Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15
"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."

When we forget the Lord he doesn't really leave us. He's waiting for us to repent and come to Him. He knows us very well. In our afflictions we will seek Him early. I remember when I used to do that. I would get really serious about repenting, and doing what I should be doing, when I needed Him. One day I remember being just sick of that cycle. I decided to seek the Lord even though I wasn't in a crises. It was the best decision I every made. Oh, the first thing I do in a trial or crises is reach out to the Lord, but that's more of our relationship now and not the "come to Jesus" moment. The solutions and answers are much clearer and peaceful, and not the anguish it used to be.

Day 4032

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 4:8, 10, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 4:8, 10, 30
"And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites, when they saw the appearance of the army of Giddianhi, had all fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
But in this thing they were disappointed, for the Nephites did not fear them; but they did fear their God and did supplicate him for protection; therefore, when the armies of Giddianhi did rush upon them they were prepared to meet them; yea, in the strength of the Lord they did receive them.
And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice, saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for protection."

When hard times come do I fall to my knees and ask God to spare me, and deliver me out of affliction? The ability to do this was the true source of the Nephites protection. It wasn't the physical walls around them, it was God holding up those walls from being torn down. They were prepared to survive seven years in their strongholds and left nothing for their enemies to exist on. It wasn't them protecting themselves. It was them listening to the Lord's inspiration on what to prepare and gather. In the strength of the Lord they were ready for what may come.

Day 3527

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 6:2, 24

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 6:2, 24

"Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred."

What stood out to me in Job's words is that even though his friends are causing him more grief he is willing to know where he has erred. In all their words they have only spouted off how he must have deserved his bad fate for it to come upon him. They never said Job you actually did this and that is why your loved ones and property are gone.

Even if he had somehow deserved it now was not the time to speak of such things. Job is right when he said: "To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty." (vrs 14)

Day 2601

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 24:8

 Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 24:8

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."

It is through afflictions that I have learned patience. I cannot say I am perfect in patience, but I have grown measurably in it. As I have learned to turn to the Lord in order to endure affliction, the greater the ability I have been given to wait patiently. I think there is a spiritual refinement that comes from patience. So it is a most desirable Christlike attribute to obtain. It is a very good thing to learn and grow stronger in patience. It really becomes quite a blessing to posses it, especially in very trying circumstances. I have been rather fascinated during this pandemic to see various reactions people are having with patience. Just like the parable of the ten virgins, either you have patience in your lamp or your don't. No one can share it with you if your lamp is empty. One must build their store of it in order to endure.

Day 2027

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 2:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 2:13
"But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin."

Alma once said "Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."(Alma 41:10) Yet, you can look at some mildly wicked and very wicked people and they look happy. They will even tell you they are happy. So if wickedness was never happiness how can this be? The answer is for a season they may know their form of happiness, but it will not always be so. There is no peace, so when challenges come into their lives they do not have it. There can be happiness and joy in the midst of affliction when one knows the goodness of God.

Day 1970

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 36:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 36:3

"And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

Yesterday, I was reading about the Alma's sorrow for the wickedness of the people with their wars and bloodshed, and realized for the first time the reason why he is now speaking to his sons. It's not because he's on this death bed. It's because with the wickedness, trials and afflictions going on around them he is drawn to his family and desires to strengthen them. This would not be just a trying time for him but also for his loved ones. 

"Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record."

(Alma 35:16)

He is an example of what is needed at this time. Families need to gather together and strengthen each other. It also shows the importance of private personal interviews with our children to understand where their hearts are at and help them grow. 

Day 1894

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 17:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 17:11
"And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, they brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, the ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls."

Learning patience is such a beautiful thing and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to come on the other side of it. For in patience you come very close to the Lord because that is the only way you can endure the trial or affliction. Patience allows the spirit to direct our lives. As I was reading this I thought of people that say "There cannot be a God for why would he allow people to suffer?" These are not punishments they are opportunities to come to Christ and be one. These are chances for hearts to grow tender and see the hand of God in their lives, even when prayers are not answered the way we wanted. When I think of the sons of Mosiah and all that was accomplished by their service and mission to the Lamanites, the door would not have opened if they were not patient with long-suffering until the timing of the Lord was there. Their ability to serve even during trial set the example and filled others with the desire to be taught.

