"Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism."
Alma 7:15
I like the idea, first of all, that we should not fear when we approach God, even when we have sinned and need to repent. I think the parable of the prodigal son might help to understand that idea... God isn't necessarily happy that we went astray in the first place, but he is overjoyed when we return, and will do all he can to help us.
The idea that our sins are binding us to destruction is kind of scary, but very true, and something I think we need to realize. When we sin we are tearing ourselves apart (in addition to damage done to other people and relationsips), literally killing ourselves spiritually and tying ourselves to Satan's will, which is not a pretty or comfortable place to be, and whether we realize it or not, it causes us to need God even more desperately, for help to get us out of the hole that we have dug for ourselves.
Today, let's repent and stop tying ourselves to the anvil of evil that drags us down. Let's start the change by praying for help and covenanting with God that we will do better and keep his commandments. If we're not baptized, then let's formalize that committment by doing so... and if we are, let's repent and pray, and take the sacrament to renew those covenants. Whether baptized or not, we can turn over a new leaf and do better, with God's help. And the more we practice doing good, the easier it will become, and the more the spiritual harm that we have done to ourselves will heal.
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