Character Formation
139
Meditation and Action Essential—Abstract meditation is not
enough; busy action is not enough—both are essential to the formation
of Christian character.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:113
(1882).
Develop Good Mental Habits—If we would develop a character
which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life.
Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual
life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should
accustom ourselves to lift the thoughts often to God in prayer. If the
mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will
finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves
from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at
every step, but only by observing the conditions which He Himself has
laid down.—
The Review and Herald, May 3, 1881
. (
The Sanctified
Life, 93
.)
Earnest Purpose and Steadfast Integrity Essential—Thoroughness
is necessary to success in the work of character building. There must
be an earnest purpose to carry out the plan of the Master Builder. The
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timbers must be solid. No careless, unreliable work can be accepted,
for this would ruin the building. The powers of the whole being are to
be put into the work. It demands the strength and energy of manhood;
there is no reserve to be wasted in unimportant matters.... There must
be earnest, careful, persevering effort to break away from the customs,
maxims, and associations of the world. Deep thought, earnest purpose,
steadfast integrity, are essential.—
Special Testimonies On Education,
75, 76
, c1897. (
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 62
.)
Keeping the Eye on the Goal—Peter says, “Add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and
to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness,
brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity” (
2 Peter 1:5-
7
)....
All these successive steps are not to be kept before the mind’s eye
and counted as you start; but fixing the eye upon Jesus, with an eye
single to the glory of God, you will make advancement. You cannot
reach the full measure of the stature of Christ in a day, and you would
sink in despair could you behold all the difficulties that must be met
and overcome. You have Satan to contend with, and he will seek by
every possible device to attract your mind from Christ.—
The Youth’s
Instructor, January 5, 1893
.(
Messages to Young People, 45, 46
.)