Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read about how, after the brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch the stones and showed such great faith, the Lord did indeed touch the stones so they brought forth light.  Not only that, but the Brother of Jared had shown so much faith that he beheld the finger of the Lord.  This made him afraid, but the Lord talked to him and told him that he was able to behold His finger because of his exceeding great faith.  No only that, but the Lord showed Himself to the brother of Jared.  Ether 3: 6-16 "And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear. And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen? And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood. And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this? And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me. And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak? And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters. And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast. Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image? Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image. Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh."

In the Old Testament I read that Hezekiah, King of Judah, prepared for war, but also trusted in the Lord--knowing that if God was on their side to fight their battles, it didn't matter who was against them.  Knowing this, gave him courage.  And indeed, the Lord saved Hezekiah from those who fought against him, and guided him on every side. Likewise if we put our trust in the Lord, He will hellp us with whatever challenges we face in our lives.  2 Chronicles 32:5-8, 22 "Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that when we wait patiently for the Lord, He will hear our cry.  Sometimes our prayers aren't answered the way we want them to be, or as soon as we want them to be.  But if we'll be patient and trust in the Lord, He will hear us and answer our prayers in the way that is best for us.  Psalms 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."