Daniel 3:16-18 -- On Careful Answers

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
Daniel 3:16-18


What struck me today about these verses is the idea of being careful to answer (or not). That phrasing makes me think of someone tiptoeing around an issue as a kind of deception... careful to say only true things, but not in a way that will trigger the person they are talking to, or leaving out that part. And so maybe when our three heroes talk to the king, that is what they are saying... basically, "we are going to tell you plainly, without any shading of meaning."

I also love how they state that God is able, they believe that he will, but that even if not, they are still going to follow him. I think that we can learn a lot from that about how we exercise our faith as well, not only when facing opposition, but even when we pray. We know God has the power to deliver us, and we believe that he will deliver us, but even if he has a plan that requires us to not be delivered from this, we will still trust and obey him, because we know that even if he doesn't deliver us immediately, as we trust him and stay the course, his plan will always save us eventually. The happy ending might take 3 or 4 more chapters and some interesting plot twists, but it is always there waiting for us.

Today, let's be faithful and bold as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were, and let's trust in God's deliverance, whether we have to be patient a little longer or not.

Matthew 13:15-16 -- On Eyes, Ears, and Hearts

"For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear."
Matthew 13:15-16


I think a lot of what is going on here (and in our lives as well) is how easy it is to become desensitised to the whisperings of the spirit, to the needs of other people, and to anything outside ourselves. It's hard to see the whole picture when we are focused on just a little part of it.

Today, let's pray and ask God to help us tune in to the Spirit, and listen to what is truly important. Sometimes we do need to focus on self-improvement and positive personal change, but often the Spirit wants us to pay attention to something external, to lift and help others, and to find ways to do good and make things better. Let's see, and hear, and understand as God speaks to us, and as the spirit influences us.

Romans 15:5-7 -- On Becoming Likeminded

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God."
Romans 15:5-7


I love that God is a God of peace and consolation, and I like the idea here of becoming likeminded with his help. ... I don't think that being likeminded means some sort of Orwellian groupthink or becoming a hive mind, but rather the familiar idea of being on the same page, and working from similar definitions. God asks us to unite in purpose and love, not to give up our individual personalities.

God listens to us individually, of course, and we can see miracles in our lives through prayer. There is perhaps a special efficacy in group prayer, as God indicates that agreement on what to ask helps, and saying "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19-20).

Today, let's consider more than what is good for us individually as we pray, and let's pray together when and where we can for things that benifit all of us as groups, communities, organizations, and the world. Let's work on being united, and likeminded, caring about the good of others along with our own good.

Isaiah 41:9-10 -- On Being Chosen and Supported

"Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
Isaiah 41:9-10


We're supposed to liken all scriptures to ourselves, so here is a hopeful one that we can apply to our lives as well. We all have access to God, and if we'reading this, then we are also chosen, and are definitely not cast away. God will help us, uphold us, and strengthen us. Let's go forward, doing good, and all things will work together for our good as we strive to do God's will and bring hope and happiness into our own, and other people's, lives. :)

Today, let's remember that we are not cast away, but are chosen, and supported. We can do this, with God's help.

3 Nephi 29:3 -- On Covenants and Preparation

"And ye need not imagine in your hearts that the words which have been spoken are vain, for behold, the Lord will remember his covenant which he hath made unto his people of the house of Israel."
3 Nephi 29:3


It's perhaps easy to dismiss the prophecies in the scriptures sometimes because we don't see any dramatic/imminent signs. But God brings about great things in small and simple ways, and this is a good reminder that we should never dismiss God's word. Everything that he has said will come to pass. He keeps his promises. Even though our lives seem relatively peaceful now, we should still prepare for the future and be ready for disruption in our lives. Not because we kow when everything will happen, but because it is always wise to do as the Lord asks, and some practice at vigilance and obedience can hardly go amiss. :)

3 Nephi 28:3 -- On Blessings and Preferences

"And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest."
3 Nephi 28:3


Reading this today I was thinking about the different choices that Christ's disciples made. I usually gloss over this first choice, moving on to the second. The three Nephites get to live forever with bodies that can't feel pain or most sorrow... they can't be held in prison, they can't be harmed by fire, they just play with the wild beasts that are supposed to kill them... they are functionally immortal and happy. Who wouldn't choose that? ... And yet, I come back to this scripture today and think about all that this means as well. Knowing how long you have to endure, and then immediately following Christ and regaining his presence. Who wouldn't want that? Both good.

