Daily Thoughts

In the Book of Mormon we read how Nephi prayed mightily and angels came down and ministered unto him. He had seen great things that he was forbidden to write about. However, in spite of all that, he was still weighed down with his afflictions, he still was tempted by the devil, and he still became angry because of his enemy. He chastened himself about these things--saying "awake my soul!" He told himself to no longer droop in sin and rejoice, not allowing his afflictions to weaken him. What a great example to follow. Maybe we should give ourselves a similar pep talk, and turn to the Lord in praise and rejoicing instead of allowing ourselves to wallow in misery.  2 Nephi 4:24-30 "And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.  O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?  And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.  Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation."

In the Old Testament we're told that if we make a vow, we should fulfill what we've agreed to do.  We need to keep our word and it is a sin to do otherwise.  Deuteronomy 23:21 "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee."

A verse with a thought booklet tells us that if we cover an offense, we promote love.  But adding fuel to the fire separates us from our friends.  We can always find reasons to be offended in our lives.  Maybe somebody cuts in front of us in line.  Or a friend passes us by without saying hello.  Every day things happen that can upset us.  When these things happen, do we put out the fire quickly or fan the flames into a blazing inferno?  The choice is ours.  Proverbs 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."