Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read that no matter what we do, we'll always be indebted to God who give us breath. When we keep His commandments, He immediatley blesses us, so He had paid us and we're still indebted to Him. Mosiah 2:21-24 "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you. And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?"

In the New Testament we're told about the war in heaven in which Michael (Adam) and his angels fought against the dragon (Satan) and his angels. Of course Satan did not prevail and he and his angels were cast out of heaven. But this made him angry and now he comes down to earth to tempt us. However, he still cannot prevail. The blood of the Lamb, or the atonement of Jesus Christ, has overcome the devil. So we can rejoice! Revelation 12:7-12 "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time."

Some verses with a thought booklet tells us not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God, who will give us peace that surpasses all understanding. This doesn't say that all our requests will be answered exactly like we want them to be. Rather, the Lord answers our prayers in the way that is best, and will give us peace if we'll seek for Him. Some people think of God like a vending machine. With a vending machine, you are supposed to put money in and get your desired product out. But it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the vending machine won't accept your worn dollar or if doesn't give you what you want even after it takes your money. Some people take out their anger and frustration on the machine--beating on it or vandalizing it. People who think of the Lord as a vending machine think that they can put in their requests (or rather orders) and if they don't get back what they want, they grumble and complain against God, getting angry and frustrated. Prayers don't work that way and we're only hurting ourselves spiritually when we have that attitude. We need to trust in the Lord, knowing that however He answers our prayers will be for our best good. And if we'll turn to Him, we can find peace, no matter what our circumstances are. Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."