Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about how after Amalickiah obtained the kingdom, he began to incite the Lamanites against the Nephites, blinding their minds and stirring them up in anger to do battle.  He was intent on overpowering the Nephites and bringing them to bondage.  Alma 48:1-4 "And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites. And thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites, insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, he having accomplished his designs thus far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites. Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites. For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage."

In the Old Testament I read that an angel rebuked Israel for not serving the Lord.  They had been commanded to make no league with the inhabitants of the land and to throw down their altars, but they disobeyed the voice of the Lord.  Since they would not drive out the people as the Lord commanded, they would become like thorns in their sides and their gods would become a snare to them.  Judges 1:1-3 "Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him."

Some verses with a thought booklet remind us that God uses ordinary people for his extraordinary purposes.  If we are fearful, trembling, and weak, and we struggle to find persuasive words to spread the gospel, the Lord can still use us, with a demonstration of His Spirit and power.  Our faith should not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.  And it is through the Spirit that men are converted, not through the persuasive arguments of men. The Lord can even use shy, fearful people who struggle for the right words to preach His gospel, if they will rely on His Spirit.  1 Corinthians 2:3-5 "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."