Will You Let Him In?

Vacation is over and it's back to reality for us. With our transition back to normal life, we were handed some sort of reality check--or maybe a spirituality check would be a more appropriate term.
Holidays and anniversaries always cause me to reflect on my life and where I'm headed on the path I've chosen. Well, this anniversary did just that for me, and I am so embarrassed to admit this, yet I'm absolutely thrilled to share this experience with you. Seriously.
I can honestly say that I don't know that last time Corey and I picked up a copy of The Book of Mormon or even said a prayer together. I know--awful--but that's not even the worst part!
It's so easy to get caught up in work, games, Netflix, school, and social media while it's much more difficult to set aside leisure activities and temporal responsibilities to center our focus on the Lord for an hour a day. After all, what you're doing isn't bad right?
Wrong.
How do we know when something good becomes wrong? When it takes you away from your Father in Heaven.
Corey and I have always made time to lie in bed and be on our phones while we try to fall asleep. While it isn't a bad nightly ritual, it would be much better for us to use that time to study the scriptures and have a heartfelt, meaningful conversation with the man upstairs.

Let me tell you the consequences and affects that come from neglecting to talk with God and invite the Spirit into your home when you choose not to read the words of His chosen prophets for months on end:

1. Contention easily finds its way into your home. Satan loves it when scripture study and prayer aren't a priority for our families. He finds ways to cause more harm to our souls as we bicker with our loved ones which drives the Spirit further away.
2. Your testimony weakens. As wonderful as it is to believe that once you've gained a testimony and you decide not to do what you should that it will only plateau, it's a myth. Testimonies either grow or they wither. There is no in-between.
Lastly,
3. Church begins to feel like a burden. Once you begin to sink to this level of thinking, you should be bonked on the head with an "Ah-ha!" moment, but sadly, it doesn't work this way. Church seems to be an after-thought when you've invited the Lord to exit your home. When He is no longer the center of your world, it will come easier to you to justify not attending all three hours of church by saying: "Well, I'm too tired." or (this is my personal favorite) "We'll go next week."

It is so important to develop habits that will create room in your home for the Lord to stay. We have made a colossal error in not trying to make room in our ever-so small apartment for Him. There is always room. I feel entirely guilty as He has stood knocking on my door while I have ignored His plea for entrance.
I've received quite a few promptings to change, yet I have brushed them off the shoulder. It wasn't until yesterday when we finally decided after months to attend all three hours of church that I realized the subtle ways Satan had been taking me captive.
As I sat in Relief Society trying to find that one tidbit of the teacher's testimony that could release me from this struggle, this question came to mind: What lack I yet?
It wasn't a minute after I had this thought that the sweet sister
teaching the lesson shared this thought:
"No marriage can thrive without the spirit of Christ."
As quiet as it came, I took that thought as my lightning bolt of realization that we needed to make some changes in our home.
Last night, before we went to bed, I opened up the drawer to my nightstand and pulled out the scriptures I had used on my mission. There is a lot of wear and tear as well as markings of verses that have particularly spoken to me. As I held the book in my hands, I felt so much peace. You can only imagine what I felt when I cracked it open to begin reading with my husband.
When we knelt at our bedside to pray, I felt so much love for my Savior and for His atonement. We all fall short, and we all make mistakes. I have felt that the last few months of our marriage could have been so much better had we made a more conscious effort to let Him in. I know that when we do, He will work wonders for us as we strive to live the life our Heavenly Father would have us live.
I wouldn't say that it was necessarily worth it to let my testimony wither a little bit just to have this experience, but because I cannot get the past back, I am grateful that I followed the promptings when I did; otherwise--with time--I probably would have started to question.
I know that when we actively seek the Lord in all aspects of our lives, our faith will always conquer our doubts. I am eternally grateful for help coming to the rescue when it did. I couldn't imagine myself doubting the wonders of the restored gospel, but I know it happens to many people on a daily basis.

I am not willing to allow the adversary to take advantage of my happiness.
Are you?