Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

the introduction of food for pure, solid thought.--RH, Nov 9, 1886. (HC 202.) {2MCP
661.3}
Avoid Negative Thinking.--As we are not our own, as we are bought with a price, it
is the duty of everyone who professes to be a Christian to keep his thoughts under the
control of reason and oblige himself to be cheerful and happy. However bitter may be
the cause of his grief, he should cultivate a spirit of rest and quietude in God. The
restfulness which is in Christ Jesus, the peace of Christ, how precious, how healing its
influence, how soothing to the oppressed soul! However dark his prospects, let him
cherish a spirit to hope for good. While nothing is gained by despondency, much is lost.
While cheerfulness and a calm resignation and peace will make others happy and
healthy, it will be of the greatest benefit to oneself. Sadness and talking of disagreeable
things is encouraging the disagreeable scenes, bringing back upon oneself the
disagreeable effect. God wants us to forget all these--not look down but up, up!--Lt 1,
1883. {2MCP 662.1}
Peril of Dwelling on Earthly Things.--If your thoughts, your plans, your purposes,
are all directed toward the accumulation of the things of earth, your anxiety, your study,
your interests, will all be centered upon the world. The heavenly attractions will lose
their beauty. . . . Your heart will be with your treasure. . . . You will have no time to
devote to the study of the Scriptures and to earnest prayer that you may escape the
snares of Satan.-- RH, Sept 1, 1910. (HC 200.) {2MCP 662.2}
Changing the Thought Pattern.--When the mind has been long permitted to dwell
only on earthly things, it is a difficult matter to change the habits of thought. That which
the eye sees and the ear hears too often attracts the attention and absorbs the interest.
But if we would enter the city of God and look upon Jesus and His glory, we must
become accustomed to beholding Him with the
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eye of faith here. The words and the character of Christ should be often the subject of
our thoughts and of our conversation, and each day some time should be especially
devoted to prayerful meditation upon these sacred themes.--RH, May 3, 1881. (SL 91,
92.) {2MCP 662.3}
A Higher Grade of Thought.--Man has revolted from God and has ever since
endeavored to make his scheme of doing as he pleased a success in securing
happiness. But whenever he has sought to fill his mind with any other object than God,
he has been disappointed. There must be an altogether higher grade of thought, an
altogether higher class of studies, and higher objects for you to seek to obtain than you
have had in the past. The disorders and imperfections of human words and human
characters can be restored only by the Lord Jesus Christ. He, then, should be the
object of your contemplation, the theme of your conversation. You must have an
altogether higher exercise of thought and action if you would understand the great plan
of redemption.--MS 13, 1897. {2MCP 663.1}