Because of thy Son

So I am reading Alma 33 in The Book of Mormon today because in church this week we will be going over Alma 32-35. I am trying to be on top of the reading so I can get more out of the lesson.  So anyway in verse 4 the prophet Alma starts to quote the prophet Zenos.  I liked verse 4 which says:

"4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me."


I couldn't help but wonder what kind of situations Zenos has been in!  First he's in the wilderness, then he's being delivered from his enemies.  Just saying-- this man does not have a boring life.  Normally I just breeze through Zenos, I'm like Zenos, got it, prayer, lesson learned, moving on.  But as I took the time to look at each situation Zenos prayed, (see vs. 3-11) I felt like I had a window into the life of Zenos and also how gratefull he really is that the Lord has answered his prayers.


I also liked verse 11


"11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son."


I like how in this verse we can recognize that our Father in Heaven doesn't listen to the prayers of only "perfect people," but that He cherishes the prayers of the weak, and he cherishes our sincerity.  None of this would be possible without the Son.  What an amazing gift that His Son died for us so that through Him we can return to live the Father.


So those are some of the things that stood out to me in my scripture study today :)


~Michelle