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Training the Thoughts, April 16
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the
end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 1:13
.
Many need to make a decided change in the tenor of their thoughts
and actions, if they would please Jesus.
The thoughts must be trained. Gird up the loins of the mind that it
shall work in the right direction, and after the order of well-formed plans;
then every step is one in advance, and no effort or time is lost in following
vague ideas and random plans. We must consider the aim and object
of life, and ever keep worthy purposes in view. Every day the thoughts
should be trained and kept to the point as the compass to the pole. Every
one should have his aims and purposes, and then make every thought
and action of that character to accomplish that which he purposes. The
thoughts must be controlled. There must be a fixedness of purpose to
carry out that which you shall undertake....
No one but yourself can control your thoughts. In the struggle to
reach the highest standard, success or failure will depend much upon the
character, and the manner in which the thoughts are disciplined. If the
thoughts are well girded, as God directs they shall be each day, they will
be upon those subjects that will help us to greater devotion. If the thoughts
are right, then as a result the words will be right; the actions will be of
that character to bring gladness and comfort and rest to souls....
Those who move without thoughtful consideration move unwisely.
They make fitful efforts, strike out here and there, catch at this and that,
but it amounts to nothing. They resemble the vine; its tendrils untrained
and left to struggle out in every direction will fasten upon any rubbish
within their reach; but before the vine can be of any use these tendrils must
be broken off from the things they have grasped, and trained to entwine
about those things which will make them graceful and well formed.
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