Daily Ponderings: As They Went, They Were Cleansed

Luke 17:14

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

No miracle until after obedience.

Daily Ponderings: If Not Persuaded of Moses, Then Neither by the Dead

Luke 16:31

And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

When your heart is hard, nothing will persuade.

Is hardening your heart against wrong things different? If so, how?

Daily Ponderings: The Kingdom of God Is Preached

Luke 16:16

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

If I keep my heart open, He will be able to guide me forward.

Daily Ponderings: The First Step Is Giving Myself Permission

Luke 15:17

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

The first step to being happy is to realize that I don't have to be unhappy, and that I can use His power to change.

Daily Ponderings: They All Began to Make Excuse

Luke 14:18

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

Hard things are hard, but with His help I can do them.

Daily Ponderings: Unto What Is the Kingdom of God Like?

Luke 13:8

Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

The more I liken the scriptures to myself, the more He can help me and give me power to make progress.

Daily Ponderings: He Knoweth Ye Have Need

Luke 12:30

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

He knows what I need and He will give it to me.

He Put Me Here to Prove That He Is God

From Elder Helio R. Camargo's April 1985 "He Is in Charge":

"The Lord chose to put me in this position, using my weakness and my inability so that He could prove that He is God, He is the Lord, He is in charge."

He knew I knew nothing about home repair. He sent me here anyway.

Daily Ponderings: Hear the Word of God

Luke 11:28

But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

In times of fear, if I listen, I can hear Him, and He will guide me clear of the darkness.

Daily Ponderings: All Things Are Delivered to Me of My Father

Luke 10:22

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Anything He has, He can give to me if I ask.

Daily Ponderings: Hand to the Plough, No Looking Back

Luke 9:62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

After I decide to do something, I should do it without regret or hesitation.

Daily Ponderings: His Face Was As Though He Would Go

Luke 9:53

And they did not receive Him, because His face was as though He would go to Jerusalem.

I should focus my attention on who I'm with

Daily Ponderings: He That Is Not Against Us Is For Us

Luke 9:49-50

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

I should recognize and honor the good wherever I find it.

Daily Ponderings: When They Were Awake, They Saw His Glory

Luke 9:32

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

When I focus my faculties, I can recognize opportunities to use His transformational power to make progress in my life.

Daily Ponderings: Commanded the Unclean Spirit to Come out of the Man

Luke 8:29

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Through His power, I can command unhelpful voices into silence.

Daily Ponderings: What Went Ye out for to See?

Luke 7:26

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

If I look for something, He will help me find it, but I have to decide what it is I want.

Make Us Grow if We Will But Lend a Hand

From Robert D. Hales's April 1985 "The Mantle of a Bishop":

"At such moments we begin to understand that the difficulties and problems of others, if we will feel them, will make us grow, if we will but lend a hand."

There are times when I really don't want to feel anyone else's pain. Mine seems too overwhelming. But on those days when I am strong enough, doing this uses His power to make me even stronger.

Daily Ponderings: Then Shalt Thou See Clearly

Luke 6:42

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

I'm not asked to ignor others' motes, I am encouraged to remove them. But before I can, I have to be clear myself.

Daily Ponderings: He Is Kind to the Unthankful and the Evil

Luke 6:35

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

I'm not being kind because of who your are, but because of who I am.

Daily Ponderings: Love, Do Good, Bless, Pray

Luke 6:27-28

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

I should act in accordance - not with who they are - but with who I am. The locus of control shifts to within me, and I am given power over all aspects of my life.

Daily Ponderings: Woe Unto You That Are Full

Luke 6:25

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

In the good times, I should not merely remain content, but also seek to prepare for harder times to come.

Daily Ponderings: When He Saw Their Faith

Luke 5:20

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Blessings will come to me after I act in faith.

Daily Ponderings: Physician, Heal Thyself

Luke 4:23

And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

If I see shortcomings in others, it's a reflection of the shortcomings I feel in myself. Noticing the shortcomings of others should prompt me to seek His help with my areas of weakness.

Daily Ponderings: He Shut John up in Prison

Luke 3:20

Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

In my struggles, I must not close off from the helpful messages He sends me.

In other words, during my struggles, He will send me helpful messages. I should remain open to them.

Daily Ponderings: And He Came by the Spirit into the Temple

Luke 2:27

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

Everywhere I go, I should come by the Spirit.

