Day 201 Faith: Afflictions Swallowed in Joy of Christ

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I'm cheering for your every success and this because he prayed in faith. Welcome to day 201 on our 365 day journey through the Book of Mormon together.

Today, you're going to be reading Alma chapter 31, verses 31 to 38. You will finish that chapter. As Alma and his brothers prepare to go forward and serve the people, here Alma gives a very sincere and heartfelt prayer.

He prays for miracles. And you can read that inside of the verses on the tail end of chapter 31. Our verse for today comes right at the end of chapter 31, in verse 38.

And this is the result of Alma's prayer. This is what I want to share with you today. And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst.

Yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma, and this because he prayed in faith. This is phenomenal and it's a challenge to me and a challenge to you.

Do we truly believe that with God all things are possible? It really got me not questioning my faith, but more introspectively looking at my faith and how I go about my prayers to our Heavenly Father. Look at the things that are possible here for Alma and his brothers as they go forward to serve.

They don't get hungry, they don't get thirsty, right? He takes care of their physical needs. He gives them strength to go forward, and then they suffered no manner of afflictions save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ.

My friends, the Atonement of Jesus Christ swallows all suffering and affliction. Do we invite it? Do we allow it to do so for us in our lives?

I think of times in my life when I have seen, whether it's children or people that have decided at an adult age to join the Church on their baptism day, have you seen the joy in their faces as the Atonement of Christ takes full hold in their lives? Have you seen those afflictions and sufferings swallowed up? I have seen it.

I testify it's real. And I am so grateful for the lesson that Alma gives us here, that it happened because of the prayer of Alma and because he prayed in faith. This is going to increase my personal prayers.

I hope it does the same for you as you continue to go forward trying to be a little more savory every day. That's all for today, my friends. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.

Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow, and I hope you are too.