Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that we should pray morning, noon and night, and the Lord will hear our cries and sustain us. We can cast our burdens upon the Lord. He won't suffer the rightous to be moved. Ps. 55: 16-17, 22 "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Nephi's brothers were angry with him for trying to call them to repentance so they bound him up with cords and treated him with much harshness. Be cause of this, the compass stopped working and a great storm arose that tossed them about on the waves. Of note, during this time Nephi did not murmur against the Lord but continued to praise Him. Various family members pleaded with Laman and Lemuel to release Nephi, but only fear of destruction persuaded them to do so. Once Nephi was untied, the compass began to work again and the storm ceased and they were able to continue on their journey to reach the promised land. 1 Ne. 18: 11-23 "And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel did take me and bind me with cords, and they did treat me with much harshness; nevertheless, the Lord did suffer it that he might show forth his power, unto the fulfilling of his word which he had spoken concerning the wicked. And it came to pass that after they had bound me insomuch that I could not move, the compass, which had been prepared of the Lord, did cease to work. Wherefore, they knew not whither they should steer the ship, insomuch that there arose a great storm, yea, a great and terrible tempest, and we were driven back upon the waters for the space of three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me. And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest began to be exceedingly sore. And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to see that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me, and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great was the soreness thereof. Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions. Now my father, Lehi, had said many things unto them, and also unto the sons of Ishmael; but, behold, they did breathe out much threatenings against anyone that should speak for me; and my parents being stricken in years, and having suffered much grief because of their children, they were brought down, yea, even upon their sick-beds. Because of their grief and much sorrow, and the iniquity of my brethren, they were brought near even to be carried out of this time to meet their God; yea, their grey hairs were about to be brought down to lie low in the dust; yea, even they were near to be cast with sorrow into a watery grave. And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me. And there was nothing save it were the power of God, which threatened them with destruction, could soften their hearts ; wherefore, when they saw that they were about to be swallowed up in the depths of the sea they repented of the thing which they had done, insomuch that they loosed me. And it came to pass after they had loosed me, behold, I took the compass, and it did work whither I desired it. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land. And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of many days we did arrive at the promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised land."

A verse with a thought booklet warns us that even though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak and we need to watch ourselves and pray that we won't enter into temptation. In other words, we need the Lord's help to refrain from giving in to temptation. If we think we're strong and can handle it on our own, we'll fail. Mark 14: 38 "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."