Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 6:8, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 6:8, 12

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."

I pondered on how verse 12 doesn't change verse 8. No matter how how full of violence, lies and deceit someone is we are still required to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. We never know when someone will change. We never know when we are called to forgive and let them start a new. Even if they never change we can't let them change us for the worse.

Day 3058

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 109:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 109:4-5

"For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. "

The JST has: "And, nothwithstanding my love, they are my adversaries, yet I will continue in prayer for them."

I have been and am now going through this. It is better to pray for those that you have loved, and have turned against you, then to wish them ill. Otherwise, it poisons your soul and will take away your peace. It is far better to forgiven and leave them in the hands of the Lord. Then wisdom is given you to protect yourself and retain His peace.

I saw today that the Oct 2022 General Conference talks are on the website and in the Gospel Library app. Sister Kristin M. Yee's talk "Beauty for Ashes: The Healing Path of Forgiveness", is one of those I have marked to read and did just now. She quoted President Nelson in her talk. For me, the ability to forgive goes hand in hand with being able to pray for those that abuse you.

"President Russell M. Nelson has taught that the Savior offers us the ability to forgive:

“Through His infinite Atonement, you can forgive those who have hurt you and who may never accept responsibility for their cruelty to you.

“It is usually easy to forgive one who sincerely and humbly seeks your forgiveness. But the Savior will grant you the ability to forgive anyone who has mistreated you in any way. Then their hurtful acts can no longer canker your soul.”

(Russell M. Nelson, “Four Gifts That Jesus Christ Offers to You” (First Presidency’s Christmas devotional, Dec. 7, 2018)

Day 2746

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 85:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 85:2

"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah."

This verse made me think of what I pondered on during sacrament today. It was on our Lord's great atoning sacrifice for the remissions of our sins. How his atonement covered all sins. It was up to us if we accepted this offering and applied it in our lives. I pondered on how important forgiveness was, just as much for the forgiver as for the forgiven. How Christ's ability to forgive, even if there was shown ingratitude or unacceptance of his offering, was necessary to have a pure soul. How it is required of me to forgive, even when others show ingratitude for what I have done for them. Forgiveness doesn't mean the other earned anything unfairly, for it has no effect on them unless they apply it in their life. Being able to forgive means everything for me, to not poison my soul.

Day 2722

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 32:1, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 32:1, 5

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah."

I pondered on the only way to cover a sin, is to uncover it. Sin is never hid from the Lord, so he knows what sins we are trying to hide. When we no longer hide them, but confess them to the Lord, he in turns will cover them and remember them no more.

"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

(Isaiah 43:25)

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

(Jeremiah 31:34)

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

(Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)

Day 2669

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 25:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 25:4

"How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?"

How can one become clean? The footnote refers to these verses.

"And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves together, and organize yourselves, and prepare yourselves, and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean;

That I may testify unto your Father, and your God, and my God, that you are clean from the blood of this wicked generation; that I may fulfil this promise, this great and last promise, which I have made unto you, when I will."

(Doctrine and Covenants 88:74-75)

"When Joseph went to Carthage to deliver himself up to the pretended requirements of the law, two or three days previous to his assassination, he said: “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer’s morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me—he was murdered in cold blood.”—The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether, in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it:

And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity. And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness, thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father. And now I … bid farewell unto the Gentiles; yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force."

(Doctrine and Covenants 135:4-5)

I think one knows if they are clean or not. When you get real with yourself and are trying the best that you can you know if you are forgiven of your sins. Sometimes that answer may come only by fasting and prayer and a real intent to know. Then when you are right with God you remain humble and repent of your sins every day. A conscience void of offense towards God has a peace that cannot be understood any other way.

Day 2620

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 33:12-13

"And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,

And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God."

Manasseh was not a righteous king, he turned the people to idolatry, occult worship, and defiles the temple. He would not hearken to the words of the Lord. They lost God's protection. Assyria captured him with hooks, and fetters and carried him to Babylon. It is then in his affliction that he humbles himself and turns to God. The Lord accepts this and returns him to Jerusalem. Manasseh then turns his life around and sets to right the wrongs he had committed. I love a story of redemption. No matter how scarlet our sins we can be forgiven, if we just turn back to God and repent. It is through our trials that we come to know the Lord.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

(Isaiah 1:18)

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

(Jeremiah 31:34)

Day 2559

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 60:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 60:7

"And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you."

