Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Alma and Amulek were delivered out of prison by the power of God--having the walls of the prison crumble around them and everyone in the prison except for them being killed.  Alma 14:26-29 "And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them. And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof. And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city. Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek."

A verse in the Old Testament tells us that if we don't keep all the statutes and judgments of God, we will be spued out.  Leviticus 20:22 "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out."

Some verses with a thought booklet exhort us to take heed that we don't allow an evil heart of unbelief to enter into us, causing us to depart from the living God.  Instead we need to exhort and encourage one another on a daily basis to prevent anyone becoming hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  We need to be sensitive to opportunities to provide an encouraging word to those who are struggling.  Our action might be just the thing needed to thaw a heart that is feeling a little cold or give that encouraging word to allow a discouraged person to continue on with their journey and not give up.  Hebrews 3:12-13 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."