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Mind Increases Strength by Continual Effort, April 9
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Proverbs 24:5
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Put your highest power into your effort. Call to your aid the most
powerful motives. You are learning. Endeavor to go to the bottom of ev-
erything you set your hand to. Never aim lower than to become competent
in the matters which occupy you. Do not allow yourself to fall into the
habit of being superficial and neglectful in your duties and studies; for
your habits will strengthen and you will become incapable of anything
better. The mind naturally learns to be satisfied with that which requires
little care and effort, and to be content with something cheap and inferior.
There are, young men and young women, depths of knowledge which you
have never fathomed, and you are satisfied and proud of your superficial
attainments. If you knew much more than you do now, you would be
convinced that you know very little.
God demands of you vigorous and earnest intellectual efforts, and with
every determined effort, your powers will strengthen. Your work will then
always be agreeable, because you will know that you are progressing. You
can either become accustomed to slow, uncertain, irresolute movements,
so much so that the work of your life will not be one-half what it could be;
or, your eyes fixed upon God, and your soul strengthened by prayer, you
can overcome a disgraceful slowness and a dislike for work, and train your
mind to think rapidly and to put forth strong efforts at the proper time
God has given the human mind great power, power to show that the
Creator has endowed man with ability to do a great work against the enemy
of all righteousness, power to show what victories may be gained in the
conflict against evil. To those who fulfill God’s purpose for them will be
spoken the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.
[107]
21
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1161, 1162
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22
Letter 141, 1902
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