Daily Ponderings: Might Serve Him Without Fear

Luke 1:74

That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

If I serve Him, I need not fear.

Daily Ponderings: When Elisabeth Heard the Salutation of Mary

Luke 1:41

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

I should seek the company of those who are filled with the Spirit.

Daily Ponderings: And They Believed Not

Mark 16:11

And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

I should believe those things that it helps me to make progress to believe.

Daily Ponderings: Casting Lots Upon Them

Mark 15:24

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

When given the choice between the worldly and the spiritual. I should look up, see Him, and choose the spiritual.

Daily Ponderings: Couldest Not Thou Watch One Hour?

Mark 14:37

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

I can walk hard roads if I do it hour by hour.

Forged in Adversity

From Dallin H. Oaks's October 1985 "Spirituality":

"Strength is forged in adversity. Faith is developed in a setting where we cannot see what lies ahead."

Practicing seeing ahead will strengthen my ability to see ahead.

Daily Ponderings: In Those Days Shall Be Affliction

Mark 13:19

For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.

He has given me both these trials and the means to overcome them. This is godhood. This is joy.

Cherish Those Opportunities

From Dallin H. Oaks's October 1985 "Spirituality":

"...we should not be so occupied with what is routine and temporal that we fail to cherish those opportunities that are unique and spiritual."

I should look for the possibility of magical moments.

Daily Ponderings: The House of Prayer

Mark 11:17

And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

I should turn to prayer quickly and easily for both my sorrows and my joys.

Daily Ponderings: Whose Wife Shall She Be of Them?

Mark 12:23

In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.

I should focus on asking Him questions pertaining to my day to day life. My love of the gospel is a very practical matter to me.

Daily Ponderings: By What Authority?

Mark 11:28

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

My authority is from Him, sometimes just from the simple fact that he created me. I do not need another person's permission simply to live or to be happy.

Daily Ponderings: An Hundredfold Now in This Time

Mark 10:30

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

His blessings to me for enduring my adversities will come to me in this lifetime.

Daily Ponderings: With God All Things Are Possible

Mark 10:27

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

No matter how difficult my struggle, He can make a way for me to move forward.

Direction, Security, and Strength

From Rex D. Pinegar's October 1985 "The Gospel Lifeline":

"Every wife and mother has a perfect right and responsibility to look to her husband who holds the priesthood for guidance, for strength, and for direction. And he has the responsibility of magnifying his priesthood so he might be able to give this direction, this security, this strength that is needed in the home."

I should at all times be a source of direction, security, and strength for my family. He can help me do this if I ask.

Test of Spirit Mastery

From Russell M. Nelson's October 1985 "Self-Mastery":

"Part of each test is to determing if your body can become mastered by the spirit that dwells within it."

If I can master the body of matter I have been given, then I will be prepared to become like Him and master the matter of all my creations.

Daily Ponderings: And Came Out of Him

Mark 9:26

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

If I ask, whatever is troubling me can be removed using His power.

Daily Ponderings: How Many Baskets Took Ye Up?

Mark 8:20

And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

I should recall to my mind the miracles I have seen.

Daily Ponderings: Entereth Not Into the Heart

Mark 7:19

Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

The good things of Christ I should take into my heart.

Daily Ponderings: Commanded His Head to Be Brought

Mark 6:27

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

The bad ideas in my life should be killed immediately.

Daily Ponderings: Preached That Men Should Repent

Mark 6:12

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

I can do better. I can be better. I should examine my life to see what needs changing. I can make progress every day.

Daily Ponderings: Commanded That Something Should Be Given Her to Eat

Mark 5:43

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

I don't just need to be cured of my affliction, I also need to be strengthened afterward.

Daily Ponderings: When He Saw Him, He Fell at His Feet

Mark 5:22

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

I should recognize and know that He can help me solve my problems.

Daily Ponderings: A Thankful Heart in All Things

Doctrine & Covenants 62:7

I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things.

I should be thankful even for the hard things.

Daily Ponderings: Carest Thou Not That We Perish?

Mark 4:38-40

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Carest thou not that I am sad? Lonely? Worried?

The answer is the same: Peace, be still.

Daily Ponderings: Be Set on a Candlestick

Mark 4:21

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

I should set myself on a candlestick.

Daily Ponderings: And Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite

Mark 3:18

And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

All of these were called for a reason. I should ask Him the reason I was called.