Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on our relationship with our Heavenly Father. And a huge part of building and strengthening our relationship with our Father in Heaven is how we communicate with Him through prayer.
In his recent Facebook post, Elder Christofferson shared a metaphor that he heard from the Anglican archbishop of South Africa that might change how you view prayer and its important role in strengthening our relationship with Deity.
I once heard a radio interview featuring Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Anglican archbishop in South Africa, in which he was asked a perceptive question: “Have you found that your relationship to God has changed as you’ve grown older?”
Bishop Tutu responded, “Yes. I am learning to shut up more in the presence of God.” He recalled that when he was younger, he prayed with what he called “a kind of shopping list.” But now, he said, “I think [I am] trying to grow in just being there. Like when you sit in front of a fire in winter, you are just there in front of the fire, and you don’t have to be smart or anything. The fire warms you.”
I think that is a lovely metaphor—just sit with the Lord and let Him warm you like a fire in winter. You don’t have to be perfect or the greatest person who ever graced the earth or the best of anything to be with Him.
I pray at this Christmas season that you might have some sense of the beloved status you occupy as the Lord’s son or daughter. I hope you will take time to sit for a few quiet moments and let the Savior’s Spirit warm you and reassure you of the worthiness of your service, of your offering, of your life.
I pray that God grants you that blessing this Christmas as you, with me, bear witness of the Savior Jesus Christ. We worship Him, we serve Him, and we love Him.