Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 143:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 143:11
"Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble."

I have seen the word quicken a lot lately. Now I finally tried to understand what it meant. These are the scriptures that stood out to me.

"And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understanding;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 88:11)

It is when my understanding of things is quickened or made alive. It's not enough to be born again, I must have my spirit quickened, or made alive in Christ. There is a promise associated with this.

"And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am - not with the carnal neither the natural mind, but with the spiritual.
For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected."
(Doctrine and Covenants 67:10-13)

Day 1196

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 33:13, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 33:13, 16
"And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren."

Moses blessed the children of Israel. He pronounces blessings on each of the twelve tribes. I pondered on the blessing Joseph received. These verses are only part. What stands out to me "blessed of the Lord be his land", and "him that was separated from his brethren". The fulfillment of this took place when Lehi left Jerusalem with his family, and was joined by Ishmael and his family. Together the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh of Joseph's line, came to their promised land. The land in which I live. Where I find the "precious things of the lasting hills". Moses blessing was the same blessing Jacob gave Joseph too.

"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:"  (Genesis 49:22

How grateful I am for the Book of Mormon and how I can read of the "stick of Joseph". Today as I read the bible the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph are one in my hand.

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand."  (Ezekiel 37:16, 19)

I have come to find as I am reading the Bible that I need to also read from the Book of Mormon daily. I do not know how to describe it, but it's like a light or energy that allows inspiration to come through to lighten the eyes of my understanding.


Day 761

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 100:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 100:5-6

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men;

For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."

I have experienced this many times in my life. I pondered on some of my experiences and realized the frequency is happening more and more. I think consistent scripture reading helps because often the impressions that comes are in the way of scriptures. One thing is for sure I am also taught during those experiences. Truly the words that come, put gospel principles in a light I had never considered before. They do bear testimony of truths. I have even said to people, "Wow, I didn't know that. I learned something new too." I have pondered a lot on a recent experience. I continued to learn more afterwards the more I pondered on it. I have wondered if the other person's question or concern, that were not my own, were also a means for Heavenly Father to teach me more of his mysteries. It's like both parties needed to be edified by the experience. Having learned something myself is a true marker that is was indeed instruction through the Spirit.

Day 519

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 76:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 76:12

"By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God -"

119 verses with powerful instructions on the order of the afterlife. I cried through all of it. Once again how do I pick one verse to ponder on? This was not revelation it was a vision given to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. I could feel how powerful of an experience it would have been for them to receive this. The mysteries of God opened up are so very precious. 

What I reflected on in this verse is the role of the Spirit in enlightening my understanding. I cannot know the things of God unless the Spirit is present. I can read tons of books on the gospel. Books about the scriptures and even the scriptures themselves and learn absolutely nothing, if the Spirit is not there. It is only through the Spirit that things that were once hidden to me come to light. It is only through the Spirit that things open up to my understanding. It is overwhelming to me that the Spirit I feel is the same Spirit that opened up this vision to Joseph and Sidney. Father in Heaven gave me the same gift of the Holy Ghost and there is nothing lacking, if I am found worthy of its full potential. 

Day 495