Let Your Hearts be Full

Alma 34:27 Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

In Chapter 32 and 33 Alma tells the Zoromite poor that they don't need a physical church to worship God. It doesn't matter that they were kicked out. In fact, this is perfect since they need to learn to be humble. An offence has occurred. They helped build the place of worship but now they can't enter. They are in a perfect place for God to bless their life! In fact, the worst think you could do is, "...revile against those who do cast you out because of your exceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them." The blessings from God come through "...patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions". (v.40)

We can worship our God continually, everyday by letting our hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually. This is what we would call having a prayer in your heart. It might be what the words in our sacrament prayer mean, "that we always remember him". We do this at all times - during the good and bad times. We shouldn't start remembering the Lord only when we are forced to be humble - because it feels hypocritical to feel after the Lord only in rough times.

So one of the messages that I get from these verses is that the tough times are good. If we have been exercising faith, then these times are when the miracles occur, when we can expect God to bless our lives. Can I stay humble, trusting in God when an injustice has occurred? Will I complain and murmur and believe that God has forsaken me? Can I continue to believe and be believing. This is the message of the gospel. We can have peace in our hearts in the hard times. Don't despair. Stay planted in the gospel sod!