Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how the Lord again delivered Saul into David's hands but he refused to smite him. 1 Sam. 26: 8-9 "Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?"

In the Book of Mormon I read about how the Zoramites worshipped each week. They built a holy stand and one by one stood on it and loudly prayed, thanking God that they were elected to be saved while those around them were not, and thanking God that they were lot lead astray by foolish traditions such as a belief in Christ. When Alma saw the manner of their prayers he was greatly grieved at their wickedness. Alma 31: 12-31 "Now, when they had come into the land, behold, to their astonishment they found that the Zoramites had built synagogues, and that they did gather themselves together on one day of the week, which day they did call the day of the Lord; and they did worship after a manner which Alma and his brethren had never beheld; For they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person. Therefore, whosoever desired to worship must go forth and stand upon the top thereof, and stretch forth his hands towards heaven, and cry with a loud voice, saying: Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever. Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ. But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God. And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen. Now it came to pass that after Alma and his brethren and his sons had heard these prayers, they were astonished beyond all measure. For behold, every man did go forth and offer up these same prayers. Now the place was called by them Rameumptom, which, being interpreted, is the holy stand. Now, from this stand they did offer up, every man, the selfsame prayer unto God, thanking their God that they were chosen of him, and that he did not lead them away after the tradition of their brethren, and that their hearts were not stolen away to believe in things to come, which they knew nothing about. Now, after the people had all offered up thanks after this manner, they returned to their homes, never speaking of their God again until they had assembled themselves together again to the holy stand, to offer up thanks after their manner. Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved ; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods. Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride. And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried , saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men? Behold, O God, they acry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world. Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets , and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say—We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish. Yea, and they say that thou hast made it known unto them that there shall be no Christ. O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul. O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me, because of the iniquity of this people."

A verse from a thought booklet tells us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, according to the perfect will of God. The thought that went with this, written by Dr. Dean Deppe from Grand Rapids, Michigan, says: We all conform to something. Less than 1 percent of our thoughts are original. The media play a powerful role in shaping who we are and what we think we need. We often become what other people expect us to be. The apostle Paul coaches us not to conform to the world's pattern but to be transformed. Conforming to the world is like removing the screen door to our minds and letting all the bugs fly in. Transformation means refusing to comply with the evil influences of our culture, and instead conforming to the character of Christ. A psychologist I know attempted to get his client's attention with a dramatic demonstration. He filled a glass with water, added dust and lint from a corner, cigarette butts from an ash try, a dried piece of gum from under the table, and then asked the client to drink it. Of course the client refused. Then the doctor pointed out how the client was constantly polluting her mind through the worldly influences she allowed into her brain. As you ask Christ to dwell in you richly, you can expect joy beyond limits, peace that passes understanding, hope that overcomes despair, and love that allows you to care for people whom you once ignored. Today, begin to live out the character of your Lord. Rom. 12: 2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."