Read With Me Challenge

So I have a good friend named Megan, and her sister-in-law put together a Read With Me Challenge and it's been REALLY good for me :) I have loved every minute of it! She's had us read the Book of Mormon every day since November 8, (till December 31) and we read 10 pages a day. It isn't too bad and it's just perfect for me. Some days I get a little lazy and forget to read or I just flat out forget, but I ALWAYS catch up. There have been a few times where Satan has tempted me to just stop and not continue this challenge because I'm already behind 20 pages, or to not read today because I'm tired and I "need sleep" or whatever excuse he tries to get me to believe. But in the end he never wins. He will never win. (That's the name of another blog post on my blog!)

We're in Mosiah right now and I'm loving it! I'm catching up on my reading tonight since I missed yesterday because of Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping, but I came across a verse in chapter 7 and it's verse 33.

It reads, "But if ye will turn to the Lord with a full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."

Did you just think, woah like I did? Yeah. I'm thinking the same thing. I've got to get this printed off and put a copy of it on my wall. I know I can do anything with the Lord. Wow, what a powerful scripture to just POP out at me! I need to start doing that. Take my frustrations, worries, heartaches, anger, doubts, fears, questions, and everything else to my Heavenly Father, my sweet Heavenly Father. Whose heart is always tender, loving, forgiving, merciful, righteously judgmental, kind, happy, proud of me. He will help me. Goodness, there isn't a day that goes by that I always remember, "this is HIS will, NOT mine" or "I need to do what Heavenly Father wants and needs me to do, not what I think I should, I need to counsel with him, if this is a direction in my life I should take."

It's amazing what the scriptures can do by just simply reading so much a day. I remember when she first started this challenge she stated, "Let's welcome power and amazing blessings into our lives together. I guarantee it'll change you." And at first I was just thinking, okay, I can take on this challenge, I really want to hold her to it and see if I can witness the blessings and miracles.

Well, I have; she kept her word. I haven't witnessed physical miracles, or seen any angels. But I have felt them. And that's miracle enough for me! I can't tell you how much comfort I've felt when I come across verses like the one I did today. It's seriously like contentment just FILLS my heart and I feel relaxed and it's nice to know that, through the arguments, and wars, and fighting in the scripture, my Heavenly Father is looking out for me enough to throw in a few scriptures or two with reminders like the one I read today. It's so nice, and that's the miracles I've witnessed. That's the change I've felt in my heart. I'm so glad I took on this challenge and I am proud of myself for sticking to it even when Satan tried really hard.

These last couple days have been hard, and I know they'll only get harder because Brady is leaving and I'm just struggling with my friends, and I have to go back and focus on my finals. Sheesh! I hope they go by fast so I can come home again for winter break! I just know these scriptures will help me. I'm ready to put my all in turning to them and depending on them and the council they give me for these next couple weeks. With the Lord by my side, I know I can do anything. <3

I hope something wonderful like this happens again next year! If not, maybe I'll do it again by myself :) In the sacred name of our Beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

(Oh! P.S. Guess what is up starting today?!?!?! LIGHTS DOWNTOWN!!!!! YAHOOO :) And guess who will try to be there every night (I wish..), ME!!! Hahahaha :) I love Temple Square!)