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Security Only in Right Thinking, August 4
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23
.
As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he.”
Proverbs 23:7
. Many
thoughts make up the unwritten history of a single day; and these
thoughts have much to do with the formation of character. Our thoughts
are to be strictly guarded; for one impure thought makes a deep im-
pression on the soul. An evil thought leaves an evil impress on the
mind. If the thoughts are pure and holy, the man is better for having
cherished them. By them the spiritual pulse is quickened, and the power
for doing good is increased. And as one drop of rain prepares the way
for another in moistening the earth, so one good thought prepares the
way for another.
Wrong habits of thought, when once accepted, become a despotic
power that fastens the mind as in a grasp of steel.
The thoughts are not to be allowed to run riot. They must be re-
strained, brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Let them be
placed upon holy things. Then, through the grace of Christ, they will be
pure and true. We need a constant sense of the ennobling power of pure
thoughts. The only security for any soul is right thinking.
Our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell,
and if we think upon earthly things, we shall fail to take the impress of
that which is heavenly. We would be greatly benefited by contemplating
the mercy, goodness, and love of God; but we sustain great loss by
dwelling upon those things which are earthly and temporal.
Although there may be a tainted, corrupted atmosphere around us,
we need not breathe its miasma, but may live in the pure air of heaven.
We may close every door to impure imaginings and unholy thoughts by
lifting the soul into the presence of God through sincere prayer. Those
whose hearts are open to receive the support and blessing of God will
walk in a holier atmosphere than that of earth and will have constant
communion with Heaven.
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