Plus, honestly, I would probably choose immortality so I could read all the books, not because I wanted to go on a many-lifetimes mission. I think both of these groups had a lot purer motive, and they both found joy in what they wanted. ... And that's okay, right? We don't have to be cookie cutter followers, all wanting the exact same blessings. God loves us, and he wants to bless us with whatever will bring us the most joy. Today, let's talk to the Lord about our desires, and let his teach us and help us to have clearer motivations, more love, and joy in our individual righteous preferences.

3 Nephi 27:16 -- On Repentance, Baptism, and Being Filled

"And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world."
3 Nephi 27:16


I like the idea here of being filled. It points to the fact that we are not filled without that, and hints at what will fill us... the Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which is also called the Comforter. Comparing a life with the Spirit to one without, the effect of being filled seems apparent. It makes all the diffrence, and is one of the big ways that God can communicate with us and teach us. Today, let's work to have that Spirit in our lives to fill us and to allow Christ more fully into our lives and hearts. And once we have it, let's work on keeping it, and continue to repent so that we never lose that connection.

Hebrews 4:12-13 -- On All-Knowing God

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
Hebrews 4:12-13


Reading about anyone being able to know your thoughts and see you at any time could scare anyone in this world of privacy violation. But since this is the scriptures and God we're talking about, we have nothing to worry about. God created us, and he knows us inside and out, and that's good because he knows exactly how to help us... he understands us even when we can't understand ourselves. He also loves us, and won't his knowledge of us in an evil way, but only to help and lift us, which is refresing in a world where scams and phishing proliferate.

Today, let's be thankful that someone already knows us perfectly, and can help us and understand us even in times where we can't express our need or are embarrassed to ask for help. Let's pray and talk to God about our problems... he is always there even when we have no where else to turn... and even when we do, he understands more clearly and has better answers. :)

Matthew 22:37-38 -- The First and Great Commandment

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment."
Matthew 22:37-38


Back to basics today, and what could be more basic than the first, and great, commandment. I think sometimes we have a tendency to gloss over this one as though it were understood, but I don't think it really is. The idea of putting the love of God first, and loving him with all that we are... I don't think we're there yet, and always a good reminder.

Today, let's remember the very first thing, before we get down into the weeds of other committments and questions. Let's love the Lord... pray to him, learn more about him, listen to him, obey him... everything we can do to learn more about him and love him more. That central focus will make everything else more clear, and getting that priority straight will help us more with other priorities than focusing singly on them individually would. Absolutely everything is better when God is first. Let's take the time to reset our priorities today and make sure God isn't slipping to the bottom, or off, our list of important things when he should be in front of, and part of, all of them.

1 John 3:7 -- On Becoming Righteous

"Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."
1 John 3:7


This is a good reminder that learning to be like Christ is practicing righteousness... repenting daily and striving to do better. It's a process for us, but he set the example, helped us to see how to treat others, how to take time to commune with God, how to heal and love and teach, and so much more. Today, let's remember that it takes action and effort to change and to learn to follow God's path, but he will help us as we are willing to follow him.

Isaiah 10:20 -- On Staying Upon the Lord

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth."
Isaiah 10:20


This is an interesting verse that gives a different twist than Isaiah 9:13. In that verse it seems like the Lord is doing the smiting, but here, clearly, the remnant is leaving the abuser (Satan perhaps?), and turning to the Lord. It's a symbolically great verse because it shows the Lord as the rescuer, which is exactly what he is, even when we have been smiting ourselves. He teaches us a better way to live than wherever we are now, and lifts and helps us to hope and joy.

Today, let's pray for rescue, even if it is just the trap of our own habits and thoughts. God wants us to reach out to him, and he stands ready to aid us. We just have to invite him in, and he will help us wherever we are, however much we can accept, and little by little as we learn to follow him, he will bring us home.

