My heart is full. This morning was an amazing trip to the temple. An anticipated trip that has been hoped for and worked for. Choice choice people. As we sat in the baptistery I just wept and remembered the words from Alma:
And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.Seeing them [anyone committed to living the gospel/turning their life over to God/trusting Him], then is MY soul filled with joy! Then do I REMEMBER WHAT the Lord has done for ME! Even that He hath heard MY prayer, and it is THEN (because seeing "them") do I remember His merciful arm which He extended/s towards ME. Choice morning this morning. Thank you Micarie!
Monday was sweet as I met the Ortiz's at the temple. Sister Ortiz could not remember the last time she and her husband were able to be in the temple together for a session. The spirit was sweet. My mom's eye was healed quite miraculously and she was able to come be with us as well. It was choice to be around people that I love. This life is about experiences says my wise sister-in-law Jinger. God will not force us to have "choice" moments. But my experience has been that He provides a WHOLE LOT, IF we choose to partake of such moments.
As I came into the locker room I felt impressed that I needed to make a covenant with the Lord. Interestingly, we are taught that a covenant is a two way promise. Something you promise to do and something someone else promises to do. I felt impressed to covenant something to the Lord--but I have no idea what His covenant was back--but it didn't matter. A covenant for me goes so much deeper than word. I may say I will do something, keep a commitment, and no excuses, but things may come up. I am going to study morning and night, get up by 5, sleep by 10, and although I say it, and intend to keep my designed schedule, stuff happens. (And I am SINGLE! I hear when you are a mom just chuckle at getting to "have" a schedule for "you".) With a covenant, at least for me, there is a greater mental effort to keep such a promise. So when the impression came to make the covenant, I knew that I was going into COMPLETE commitment. I knelt in my locker room, and covenanted to the Lord. I knew completely what I was fully promising to do. IMMEDIATE PEACE! The turmoil, the wishwashyness that I am too often good at doing with commitments/vanished. This amazing freedom washed over me. I covenanted. The Lord knew it, and I knew it, and I KNEW/KNOW I will not break such an oath. Pure freedom. Light! Like the kite that has the string attached that now can soar greater heights.
Yes, one may say, Bryndi, you made covenants when you were baptized. You have been through the temple you make covenants there. Every Sunday I renew covenants in the sacrament. Why was this random covenant different?! Well perhaps it shouldn't have been, but like someone captive in the chains of a sin, I felt to sing ever lasting praises to God. Freedom, I felt freedom. Perhaps, those other commitments are not necessarily things I fight and struggle with--so to recognize the significance of their sweetness, because I feel no bitter trying to keep them, makes them still sweet but... Oh the sweetness making a covenant over something that my natural man had before brought so much bitterness. My lack of keeping a commitment was great bitter. But with a covenant, I will not break it--so therefore the sweetness of knowing/having to be committed because of a covenant has filled my bitter with peace. With joy! I feel liberated!
Now, just because I am completely committed in what I covenanted to do, does this mean I get to escape Satan's temptations and all the wailing from the devil? Absolutely not, but like Sheri Dew once said that there is power in making covenants with the Lord. Spiritual Power. This week, I have tasted such power.
Well, my heart is full. I know in whom I trust. I have a somewhat new, profound, realization with what making convents with the Lord can do. THEY CAN MAKE ONE FREE! One doesn't need to guess with how they will react with the temptation comes, for the covenant makes them "sure and steadfast". Can, make them immovable. Thus--Freedom. Liberation. No longer held captive by the "chance" of being wishywashy/non-committed. Freedom!
Now of course to work on my daily one of taking His name upon me, keeping His commandments and "always" remembering Him....
ALWAYS a work in progress. :)
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