Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 66:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 66:18
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"

We cannot hide the intent of our heart. The outward appearance and our words can be deceptive but the Lord truly knows who we are. If iniquity has residence in our heart the spirit cannot reside there too.

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
(1 Samuel 16:7)

"Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart."
(Doctrine and Covenants 6:16)

"And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning."
(Alma 18:32)

Day 3924

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 15:2
"And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you."

This made me ponder on those that do not believe in God. I wondered if they had really sought the Lord? To seek Him is to find him. It has to be like Moroni's promise, if you seek with a sincere heart, with real intent.

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."
(Moroni 10:4-5)

The other part is forsaking God. Once finding Him if you forsake him, He will leave you to your choice to be without him.

Day 3871

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 15:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 15:3
"And I will tell you that which no man knoweth save me and thee alone—"

God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We cannot hide anything from Him. He knows our sins and earnest desires. He is a perfect confidant and friend.

"Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart."
(Doctrine and Covenants 6:16)

“For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”  (Mosiah 5:13)
Now, you will still be startled, as President Benson said you would be, to realize how familiar the face of our Heavenly Father is. But when you see him, you will know his voice, because you will have prayed, listened, obeyed, and come to share the thoughts and intents of his heart. You will have drawn nearer to him."
(Henry B. Eyring, "To Draw Closer to God", Apr 1991 General Conference)

Day 3604

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:3

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did."

When I read this chapter being told Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord didn't make sense, since he seemed to go off course. He didn't take away the high places, which means the people were still worshipping idols or false gods. He makes war with others and doesn't listen to Joash's warning. Then I realized it because you can appear to do what is right on the outside but your heart and intent can make it bad. You can be two-faced.

Day 2486

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 23:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 23:15-16
"And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord."

In battle these three mighty men risked their lives and went without command to Bethlehem to bring back its waters to David. Then he doesn't drink it, but pours it out. What a waste I thought. Was that not like a slap in the face for the service they offered? I just had to sit and ponder of what just happened. Then I saw that David was so moved by their bravery that the highest honor that water could be given was to the Lord. If I was one of those men I should be honored to have that water poured out to the Lord. Sitting and pondering on this made me realize I don't always see the gift, or the act of receiving a gift, with its true intent.


Day 865

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 33:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 33:1

"Behold, I say unto you, my servants Ezra and Northrop, open ye your ears and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, whose word is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of the joints and marrow, soul and spirit; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

I've often wondered what "sharper than a two-edged sword" means when the Lord says this. Today I felt I was ready to ponder on this. I think I can see it. A two-edged sword would be sharp on both side. So its the same coming or going. So I think it means the word of the Lord is the same and consistent, it does not change. It will not appear one way and come back another. There is exactness and gets to the heart of the matter. To divide asunder means he can expose it all. He knows my heart there is no way to hide it. Word being quick and powerful would be those that can pierce my heart if I let him. He alone has the power to redeem me. His words open the eternities. 

Day 452