Isaiah 9:12-13 -- On The Stretched Out Hand

The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 9:12-13


It's a weird thought here, the idea of turning to the person that hit you. It sounds like an awful idea, and I think in our lives with imperfect people, it almost always is. Forgiveness seems appropriate and necessary, but trust less so in a situation like that.

However, this is the scriptures and we're talking about the Lord, so let's examine this a little more closely. The hand that is stretched out we read about a lot, and symbolically it can be a hand of punishment, but it is also a hand of creation, mercy, and healing. And the smiting is, instead of being abuse, the just consequences of sin... and yet, the Lord's hand remains stretched out to save. At any point we can turn around, let go of our sin, and be gathered home to God in love and forgiveness.

The prodigal son suffered, but he remembered that in his father's house, even the lowest servants were treated better than the way he was living, and her turned around. We might think that whatever punishment or pain we endure in this life is being smitten of the Lord, and so it is, but only in an abstract sense. God made all of this, and he knows that it will happen, but he doesn't want us to suffer at all. He wants us to turn around and make better choices, and all of this is designed to teach us that... to choose joy and mercy and love rather than lust and greed and emptiness.

Today, let's remember the difference between God and an abuser. Let's remember that God set an example for us of love and healing, and let's trust him to do the same for us as we return to him.

John 11:4 -- On the Classroom of Life

"When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
John 11:4


This is an interesting verse that, to me, seems to pull the reader out of the narrative and force them to see the constructed nature of the world. To be clear, I am not at all saying that this event didn't actually happen... I firmly believe that it did. Just, like the incident where Christ told Peter to catch a certain fish to obtain a peice of money, or told his disciples where to go to borrow a donkey, this is an event that shows us that someone is controlling things behind the scenes.

That doesn't make our lives meaningless or our pain proof that God wants to see us suffer--I think what it does mean is what God and the prophets have been telling us all along: that this life is a time to prepare to meet God, a temporary time we are blessedly give us to learn where we can enjoy mercy rather than suffer immediate and dire consequences for our sins... a trial, a test, a short life between eternities, where we can learn to choose, to adjust to having a body, to learn to choose for ourselves and to understand the difference between good and evil.

Christ tells us here that the sickness wasn't one that would normally kill someone, but because God wanted to show the people (and everyone through the scriptures) a miracle, it became lethal. Christ knew exactly what was going on the whole time, and delayed to make the whole scene perfect. ... And yet, when he gets there and meets Mary and Martha, and knows how much they suffered, and when he is in the situation as a family friend, it does affect him emotionally. He cries. He feels and knows the reality of it in the moment, even though he knows God is directing all of it, and also knows that he he will one day transcend his own life. It *is* all real... but it is also all temporary and in some ways artificial in the sense that it is created, not naturally occurring. But isn't that what we have been told since Genesis?

Today, let's try to understand the reality of the creation and God as the director of our lives. Let's take seriously the idea that everything around us is designed for our experience and will eventually turn to our good as we meet those experiences with faith and trust in the Lord. Let's not give up on life or other people as fake, because they aren't at all... but let's understand in a real way that what God asks is the most important part of all of this. We need to learn, and become, and prepare. That's the point of all of it.

3 Nephi 20:21 -- On Establishing a People

"And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel."
3 Nephi 20:21


I love the idea of The Lord establishing his people...I think it captures the fact that the Lord is invested in building us up, into making us amazing, and he feels protective and connected to us. And as a people--as HIS people, we can have that same connection to him, and to each other.

Today, let's work with God as he helps to establish and strengthen us. Let's be willing to stand up and to grow as we strive to do good, help others, and make the world a better place.

3 Nephi 19:3 -- On Glorious Opportunity and Effort

"Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus; and insomuch did they send forth unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude."
3 Nephi 19:3


This part always gets me. I love that they worked all night to get there... and I feel like that is exactly what I would do in the same circumstance, but then I wonder if I would be like... meh, too much effort. The chance to see Jesus, face to face... amazing. But do I make the same effort to do the things that he asks in normal life, and is that a better measure of what I would do?

Today, let's make sure we are laboring to be with God. Sometimes the easiest things are the things that we leave out the most. Let's pray and study the scriptures, making sure those solid things are in place, and let's also take time to listen to and learn from modern prophets, who are the voice of Christ to us in our day as well, and deserving of some effort. :)