Day 1875

Today's Favorite Verse: Jacob 3:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Jacob 3:1
"But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction."

I love the reminder that God will "console you in your afflictions".  I am reminded of the past few weeks and how important prayer and faith have added to the comfort and peace that have attended me. All that I have seen and experienced now and through the years have just strengthen me. Afflictions have their purpose, for as we turn to the Lord we come to know Him.

Day 1821

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 20:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 20:10
"For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

I reflected on all the blessings that have come to me through affliction. Even my sins have had a purpose in my life. It is in moments of stress that we face our true character. I still have a hard time dealing with physical pain. My tolerance has gotten better, and I have way more patience than I used to, but when I hit that wall I still lash out at others. I always feel really bad afterwards. One thing I have observed is the awareness of what I am doing and the desire to reign it in. It does help me to overcome the issue quickly. So there is improvement and I would say some refinement. I think it is the realization that the Lord is watching my behavior that causes the greatest desire to do better. It's knowing I have to chose Him over the natural man within me. As I think upon these things my heart is softened as I know the Lord is with me and I am not alone. Though I am not perfect I know the refining process isn't overnight. It takes time to smooth out the rough edges and become all that I can be. The Lord knows my rough spot better than I do and will make sure I'm given the heat needed to burn them out.

Day 1783

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 1:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 1:1
"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceeding in my days."

I have two parts highlighted in this verse.

Highly favored = Graced by the Lord. Enabling power or strength of the Lord. Almost like affliction is required to see the grace of the Lord. It was through the afflictions that Nephi went through that he could see the hand of the Lord in his life.

Mysteries of God = Revelation. I substitute revelation for mysteries. For the mysteries of God are understood through revelation. Either the doctrine is revealed to the prophets or the spirit reveals the doctrine in a way we can understand it.

Day 1764

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

This made me reflect on my infirmities and what I have learned from them. It's interesting how I have learned different Christlike attributes through them. My recent one I am learning is patience. I think in the past year I've gone through the hardest part of learning patience. That is actually having it. Now I am learning the beauty and blessings that come from patience. I would have had a hard time saying I gloried in my infirmities when I first read this verse. After serious reflection I see glory is very fitting description. It's not the bragging about the affliction, it's the change that happens because of them, a weakness that is making another part of me strong. 

Day 1663

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10
"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

The refining process to become gold can be harsh and difficult. But, if I never went through that process I wouldn't become all that the Master knows I could be. I would never know the hand that made me, for gold is never refined alone.

"The refiner's fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purity us and prepare us to meet God."
(Elder Quentin L. Cook)



Day 1034

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 29:31-32

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 29:31-32

"And when the Lord saw the Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called him Reuben: for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me."

I used to just look at this as the great love story between Jacob and Rachel. Now I just wept for Leah. I could feel her pain. Jacob didn't want her and because she was the oldest daughter her father put her in Rachel's place. This was not the fault of Leah that Jacob felt deceived. Then after a week of marriage her sister marries Jacob and I am sure she felt so forgotten. She then has four of her sons, that last being Judah in this chapter. Each time she knows she is hated and not loved. That is so sad. I have such compassionate and tender feelings for her. I am grateful that it was from her son Judah's line that the Savior came through. For she was a mother that knew what it was like to be despised and afflicted, and faithful through it all. It is in the end that Jacob is buried by her side. So that is a true love story.

Day 604

Posted: 21 Nov 2016

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 133:53, 62

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 133:53, 62

"In all their afflictions he was afflicted. And the angel of his presence saved them; and in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and bore them, and carried them all the days of old;

And unto him that repenteth and sanctifieth himself before the Lord shall be given eternal life.

Amazing chapter giving more concerning the Savior's Second Coming. As I read I could see these events in my mind. In this verse I could see the Savior in Gethsemane and how he experienced my every affliction. He took not only my sin, but all my grief and pain upon him there. I marveled that He even knows what it felt like to have my tooth pulled today. He truly does know me. How much greater I need to know him. I could see the angel that came and comforted Him in Gethsemane as he suffered for my pain. How many times have angels comforted me I wonder? I am sure far more times that I am even aware. How many times has he carried me? Every day of my life that I have let him. I pray I will let him carry me the rest of my days on this earth. For in his arms is where I want to stay. 

Day 552