Alma 2:30-31

30 And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people.

31 Now when Alma had said these words he contended again with Amlici; and he was strengthened, insomuch that he slew Amlici with the sword.

I could ponder 30-31 all day! I

I love that saying what we're praying for is important, and for some reason (I'm not totally sure why yet) we are asked to articulate and formulate our desires and ask. It's not just all implied.

I wonder why?

Why does the power seem to be in the asking?

And why does God ask us to ask all throughout the scriptures?

You (I) would think Alma, in the heat of fighting with Amlici, that he would hope that God would just see what was happening and of course bless the righteous one. But it was after the asking that Alma was strengthened.

What am I not asking for? What am I just assuming is implied?

What is the power of asking?

I think it may have something to do with recognizing blessings and God's love for us especially if we take the time and focus on a specific thing we need. Then we will be watching for God's hand in our life and will recognize it when we see it, which will strengthen our faith in God.

I love that Alma 'exercised much faith' just then and prayed as a result. The prayer and courage was the action. Right?

Faith (verb) plus action equals more faith (noun.)

What is faith the noun? Is it even as 'thing' or condition? Or is it only an action?? Maybe it's not something we acquire, but only something we do??

Then wouldn't the same be for charity? Wisdom? Courage?

All this time I thought they were all nouns that were received as a result of the exercise of them as a verb. Maybe I had that wrong?

Maybe they are not conditions (or states) or possessions at all, maybe they don't exist at all without the exercise of them. Maybe they are only, and always, actions?

Much to ponder!!!

Can we accumulate faith? To have in abundance for if/when we don't exercise it? I think so? Or are those only blessed memories to help us act?

Can one acquire these conditions (faith, charity, courage, humility, etc..) and store them? Or are they fleeing feelings/states that must be constantly in action?

I'm not sure- yet. Much to think about.

When in face-to-face fighting, HOW did Alma have time to offer (UTTER) such an inspired prayer? How is it possible that someone can be filled with the spirit of God while he is fighting to the death??

I guess I can see that.

But his prayer!

So genuine, heartfelt, inspired!

1. He asked for mercy (I'm thinking he must have thought his life was in imminent danger) 2. He asked that he live, not that Amlici would die, not help me kill him, but let me live... so that 3. God may do His work through Alma, that 4. the people would be blessed.

I really believe Alma was concerned more for the people, at that imminent point of death, than his own life. So when he prayed, he essentially prayed for them. All of that, love, was somehow going through his mind as he fought to the death.

“It came to pass that Alma- BEING EXERCISED with much faith.”

Wow.