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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
Take Hold of God and Move Forward—God has given man
intellect, and endowed him with capacities for improvement. Then let
there be a strong taking hold upon God, a putting away of frivolity,
amusement, and all uncleanness. Overcome all defects of character.
Although there is a natural tendency to pursue a downward course,
there is a power that will be brought to combine with man’s earnest
effort. His willpower will have a counteracting tendency. If he will
combine with this divine help, he may resist the voice of the tempter.
But Satan’s temptations harmonize with his defective, sinful tenden-
cies, and urge him to sin. All he has to do is to follow the leader Jesus
Christ who will tell him just what to do. God beckons to you from His
throne in heaven, presenting to you a crown of immortal glory, and
bids you to fight the good fight of faith and run the race with patience.
Trust in God every moment. He is faithful that leadeth forward.—
Letter 26d, 1887
God’s High Ideal for His Children—Higher than the highest
human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness—
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godlikeness—is the goal to be reached. Before the student there is
opened a path of continual progress. He has an object to achieve, a
standard to attain, that includes everything good, and pure, and noble.
He will advance as fast and as far as possible in every branch of true
knowledge. But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher
than mere selfish and temporal interests as the heavens are higher than
the earth.—
Education, 18, 19
(1903).
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