Emotional Needs
185
the earth, and sanctified sympathy, such as the angels have for sinful
mortals, we must cultivate the sympathies of childhood, which are
simplicity itself.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:539
(1875).
Heart a Wellspring of Love—Neither Brother nor Sister K has
an experience in sacrificing for the truth, in being rich in good works,
laying up their treasures in heaven. Their sympathy, care, and patience
have not been called into exercise by dependent, loving children. They
have consulted their own selfish convenience. Their hearts have not
been a wellspring sending forth the living streams of tenderness and
affection. In blessing others by kindly words of love and acts of mercy
and benevolence they would realize a blessing themselves. They have
been too narrow in their sphere of usefulness.—
Testimonies for the
Church 2:649, 650
(1871).
Love of Self Destroys Peace—It is the love of self that destroys
our peace. While self is all alive, we stand ready continually to guard
it from mortification and insult; but when we are dead, and our life
is hid with Christ in God, we shall not take neglects or slights to
heart. We shall be deaf to reproach and blind to scorn and insult.
[608]
“Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh
not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not
in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things,
believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never
faileth” (
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
, RV).—
Thoughts from the Mount of
Blessing, 16
(1896).
Security Founded on Right Thinking—We need a constant
sense of the ennobling power of pure thoughts. The only security
for any soul is right thinking. As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he”
(
Proverbs 23:7
). The power of self-restraint strengthens by exercise.
That which at first seems difficult, by constant repetition grows easy,
until right thoughts and actions become habitual. If we will we may
turn away from all that is cheap and inferior and rise to a high standard;
we may be respected by men and beloved of God.—
The Ministry of
Healing, 491
(1905).
Lack of Affection Depraves—The Lord presented before Israel
the results of holding communion with evil spirits in the abomina-
tions of the Canaanites: they were without natural affection, idolaters,