Personal Devotions
21
wish to arrive at the perfection of Christian character. Many acts which
pass for good works, even deeds of benevolence, will, when closely
investigated, be found to be prompted by wrong motives. Many receive
applause for virtues which they do not possess. The Searcher of hearts
inspects motives, and often the deeds which are highly applauded by
men are recorded by Him as springing from selfish motives and base
hypocrisy. Every act of our lives, whether excellent and praiseworthy
or deserving of censure, is judged by the Searcher of hearts according
to the motives which prompted it.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:511,
512
.
One hour’s meditation is more valuable than days spent study-
ing the most able authors—Bro. Hull, God wants you to come nearer
to Him, where you can take hold of His strength, and by living faith
claim His salvation, and be a strong man. If you were a devotional,
godly man in the pulpit and out, a mighty influence would attend your
preaching. You do not closely search your own heart. You have studied
[26]
many works to make your discourses thorough, able, and pleasing.
But the greatest and most necessary study you have neglected—the
study of yourself. A thorough knowledge of yourself, meditation and
prayer, have been neglected by you too much. They have come in
as secondary things. Your success as a minister depends upon your
keeping your own heart. You will receive more strength by spending
one hour each day in meditation, and mourning over your failings
and heart-corruptions, and pleading for God’s pardoning love, and
the assurance of sins forgiven, than you would by spending many
hours and days in studying the most able authors, and making yourself
acquainted with every objection to our faith, and the most powerful
evidences in favor of our faith.—
The Review and Herald, January 19,
1864
.
A large portion of the time being spent in study should rather
be spent in prayer and meditation—I was shown that the time that
is consumed in so much reading and study is often worse than thrown
away. A large portion of the time spent over books and in studying
should be spent before God imploring Him for heavenly wisdom and
for strength and power to let the truth, which they do fully understand,
shine out before the people in its clearness and harmonious beauty.
There is too little time spent in secret prayer and in sacred meditation.
The cry of God’s servants should be for the holy unction and to be