Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and captured Zedekiah, slaying his sons, putting out his eyes, binding him, and sending him to Babylon. 2 Kgs. 25: 1-7 "And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon."

In the D&C I read a familiar verse saying that if we don't have the Spirit, we should not teach. That's how essential the Spirit is in teaching spiritual things. And how we we get the Spirit? By the prayer of faith. We should not even attempt to teach a lesson by merely studying the lesson manual. Before we even open the book we need to pray and ask the Lord to bless us with His Spirit so we can be inspired on how to teach the lesson and know what we're to say. In my many years of teaching primary children I cannot tell you how many times the Spirit has inspired me to say certain things or emphasize certain points and it turned out to be exactly what those children needed. I had no way of knowing that except through the Spirit. D&C 42: 14 "And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach."

A verse with a thought booklet tell of Daniel receiving strength and told he was loved. He was told to fear not and have peace. We should know, even during our troubled moments, that we are beloved of God and He will strengthen us through whatever we're called upon to bear. Dan. 10: 19 "And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."
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