Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 11:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 11:1

"And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem."

This is the story of David and Bathsheba, and how one sin becomes another to cover it. I cannot read this story but think of how it never would have happened if David was where he should have been. He tarried in Jerusalem instead of in battle. David found himself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and ended up doing the wrong things. The lesson is there is moral safety and protection when we are in the right place trying to do the right things.

Day 2437

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 18:20

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 18:20
"And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."

I have thought a lot on this and I hope I can put it into words. I do not believe that just because I want something bad enough and it is good that I can pray and it will happen. I do believe that the answers to my prayers are according to the Father's will. If the Father's will is that something does or doesn't happen then that is what will happen. So what is the role of prayer? To me the key is knowing by the spirit what to ask for. If I am in tune with the spirit I will know what I should or shouldn't ask for. It is through the promptings of the spirit that I will not ask amiss, and that which I pray for will be according to the Father's will and be right. When the spirit bears witness to me that what I ask is right then with faith and belief I will receive it.

I have experienced being stopped from asking for something, even when it is a good or righteous thing. In those moments I have come to learn to accept the Father's will for me, and been at peace over the matter. It takes just as much faith to accept when something is not right to ask for, as it does to ask for something when it is right.

Day 1955

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."

The reference is Doctrine and Covenants 101:8
"In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me."

I pondered on how true this has been in my life. It wasn't until I noticed a pattern. I would go along doing my own thing and as soon as trouble hit I became more conscious of the things I needed to be doing. Then I would get on my knees and pour my heart out to God to rescue me. I realized this wasn't a good pattern because trouble just kept knocking on my door. I had everything backwards. It was only when I needed the Lord's help that I would start doing what I was suppose to be doing. I vowed to break that cycle and do what I knew I should be doing because it was the right thing.

Now I can't say all my troubles have left me, but there is peace now where there wasn't before. I do feel the Lord answers my prayers quicker than He did in the past, or at least presents the solution to me quicker. My relationship with God is better. I see more purpose in the trials I do go through because He is there to teach me.

Day 1442

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 140:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 140:11-12
"Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
I know that  the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor."

This just seems so applicable to today. What noise I hear in the news. I am getting to the point I can't even listen. There is much to ponder on in these verses.

Day 1193

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:2
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David this father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."

This is another verse that I have read many times. This time I was struck by the "turned not aside to the right or to the left". Many times I have just pictured being on a faithful course directly towards the Lord and not deviating. This time I thought what does going to the right or left exactly mean?. The left is usually a bad direction, the right is usually choosing righteousness, following the Lord.

So the question came to me, "Can a person go to the right, thinking they are on the course of righteousness, and be lead off course?" The answer to me was an astounding YES!!  You can get swallowed up in a gospel hobby and be lead into forbidden paths. All the time thinking you are becoming more righteous or more knowledgeable than others. Yeah, that's the old pride thing again. I've gotten caught up in that. I've seen others get caught up in that. It is a very real danger. The thing that has saved me is that warning voice, troubling my soul with the course I am on. I had to stop and take stock of where I really was, and acknowledge I was way off course. That means forsaking the path I am on and turning back to the fundamentals of the gospel. It's the basics of the gospel that keep me on the path leading towards Christ. Listening for the still small voice, and following the prophets. It is hard work to not become swayed by the enticing voices that come from either side of me. Even more so when the people have every appearance of being righteous. Being obedient to reading my scriptures daily and looking for the simplicity of the gospel is becoming an insulator to those contenting voices. This gives the verse "..strait is the gate, and narrow is the way" deeper meaning for me.


Day 910

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 7:33

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 7:33

"He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part."

I pondered on my right shoulder. How I use it to raise my right arm to the square when I swear an oath or sustain someone in their calling. I also use it to command someone to stop, identify myself in a crowd when called, or to ask a question in a class. I use this covenant hand to take the sacrament. I pondered on how my Savior sits at the right hand of God. There is power, significance and symbolism in that single act. Could this be why the right shoulder is given to the priests?

Day 672