Personal Prayer and How it Soothes the Soul

by Candace Salima | More from this Blogger

20 Mar 2006 06:37 PM

My word, my life has been in utter chaos since November. First we got hit with that ugly, nasty, completely insane California flu (hated that thing!). My husband and I rolled over in bed morning after morning, just blearily smiling at each other before bursting into a fit of coughing. Christmas came and went as one illness after another hit our family and finally on February 1st, my sweetheart was admitted to the hospital. Never could we have imagined the emotional and psychological roller coaster we had just fastened our seatbelts on. I have described this five week hospital stay as days of unrelenting boredom broken only by moments of stark terror. And through this time, despite the fear which threatened to crush me, it was personal prayer that kept me strong. I heard whispers of "She's so strong" from those around me. In my mind I would respond, "If they only knew." Those times when reality dictated my husband wouldn't live another day were the days I spent in constant prayer supplicating my Father in Heaven to preserve my husband's life. Time and again I felt that deep, abiding warmth and peace which pervades the listening soul in answer to prayer. Over and over again it was whispered to me, "It is not yet his time." I clung to those times and now, as I work at my computer with my husband watching "Everybody Love's Raymond" downstairs I whisper in gratitude to my Father in Heaven, "Thank you."

Personal prayer is a precious gift given to each of us. We were never meant to walk this mortal path alone. How often do we use it? How often are we sincere about it? How often is this priceless gift used in your life? For me, I survived the last two months only by the power of personal prayer.

Is anyone willing to share like experiences?

Learn more about Candace Salima

Candace E. Salima was born right smack dab in the middle of twelve children.

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azturboman (21) 31 Mar 2006 03:38 AM

How wonder is the power of prayer!! I recently sat in a sacrament meeting with feelings of such deep despair, worrying about my struggling business, my health and my wife and children. It seemed like it had been years since I had felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost, or had an answer to a prayer. So I sat there as the sacrament was being passed, prayeing, no, pleading with Father to hear me, to help me, to aknowlege me, anything! "PLEASE" I whispered, and suddenly,like someone sitting right beside, only talking into my heart, came the reasurring communication that I had been heard all along. The whispers continued, counseling me, teaching me. "The gospel is so simple, don't make it so difficult", it said. "Listen to the primary children singing the simple songs", and I suddenly realized that the primary was putting on the program that day. There they all were, standing along the railing of the podium, singing loudly and out of tune, looking down at their parents for approval the same way I was looking upward for the same reason. The voice continued as tears welled up in my eyes, running down my face. I wanted so much to share this experience with my 16 year old son sitting beside me, so he could feel his Heavenly Fathers love, so he could be lifted up, freed from this own despair that is so evident in his eyes. Oh, what a beautiful day! Thank you Candace!

Candace Salima (1604) 31 Mar 2006 01:17 PM

Your story has touched me deeply. May I offer one suggestion, write down every given to you that day by the Spirit. As you write down this heavenly comfort, more will pour out and continue to do so as long as you supplicate your Father in Heaven for it. Speaking spirit to spirit, or speaking to the heart as some of the brethren define it, is the clearest way our Father in Heaven communicates with us. Thank you for sharing this incredibly beautiful story.