Chapter 26—A Helmet for Protection
And take the helmet of salvation.
Ephesians 6:17
.
God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires
us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the
great plan of redemption. Then clearer and still clearer will be our perception
of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought.
The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed
by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures.
The mind must be educated and disciplined to love purity. A love for
spiritual things should be encouraged; yea, must be encouraged, if you would
grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.... Good purposes are right,
but will prove of no avail unless resolutely carried out. Many will be lost
while hoping and desiring to be Christians; but they made no earnest effort,
therefore they will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. The will
must be exercised in the right direction. I will be a wholehearted Christian. I
will know the length and breadth, the height and depth, of perfect love. Listen
to the words of Jesus: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled” (
Matthew 5:6
). Ample provisions are
made by Christ to satisfy the soul that hungers and thirsts for righteousness.
We should meditate upon the Scriptures, thinking soberly and candidly
upon the things that pertain to our eternal salvation. The infinite mercy and
love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call for most serious and
solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer
and Intercessor. We should seek to comprehend the meaning of the plan of
salvation. We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save
His people from their sins. By constantly contemplating heavenly themes,
our faith and love will grow stronger. Our prayers will be more and more
acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith
and love. They will be more intelligent and fervent. There will be more
constant confidence in Jesus, and you will have a daily, living experience in
the willingness and power of Christ to save unto the uttermost all that come
unto God by Him.
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