Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 7:18
Sometimes I wonder if we get over zealous with verse 17 and forget to read on to 18. Nephi asked for two things in his prayer. He asked to be delivered from the hands of his brethren and then he prayed for the strength to break the bands the held him, according to his faith of course.
Sometimes I think we leave out and according to "Thy Will". I am sure that Nephi was thinking it, probably saying, but did not write it down. The fact that he was praying, according to his faith in Him, he asked these two questions. He express his, Nephi's will, and then left the rest to the Lord.
Did Nephi suddenly turn green and bulk up into some superhero? Nope. Was he given the strength to burst the bands? Nope. They were loosened, according to the Lord's will. We can learn a great deal from this. Sometimes we see what we want, think about how to get there, pray about it, and then get upset when it does not happen the way we envisioned it. Therefore we resist the answer or assistance that comes. We need to think about his when we pray. The Lord did answer Nephi's prayer. He did deliver him from the hands of his brethren. He was strengthen after the fact, spiritually not physically.
The next thing we learn is that when the answer comes, we apply it. Nephi had been moved to speak to his brothers. That is why they tied him up. Now that he has been freed, he jump right back on the horse and keeps riding. He did not back down from his brothers. He continued doing what the Lord had sent him to do.
He did not get angry. He did not seek revenge. He did not start punching them. He stood before them in faith, testifying of what was right and plead that they would change. I like to put myself in Nephi's shoes. What was it that he wanted for his brothers? What did he want for his whole family? He wanted them to have the same witness and joy that he had in Jesus Christ. I like to think he stood up and said, "Brothers, look, the Lord is still with us. I know you are angry, but he is still waiting for you to turn to him. I turned to him, he had loosened these bands. (Note he did not brag about his own strength, but what the Lord had done for him.) He will free you from the bands that bind you as well, if you will just turn to him in faith. Please, turn to him, open your hearts, listen, seek and you will find. You know what is right. The Lord knows your potential as does our father. Become the mighty river and valley you were ordained to become.
He says the same to us. Turn to him. He can loosen the bands. That is what the atonement is all about. Will we still have rope burns, possibly, but they in time will heal as well. Open you hearts, listen, pray in faith and he will answer.
Sometimes I wonder if we get over zealous with verse 17 and forget to read on to 18. Nephi asked for two things in his prayer. He asked to be delivered from the hands of his brethren and then he prayed for the strength to break the bands the held him, according to his faith of course.
Sometimes I think we leave out and according to "Thy Will". I am sure that Nephi was thinking it, probably saying, but did not write it down. The fact that he was praying, according to his faith in Him, he asked these two questions. He express his, Nephi's will, and then left the rest to the Lord.
Did Nephi suddenly turn green and bulk up into some superhero? Nope. Was he given the strength to burst the bands? Nope. They were loosened, according to the Lord's will. We can learn a great deal from this. Sometimes we see what we want, think about how to get there, pray about it, and then get upset when it does not happen the way we envisioned it. Therefore we resist the answer or assistance that comes. We need to think about his when we pray. The Lord did answer Nephi's prayer. He did deliver him from the hands of his brethren. He was strengthen after the fact, spiritually not physically.
The next thing we learn is that when the answer comes, we apply it. Nephi had been moved to speak to his brothers. That is why they tied him up. Now that he has been freed, he jump right back on the horse and keeps riding. He did not back down from his brothers. He continued doing what the Lord had sent him to do.
He did not get angry. He did not seek revenge. He did not start punching them. He stood before them in faith, testifying of what was right and plead that they would change. I like to put myself in Nephi's shoes. What was it that he wanted for his brothers? What did he want for his whole family? He wanted them to have the same witness and joy that he had in Jesus Christ. I like to think he stood up and said, "Brothers, look, the Lord is still with us. I know you are angry, but he is still waiting for you to turn to him. I turned to him, he had loosened these bands. (Note he did not brag about his own strength, but what the Lord had done for him.) He will free you from the bands that bind you as well, if you will just turn to him in faith. Please, turn to him, open your hearts, listen, seek and you will find. You know what is right. The Lord knows your potential as does our father. Become the mighty river and valley you were ordained to become.
He says the same to us. Turn to him. He can loosen the bands. That is what the atonement is all about. Will we still have rope burns, possibly, but they in time will heal as well. Open you hearts, listen, pray in faith and he will answer.
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