Thought Habits
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be controlled. There must be a fixedness of purpose to carry out that
which you shall undertake.—Lt 33, 1886. (HC 112.)
Training the Thoughts—The actual discipline of life is made up
of the little things. The training of the thoughts is essential.—MS 76,
1900.
The training of the heart, the control of the thoughts, in cooperation
with the Holy Spirit, will give control of the words. This is true
wisdom, and will ensure quietness of mind, contentment and peace.
There will be joy in the contemplation of the riches of the grace of
God.—Lt 10, 1894.
Right Thoughts Do Not Come Naturally—There is earnest work
before each one of us. Right thoughts, pure and holy purposes, do not
come to us naturally. We shall have to strive for them.—
The Review
and Herald, November 28, 1899
.
Captive Thoughts—If the life is given into its control, the power
of the truth is unlimited. The thoughts are brought into captivity
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to Jesus Christ. From the treasure of the heart are brought forth
appropriate and fitting words. Especially should our words be guarded.
Writing to Timothy, Paul says, “Hold fast the form of sound words,
which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy
Ghost which dwelleth in us” (
2 Timothy 1:13, 14
).—MS 130, 1897.
Mind Must Be Firmly Controlled—The youth should begin
early to cultivate correct habits of thought. We should discipline
the mind to think in a healthful channel and not permit it to dwell
upon things that are evil. The psalmist exclaims, “Let the words of my
mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O
Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer” (
Psalm 19:14
).
As God works upon the heart by His Holy Spirit, man must co-
operate with Him. The thoughts must be bound about, restricted,
withdrawn from branching out and contemplating things that will only
weaken and defile the soul. The thoughts must be pure, the meditations
of the heart must be clean, if the words of the mouth are to be words
acceptable to Heaven and helpful to your associates.
Christ said to the Pharisees, “O generation of vipers, how can ye,
being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart