Communication
161
sual, the earthly, is interpreted by such to be heavenly.—
Testimonies
for the Church 5:600
(1889).
Reaching Out for Human Sympathy—When the conversation
is of a frivolous character and savors of a dissatisfied reaching out
after human sympathy and appreciation, it springs from love-sick
sentimentalism, and neither the youth nor the men with gray hairs are
secure. When the truth of God is an abiding principle in the heart, it
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will be like a living spring. Attempts may be made to repress it, but
it will gush forth in another place; it is there and cannot be repressed.
The truth in the heart is a wellspring of life. It refreshes the weary
and restrains vile thought and utterance.—
Testimonies for the Church
5:600, 601
(1889).
Never Utter a Word of Doubt—All have trials—griefs hard to
bear, temptations hard to resist. Do not tell your troubles to your fellow
mortals but carry everything to God in prayer. Make it a rule never
to utter one word of doubt or discouragement. You can do much to
brighten the life of others and strengthen their efforts, by words of
hope and holy cheer.—
Steps to Christ, 119, 120
(1892).
Our Words Influence Us—The words are more than an indication
of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are
influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse,
prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising,
expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression
reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words and come to
believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once
expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract
it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe
that they are.
It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt, dangerous to question and
criticize divine light. The habit of careless and irreverent criticism
reacts upon the character in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many
a man indulging this habit has gone on unconscious of danger until
he was ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit.—
The
Desire of Ages, 323
(1898).
Words of Reproach React on Oneself—Words of reproach react
on one’s own soul. The training of the tongue should begin with
ourselves personally. Let us speak evil of no man.—MS 102, 1904.
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