Prepare for Our Battles

Here are some thoughts as I read 3 Nephi end of 2-3:
*Chapter 2, Verse 18- Because they weren’t unified, they began to fall.
*Chapter 3, Verse 2-4: The leader of the Gadianton robbers, Giddianhi, is grossly misled. He professes to believe in such false traditions and such lies, acting accordingly. Satan tries to get people to see good as evil and evil as good, in the case of the Gadianton robbers.
*Verse 6- Giddianhi gives no reason as to why HE deserves to have the land, but feels he has the right to it.
Verse 9- Giddianhi believes that the “secret” works of the Gadianton robbers are good. How much Satan can lead us to believe magnificent falsehoods! We need to constantly be on our guard in order to protect ourselves from Satan’s temptations.
*Verse 10- Finally Giddianhi gives the reason that HE and HIS FOLLOWERS deserve the Nephites land: Because of the Nephites (supposed) wickedness in retaining from the robbers the rights to the government. It’s amazing that he wrote these words, believing them in full faith.
*Verse 12- The chief governor, Lachoneus, had faith that Heavenly Father would protect them if they cried unto Him in faith and righteousness.
*Verse 15- Lachoneus reminds the people that unless they repent and humble themselves, they will not be saved.
*Verse 19- In times of righteousness, the people chose prophets to the lead the people, both into battle and at the head of their government. They chose these people because they had the spirit and access to revelations for the people.
*Verse 21- The leader of the armies, Gidgiddoni, counseled the people that if they listened to what the Lord said and prepared in the Lord’s way, they would be saved.
*Verse 25- The people prepared both spiritually and temporally for the war which was about to take place. The people didn’t know when the battle was going to happen, but they were prepared in case it did happen.

WAYS I CAN IMPROVE:
*We, too, can prepare now for the battles that lie ahead. We never know what will happen in our lives. We never know when Satan will try us and tempt us. We need to prepare ourselves now and beware of the cunning darts of the adversary. We need to be aware of the manner in which Satan tempts us. We need to pray humbly and fervently, repenting and asking forgiveness. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us in our daily struggles and in our fight against the adversary if we prepare and show that Heavenly Father is our priority.