I sat here this morning reading all the sweet and powerful messages of gratitude and thanks that are filling my Facebook feed. This is in response to President Nelson's message to the world yesterday. That we take this week to #GiveThanks on social media. What a spirit has filled my soul from all this. As I ponder on this verse I have to say I am seeing this place lifted up with those declaring the words the prophet spoke inspired by God. Wrath and doubting have been turned away by these sweet expressions of gratitude. It does make one feel more holy. I #GiveThanks for a prophet of God that received revelation for our day.

"A few weeks ago, I woke in the middle of the night with the thought that I should offer a prayer of gratitude to God for all of His children around the globe. Thoughts flooded my mind of all of the things for which we should be grateful and how expressing that gratitude could become a healing spirit in our lives. As the inspiration came, specific details, including when and how I should share this message, came to my mind and heart. The video message shared today was not one that came by chance; it is one that came from heaven."

(President Russell M. Nelson, "The Story behind My Global Prayer of Gratitude" Nov 20, 2020, ChurchofJesusChrist.org blog)

Day 2063

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 9:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 9:5-6
"For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."

I guess I never pieced these two things together. The reason Jesus went about performing miracles and healing people was not just to show compassion and mercy on them. It was to demonstrate that he had the power to forgive their sins. He was showing them he had an even greater ability to heal them. Not just physically and mentally, but spiritually too.


Day 1513

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 95:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 95:7
"For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice."

I pondered on how it is always how my relationship is with the Lord today. I cannot "store up" righteousness for a pass on a later date. I can repent of past sins and become clean today, and he will remember them no more. The Lord loves me for who I am today, not yesterday, or tomorrow. He wants me to be consistent and always love and listen to Him. But his judgment is always here and now. That is a beautiful thing. 

Day 1148

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:5, 15

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:5, 15
"For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

How grateful I am to know that every word of this is true.

Day 1139

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 25:21

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 25:21
"Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good."

Such an interesting "coincident" for me to read this story tonight after just having a very similar experience happen to me minutes before reading this. I had helped someone in need for a very long time, and I thought our relationship one I could ask a favor. Especially now that they were in a good place. Sadly, I saw a side of them I didn't realize existed. I could not believe the words that came from their mouth. I begged their pardon for asking and said it was fine, it was totally their decision.

I would be lying if I said it was not somewhat grieved a little inside. I had the thought "Why is it ok to have me help and support them, but not ok to ask for support in return?"  I asked myself if I would have invested so much time and effort in helping them in their want, if I knew how they would feel in my small need? No, I did what I needed to do because I loved them and they needed me. I would do it all again, and will probably have the same opportunities in the future. My behavior would not change either way.

Seeing that I had other resources I don't know why I felt to ask them. It just felt like the right thing to do. When I needed help I just thought of them. Maybe from this experience they needed to learn something about themselves. More than likely I needed to learn more about me. After-all there are no coincidences.

As I sat reflecting on all this I realized it was a good experience for me to go through. I could see growth in myself in how I react. Years ago I would have fumed and been angry and never wanted to help them ever again. I would have held a grudge for a very long time. I have none of that now inside of me. Yes, I had a moment of pain, honestly I cannot expect anyone to do things for me when they don't want to. I have no idea what may be going on in their life right now. I might think them in a good place, but obviously they are not. I am so grateful to the Lord that I have other resources to turn to.


Day 836

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 28:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 28:10
"This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering."

This made me think of the sacrament. Last week I had a thought came to me "What if there are sins I have committed that I had forgotten about and never repented of? In the act of committing them I might not have cared one way or the other. Now I do care, and I need to repent, but I didn't know what of?" That thought troubled me. I just knew there was a lifetime of sins I had forgotten about. How could I think of them all individually to repent of them? For I knew no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God and I must repent. Then the thought came to me, how I had a simply solution. During the sacrament I could ask to be forgiven and have my sins removed from me, and washed clean from them. Just like when I was baptized. I could start over with a clean slate and be more conscience of what I do from that day forward.

During the sacrament, I sincerely prayed about my desire to be made clean of all my sins. I took the bread and it felt the same as other weeks. Not saying that is bad at all, for there is peace. But, when I took the water, the final step in completing the sacrament, I felt it. I felt it wash over me. It really was like I had just been baptized. Like a fire inside that was just refreshingly cooled off. I now had a clean slate ahead of me. Renewing my covenants is just like being baptized again. It is true!  What joy there is to know I can do this every week. For I know how hopelessly flawed I am, and I cannot make it with just one shot at it. There is hope. I marvel at how this gift has been there all along. I just had to simply ask.


