Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read about how Saul doubted that David could prevail against Goliath because he was just a youth whereas Goliah had been a man of war since his youth. However, David described how the Lord had delivered him from a lion and a bear and expressed faith the the Lord would likewise deliver him from the hands of this Philistine. Do we have faith in God that He will help and guide us even when presented with impossible odds and things are looking very bleak? We need to remember the faith of David and put our trust in God the way he did. 1 Sam. 17: 33-37 "And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee."

In the Book of Mormon I read that the Anti Nephi Lehies would not take up arms even when attacked (as we read about yesterday) and the result was that some of them were slain. However, when those who were attacking them saw that they were not putting up any resistance and were praising God while they were perishing, their hearts became softened and they stopped killing them and repented for the murders they had committed. They joined the people of God. In fact, more people became converted than those who had been slain, and those who were slain were all righteous people who were saved. The Lord works in many ways for the salvation of His people Alma 24: 21-27 "Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword. And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God. Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword— Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done. And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them. And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were asaved. And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people."

Some scriptures with a thught booklet tell us that we are the lights to the world and we should let our lights shine before men that they will see our good works and glorify God. Are we good examples of what a true follower of Christ should be? Can people look at the way we live our lives and see that we're on a path that would be good for them to emulate? Or do we do things that would make someone say, "Boy, if that's an example of a believer, I want no part of it!" We need to make sure our lives are full of the light of the gospel and our actions show that. Matt. 5: 14-16 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."