1 Nephi 3:7: What Is God Asking Me to Do?

"I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..."

Nephi knew what the Lord had commanded because God revealed it through Lehi. But how do we know what God is asking of us in situations that are not specifically addressed in scripture? How do we recognize His direction in our own lives?

Some commandments apply to everyone: love, forgive, repent, pray, serve, seek truth, and follow Jesus Christ. Yet many decisions require personal revelation. Should I stay or go? Begin something new? Reach out to someone? Let something go? Those questions invite us to seek guidance from the Lord.

Personal revelation often comes quietly. Rather than a dramatic sign, it may be a recurring thought, a persistent feeling, or a gentle impression that continues to return as we pray and ponder. Not every thought is revelation, but impressions that remain and grow stronger as we seek the Lord are worth careful attention.

A reliable safeguard is that personal revelation will always align with God's character, the teachings of Jesus Christ, scripture, and revealed truth. It will never contradict what God has already revealed. Personal revelation does not replace truth. It helps us apply truth to our individual circumstances.

The Lord may also use circumstances as part of His answer. An opportunity may appear, resources may become available, or timing may unexpectedly come together. At other times, plans may fall apart or doors may close. While these experiences can be meaningful, they are best understood alongside prayer, spiritual impressions, wisdom, and revealed truth.

Personal revelation is often gradual. As we pray, study scripture, seek wise counsel, and move forward in faith, understanding increases. Sometimes we recognize God's guidance most clearly in hindsight and realize why a particular prompting kept returning to our minds.

The Lesson of 1 Nephi 3:7

Nephi said, "I will go and do." He did not know exactly how everything would unfold, but he knew enough to take the next step.

One of the great lessons of personal revelation is that God does not always give us the whole map. He often gives us enough light for the next step. As we act in faith, additional direction frequently follows.

Who Is God Helping Me Become?

Personal revelation often concerns not only what we should do but who we are becoming. A prompting to serve may develop charity. A call to forgive may deepen Christlike love. Difficult experiences may build faith, patience, humility, or courage.

God may be as concerned with our transformation as He is with our accomplishments. Because of that, an important question is not only, "What does God want me to do?" but also, "Who is He helping me become?"

A Simple Test

When I wonder whether something may be from God, I ask whether it draws me closer to Jesus Christ and helps me become more loving, faithful, honest, humble, forgiving, courageous, or willing to serve. If it does, it is worth taking seriously through prayer, study, and thoughtful action.

Hearing His Voice

Jesus taught, "My sheep hear my voice." Learning to recognize that voice is less about receiving dramatic revelation and more about becoming familiar with the One who is speaking. As we study His words, follow His teachings, and invite the Spirit into our lives, His voice becomes easier to recognize.

Nephi trusted not only the instruction he received but also the Lord who gave it.

A Thought to Remember

The question of personal revelation is not only, "How do I know what God wants me to do?" It is also, "How am I becoming the kind of person who can recognize what God is asking me to do?"

As faith, prayer, scripture study, obedience, and experience work together, we learn to hear Him more clearly. We may not know the whole plan, but we can trust Him and take the next step.

Alma 33:8-9 He Hears Me in the Midst!

8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.

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I love this scripture today, especially because of the words “thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries.”

What strikes me is that it doesn’t say, “God made everything easy for me.” It says He heard my cries. There is something very personal about that. It suggests a God who is not distant from our suffering, but who hears us in the middle of it.

And there is another beautiful word here: “merciful.” Mercy is not just about forgiving our mistakes. It can also mean that God meets us with compassion when we are hurting, weak, tired, or simply unable to carry everything ourselves.

Emotional suffering can soften us and make us more compassionate toward other people. Sometimes we don't understand why we have had to walk through certain things, but later we recognize that those experiences changed the way we see people.

It's like a little prayer thanking Heavenly Father for hearing me, even the thoughts and feelings of my heart that I can't express. I have learned that there are cries we speak out loud and others that are deep inside us, where words don't always come easily. Yet the Lord hears them all. He knows the things I carry, the things I miss, the things I worry about, and the things I am still trying to understand.

He is merciful.  He Hears Me! 

I also love that the verse says “in the midst” of the congregation. Not after the struggle. Not once everything is settled. In the midst.

I think Alma is reminding me that I don't have to wait until everything is okay before I turn to God. He hears me in the midst of it. And when I look back, I can see that His mercy has been there more times than I realized while I was going through it.