Day 720

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 5:29-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 5:29-31

"This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;

Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.

Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity."

This chapter appears to be speaking of adultery. The wronged party needed to give an offering to the priest for his wife because of his jealousy. I remembered a discussion I had at work many years ago. I worked the graveyard shift at a call center and we would talk about the most random stuff at times. I was on a call so I missed most of the conversation but when I got off the phone I was asked what I would do if my spouse cheated on me. Would I automatically divorce him?

My reply was it depended on his attitude. If he had a repentant heart or not. If he was repenting of the sin and wanted to make things work then I would forgive. So, no I would not divorce for adultery. I then found out I was the only one in the group with that opinion. It had not occurred to any of them to consider the person's attitude and forgiveness. They were all for revenge for being wronged. With this verse I can see the sin of jealousy on the side of the wronged party. It is every bit an iniquity on their end. Jealousy would include an unforgiving heart. It confirmed my opinion on the matter stated so long ago. I would not let another person's sin, cause me to sin too.

Day 697

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 50:19-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 50:19-21

"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."

Jacob dies and Joseph has him embalmed. Then he seeks permission of Pharaoh to leave and bury his father in the land of Canaan. With a great company all the sons of Israel, Pharaoh's servants and the elders of the land of Egypt travel to bury Jacob. Once mourning is done they return back to the land of Egypt. With the realization that their father is now dead, the brothers are afraid that Joseph will hate them, and return all the evil that they had done to him.

I find Joseph's words to his brothers so full of love and forgiveness. I pondered on how with a forgiving heart I can see God's wisdom in all that has transpired in my life. That is such a tender mercy. I pondered on how the casting of blame is running rampant today. Casting the blame for the ills in our life upon someone else, only leads to blindness. Casting blame and trying to return evil simply destroys us. We can no longer see the hand of God in our lives. We would lose any bit of charity within us. We would be moving further away from Christ. There would be no joy.

 

Day 625

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 42:8 24

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 42:8 24

"And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes."

I read these two verses and it makes me weep. How Joseph must have felt to see his brothers. I imagine he had very tender feelings. Even more so that they bowed down to him like he had seen many years ago in his dream. He knows the meaning of the dream, and he was in a position to save their lives. I can see that Joseph had forgiven his brother's for their actions long ago. The feeling of fear that comes over the brothers shows that they had not repented of their sins. It is foremost in their minds the wrong they have done to Joseph as hard things are asked of them. This story emphasis the importance of repentance and forgiveness to me.

Day 617

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 84:40-41

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 84:40-41

"Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.

But whoso breaketh this covenant after he hath received it, and altogether turneth therefrom, shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come."

I had to sit and ponder on how this describes a condition where a person will not receive forgiveness, here or in the eternities. I had always thought the Lord's arms would be stretched out to me? I knew you could not sin against the Holy Ghost and be forgiven, but these verses mean something I hadn't really thought about. 

It was talking about the higher priesthood prior to these verses. I think it is talking about the oath and covenants made in the temple. If you altogether turn from them, probably meaning willful rebellion and mocking of that which is sacred, not just a casual laziness and going inactive in the church. It would have to be a completed breaking and turning your back on the covenants you made. Can one never come back from that? I don't understand all things, but what I think happens is you don't ever feel the desire to come back once you've done that. Satan owns you, the Lord is beyond your grasp. You will never seek a claim on forgiveness because your heart will no longer seek Him. The spirit is gone. Forgiveness can never be granted. That just makes me weep.

Day 503

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 64:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 64:2

"For verily I say unto you, I will that ye should overcome the world; wherefore I will have compassion upon you."

So many favorite verses in this one chapter, it is well marked. But, this verse is a new highlight for me and I spent time pondering on it. I could feel the Lord's compassion on me. I am hopelessly flawed and its hard to measure up at times. Yet, I see in this verse he knows all that. His arms are always stretched out to me. I am forgiven as I run to Him. There is so much He wants to give me. Yet, he is a patient father watching me as I learn. It is only through compassion that he does not turn his anger against me as I am trying to learn. This verse just fills my soul. 

Day 483

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 58:42

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 58:42

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

I love this promise and I know it is true. The only person that still remembers our sins is ourselves. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself, but we must. Otherwise Satan will seek to destroy us when there is no fault found in us from the Lord. God cannot lie, but Satan can.

Day 477