God answers prayers

 

Hello Everyone! 

I hope your week was great! This week was snowy! We were snowed in for half the week so things were a little slow. But we had an exciting weekend! We got to see three of our friends in one day and one of them came to church! I also had my first ever crab dinner and it was very good

Something I learned this week is first that God answers prayers. I mean I knew that before, but it was reconfirmed to me this week. He is always there and always listening, just be patient with Him! I promise He will answer your prayer! Second, I learned of the importance of the focus of our lives. President Russell M. Nelson said, "When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy." Last week in stake conference, the stake president shared about Matthew 11:28-30 and taking Christ's yoke upon you. He said to take His yoke upon you is to labor with Him, and like it says in Matthew 11, you will receive rest as you do that. I was also reading in Jacob 5 this week and in it it says that if you labor with the Lord of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) that "ye shall have joy with [Him]." Laboring with Christ means living as He lived. Making your will His will, and your priorities His priorities. Since being on my mission there have been some times where it's been hard, but I've learned this week that as I turn outward and change my focus from myself and my struggles to Christ, His Gospel, and serving others I can have joy and rest in the midst of the hard times, like President Nelson and the scriptures promise. I promise that each of you can have joy and rest as you also make Christ the center and focus of your life regardless of your circumstances. I invite each of you this week to ask God how you can center your lives more on Christ and I promise He will answer your prayer and give you an increase of joy as you act on your answer. 

Love you all! 

Sister Carlson