12
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
Mind.”
]—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 53, 54, 1890
.
(
Counsels on Diet and Foods, 166, 167
.)
Misuse of Physical Powers Unbalances Nervous System—The
misuse of our physical powers shortens the period of time in which our
lives can be used for the glory of God. And it unfits us to accomplish
the work God has given us to do. By allowing ourselves to form wrong
habits, by keeping late hours, by gratifying appetite at the expense of
health, we lay the foundation for feebleness. By neglecting physical
exercise, by overworking mind or body, we unbalance the nervous
system.
Those who thus shorten their lives and unfit themselves for service
by disregarding nature’s laws are guilty of robbery toward God. And
[383]
they are robbing their fellowmen also. The opportunity of blessing
others, the very work for which God sent them into the world, has
by their own course of action been cut short. And they have unfitted
themselves to do even that which in a briefer period of time they might
have accomplished. The Lord holds us guilty when by our injurious
habits we thus deprive the world of good.—
Christ’s Object Lessons,
346, 347
(1900).
Idleness Weakens Brain Power—The reason the youth have so
little strength of brain and muscle is because they do so little in the
line of useful labor. “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom,
pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and
in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and
needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before
Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good” (
Ezekiel 16:49, 50
).—
Testimonies for the Church 4:96
(1876).
Manual Labor Relaxes the Mind—The whole system needs the
invigorating influence of exercise in the open air. A few hours of
manual labor each day would tend to renew the bodily vigor and rest
and relax the mind.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:264, 265
(1896).
Bathing Invigorates Body and Mind—Whether a person is sick
or well, respiration is more free and easy if bathing is practiced. By
it the muscles become more flexible, the mind and body are alike
invigorated, the intellect is made brighter, and every faculty becomes
livelier.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:70
(1872).
Rest Versus Stimulants—Wrong physical habits injure the brain,
and the whole system becomes deranged. An effort may be made to