end of each verse goes like this: 

"Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him some day"

I was singing this in my head the other day when I realized, possibly for the first time, what that was really saying. 

In order to return to live with my Father in Heaven after this Earth life I must be lead and guided by the spirit in all things. Even in the simplest little things we should be seeking God's council.

Here is how I found this works: 

When deciding

which restaurant to go to,

what outfit to wear,

which activity to participate in,

or what music to listen to,

do we need to kneel in prayer every single time?

 In general, I don't feel like that is essential. What I do consider to be critical is being aware of the way you feel, more specifically to listen to the spirit.

You may not know what that means. Maybe "listen to the spirit" is such an overused phrase in “Mormon culture” that it has become insignificant, meaningless in some way or maybe you've never heard it before! Let me try to explain it in fresh words. 

The Spirit of God is the Holy Ghost, a friend we can consistently have with us every minute of every day, once we are confirmed after baptism. You can't see Him, but He is a best friend that will NEVER give you bad advice. He is incapable of doing so. Heavenly Father won't allow it. Period. So when you feel that little nudge of, 

"Maybe I shouldn't be here," leave. 

"Maybe I shouldn't wear this…" don't. 

"Maybe I shouldn't listen to this…" change it.

So simple, and yet so safe!

There have been multiple cases in which I KNOW that the Holy Ghost has lead me out of a situation that could potentially have been quite harmful. Listen to the Holy Ghost, even when it is just a little thing, because then it becomes easier to listen when the big things come along.

The other day as I went to put on one of my favorite pair of shorts, I realized they felt a little tighter than I remembered and looked a little shorter. I considered for a few minutes whether or not I should wear them. It was going to be a hot day and I had no other clean shorts.

I took them off and put on a rolled up pair of pants instead. Not only did I get many compliments on my pants, I felt so much more confident with myself. I even ran into a family that I respect and love very much, and while sitting and talking with them, I realized how grateful I was I had listened to that prompting. If not my conversation would've been poor as my mind struggled to focus on anything but the length and size of my pants as I uncomfortably would've tugged and fidgeted with them. Even because of small things such as this I am grateful for the Holy Ghost's influence in my life.

So listen to that still, small, feeling inside of you. The suggestions you well receive from Him are priceless.