[Levi714]

Heber13 wrote:

I think prayer can help focus and sharpen the mind.

Especially in today’s world of constant stimulation and distraction…closing my eyes, being still, and thinking (meditating) is good to focus my mind.

I could see it helping people with depression, if it brings hope. Sometimes we need to believe in power beyond ourselves to help lift us to a higher state, and away from depression and lack of movement.

I really like what you said. Especially the part about belief that God will help lift us to a higher state.

[Levi714]

For me the connection between these two states and prayer is there. In reflection I wouldn’t say that my prayers create the spirit as often as the spirit creates the prayer. To be honest and open I struggle with depression, I find it much easier to forgive others then I would find forgiving myself. My demons from my past come back in dreams or memories pulling at me trying to bring me down. And my demons in my present state try and keep me from moving forward trying to make it seem that I’m unworthy of staying in Gods grace. Its a constant battle for me. When my whole being grasps God’s love for me this is when for me things begin to change my world begins to brighten up and my prayers seem to change. I realize that God loves me for who I am and not the conditions this life has dealt me. In those time where I have messed up some times really badly and sinned its His love that brings me back and brings me to a state of true repentance. I have a picture on my wall illustrating Romans 8:31-39 to remind me.

“31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[Levi714]

mom3 wrote:

TScoutmaster – Many read the “Vision” as a “Visitation” – and once that is stuck inside us, it is hard to separate.

I agree once you have a paradigm of how things are and then you find out something that doesn’t fit into that box of how you imagined things to be it can be a hard thing to deal with and get past and is usually very uncomfortable for people.

[Levi714]

mom3 wrote:

Quote:

my mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded, and I was enwrapped in a heavenly vision and saw two glorious personages, who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness, surrounded with a brilliant light which eclipsed the sun at noonday.

Oh how I love this. :clap: I can believe and honor a persons vision. Visions are fantastic for inspiring, empowering, enlightening, and directing – and in this case freeing.

Dark Jedi – You made my day. This needs to be in the quotes section.

Whats also really cool about this is its totally biblical. The new testament has verses where this checks out. For example

“… and saw two glorious personages who exactly resembled each other in features and likeness”

Hebrews 1:2-3 “2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by who also he made the worlds; 3.Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

[Levi714]

He was caught up in the Spirit but was not unconscious.

“At this sacred moment, the natural world around him was excluded from his view, so that he could be open to the presentation of heavenly and spiritual things.” Orson Hyde(1842)

“My mind was taken away from the objects with which I was surrounded,” Wentworth Letter

[Levi714]

I believe there is only one Way to God. Their are many ways to destruction but only one Way to God.

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

– St John 14 1-7 King James Version

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