Lift Up Your Hearts & Rejoice

So I've had some really good scripture passages stick out to me yesterday at church and today in Institute. The first scripture passage is 2 Nephi 4:16. It reads, "Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."

I thought to myself, wow. That's what I need to start doing. That's an answer to a prayer. I need to lift up my heart, and remember the things that I've seen and heard, that witness to me the Lord loves me. That witness his care for me, and that He's watching over me. And that the things spoken from the Prophet & Apostles, and taught by my church leaders are true. That this is the only true and living church upon this earth. I need to delight in the Lord and love him, and show him that I'm forever on his side.

But today in Institute we were talking about the sections in 2 Nephi that are tied with Isaiah. Now, everyone knows how difficult it is to read through Isaiah. I, have never read Isaiah, but I'm reading the Old Testament this year and I cannot wait to get to it!! So we were told to pick a chapter in Isaiah 12 through 24 and find a scripture passage that sticks out to us, and how we can apply it to our lives. Well, I thought I'd keep my choice at Isaiah 12. The second verse really caught my eye (and it also caught my attention because it was highlighted). I read the whole chapter which was about 7 or 8 verses long. It was SO good! I love reading verses like the ones I read in Isaiah 12. It tied in with chapter 22 in 2 Nephi. The verse that stood out was, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." Don't you just love that verse? It matches with the hymn The Lord Is My Light (Hymn 87 I believe). A friend of mine who is out on his mission in Chile right now, told me to read that scripture right before he left, and it's always been a favorite of mine.

I know the Spirit has been talking to me this week because once yesterday and today the Spirit reminded me to "look to God and live. (Alma 37:27)" The Spirit taught to me that I need to lift my heart, and rejoice. I need to be happy and know that God lives and loves me. That He hears and answers my prayers and the guidance He sends me, is for my own good, and my benefit for the Gospel. I now have another witness as to how important it is to pray for the Spirit in my everyday life. How important it is to listen to the whisperings and the promptings of the Holy Spirit and act instead of being acted upon. I know the Lord lives and loves me unconditionally. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.