Spiritual Influences and the Mind
31
The Victory May Be Gained—Through the cultivation of righ-
teous principles, man may gain the victory over the bias to evil. If
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he is obedient to the law of God, the senses are no longer warped
and twisted; the faculties are no longer perverted and wasted by being
exercised on objects that are of a character to lead away from God. In
and through the grace bestowed by Heaven, the words, the thoughts,
and the energies may be purified; a new character may be formed, and
the debasement of sin overcome.—
Manuscript 601, 1905.
Wavering Mind Beginning of Temptation—The beginning of
yielding to temptation is in the sin of permitting the mind to waver, to
be inconsistent in your trust in God. The wicked one is ever watching
for a chance to misrepresent God and to attract the mind to that which
is forbidden.
If he can, he will fasten the mind upon the things of the world.
He will endeavor to excite the emotions, to arouse the passions, to
fasten the affections on that which is not for your good; but it is for you
to hold every emotion and passion under control, in calm subjection
to reason and conscience. Then Satan loses his power to control the
mind.
The work to which Christ calls us is to the work of progressive
conquest over spiritual evil in our characters. Natural tendencies are
to be overcome.... Appetite and passion must be conquered, and the
will must be placed wholly on the side of Christ.—.
The Review and
Herald, June 14, 1892
. (HC 87.)
None Need Despair Because of Inherited Tendencies—Satan is
ever on the alert to deceive and mislead. He is using every enchant-
ment to allure men into the broad road of disobedience. He is working
to confuse the senses with erroneous sentiments and remove the land-
marks by placing his false inscription on the signposts which God has
established to point the right way. It is because these evil agencies
are striving to eclipse every ray of light from the soul that heavenly
beings are appointed to do their work of ministry, to guide, guard,
and control those who shall be heirs of salvation. None need despair
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because of the inherited tendencies to evil, but when the Spirit of God
convicts of sin, the wrongdoer must repent and confess and forsake
the evil. Faithful sentinels are on guard to direct souls in right paths.—
Manuscript 8, 1900.
(
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 6:1120
.)