Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament I read that the Lord would lay waste the cities and leave them desolate because of the wickedness and violence of the people. Then the people would know that the Lord was God. Ezek. 12: 19-20 "And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

In the D&C I read how the Lord rebuked David Whitmer for his failure to serve diligently. I think sometimes we, too, are in need of chastening because we rely on our own strength instead of giving heed to the Spirit of the Lord, and we fear man instead of trying to please God. D&C 30: 1-3 "Behold, I say unto you, David, that you have feared man and have not relied on me for strength as you ought. But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have not given heed unto my Spirit, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded. Wherefore, you are left to inquire for yourself at my hand, and ponder upon the things which you have received."

A verse from a thought booklet saying tasks to be accomplished should be done not by might nor power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. When we are connected to the Lord with His Spirit, it enpowers us. When we disconnect ourselves from the Lord's Spirit, we are like an electrical applicance that's unplugged or a streetcar that's become disconnected from the overhead power line. We become stalled and cannot move forward. Zech. 4: 6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."



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