Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon Nephi told the story of the fiery flying serpents bit the people and how all the people had to do to be saved was look at the brass serpent. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? But they had hardened their hearts so much that they refused to look. And so they perished. 1 Ne. 17: 41-42 "And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished. And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God; nevertheless, ye know that they were led forth by his matchless power into the land of promise."

In the New Testament we're told that Jesus is the bread of life and that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life. In Moses' day, the people were tgiven manna to eat in the wilderness. But those people all died. But Christ offers us living bread which, if we partake, we will live forever. John 6:47-51 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

A verse with a thought booklet warns us against using "vain repetitions" when we pray. How often do we pray saying the same old things, day after day, without really listening to what we're saying? Are we really paying attention to what we're saying in our prayers or are we just reciting words that we've been saying every day without conscious effort? We need to remember that we're supposed to be having a conversation with our Heavenly Father. How do we converse with someone we love? Do we speak from the heart, or do we just mumble a bunch of words out of habit? Next time you pray, listen to what you're saying. Speak from the heart. Vain repetitions are not pleasing unto the Lord. Matthew 6:7 "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."


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