Daily Thoughts

In the D&C we read that things which do not edify and are darkness are not of God.  That which is of God is light.  If we keep this in mind it is easy to discern what is of God and what is not.  If we continue in God and receive light, we'll receive even more light and be able to chase darkness away from us.  D&C 50:23-25 "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;"

In the Old Testament we read about how the Assyrians scoffed at Israel for placing their trust in the Lord,  They pointed out that they had defeated numerous other nations who placed their trust in their gods to deliver them out of their hands.  Isaiah 36:4-6 "And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me? Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him."

In a verse with a thought booklet it states that the Syrians had claimed that the Lord was God of the hills but not God of the valleys.  How silly is that?  The story is told of a young woman who got up and spoke in a testimony meeting stating that her life was very happy and every day was like being on top of a mountaintop with the Lord.  An old, wise gentleman then got up and said that when we walk with God, we'll have many mountaintop days.  But as we go through life, we'll also have days when we find ourselves walking through a deep valley.  But we need to always remember that the same God who stood with us on the mountaintop will also walk with us through every valley.  As we struggle through the valleys of life, we have a Divine Companion.  He indeed is God of both the mountaintops and the valleys. We may not remove our troubles, but He'll walk beside us and strengthen us as struggle through the trials of life. We are not alone! Whether we have a mountaintop day or a valley day, we can be grateful that we are held in His loving arms every day of our lives. 1 Kings 20:28 "And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord."