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The Ministry of Health and Healing
Minds that have been given up to loose thought need to change.
“Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully
upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former
lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you
also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I
am holy.’”
1 Peter 1:13-16
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The thoughts must be centered upon God. We must put forth
earnest effort to overcome the evil tendencies of the natural heart.
Our efforts, our self-denial and perseverance, must be proportion-
ate to the infinite value of the object we are pursuing. Only by
overcoming as Christ overcame shall we win the crown of life.
The Need of Self-renunciation
Our great danger is in being self-deceived, indulging self-
sufficiency, and thus separating from God, the source of our strength.
Our natural tendencies, unless corrected by the Holy Spirit of God,
have in them the seeds of moral death. Unless we become vitally
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connected with God, we cannot resist the unhallowed effects of
self-indulgence, self-love, and temptation to sin.
In order to receive help from Christ, we must realize our need.
We must have a true knowledge of ourselves. Christ can save only
those who know themselves to be sinners. Only as we see our utter
helplessness and renounce all self-trust shall we lay hold on divine
power.
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renun-
ciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is
to be renewed. All our good works are dependent on a power outside
of ourselves. Therefore there needs to be a continual reaching out
of the heart after God, a constant, earnest confession of sin and
humbling of the soul before Him. Perils surround us, and we are
safe only as we feel our weakness and cling with the grasp of faith
to our mighty Deliverer.