The promise is for us: "I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Ezekiel 11:19, 20).  {UL 297.4} 

How wise was the arrangement of God to preserve a knowledge of himself in the earth by giving man his holy law, which was the foundation of his government in heaven and in earth, and by connecting with it a system of worship that would be a continual reminder of a coming Saviour.  While darkness covered the earth, and gross darkness the people, the Lord had a humble few who acknowledged his sovereignty by respecting and obeying the constitution of his kingdom, the ten commandments.  Through the ages of idolatry and apostasy, the promise of a Messiah kept the star of hope shining in the darkened moral heavens until the time came for Christ to make his first advent.  {RH, March 2, 1886 par. 10} 

Our hearts may be filled with all the fullness of God; but there is something for us to do.  We must not pet our faults and sins, but put them away, and make haste to set our hearts in order.  When this is done, let us take the key of faith, and unlock the storehouse of God's rich blessings.  Does he want us to entertain doubt and darkness?  Does he want us to be destitute of his Spirit?  No, indeed.  There is an infinite fullness to draw from; and we have the promise of our divine Lord, "According to your faith be it unto you."  We may win the crown of life, a place at God's right hand, and as we enter the pearly gates, hear the words, sweeter than any music, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."  {ST, August 18, 1887 par. 14} 

Constantly we are to press upward and forward to the light.  It is the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit that is of value with God.  Ornaments of gold and silver are of value only to please the eye and to be commented upon.  "Looking unto Jesus," is the motto we are ever to keep in mind.  "Men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed" (Psalm 72:17).  "Great shall be the peace of thy children" (Isaiah 54:13).  "Blessed are the people whom Thou choosest" (see Psalm 65:4).  "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile ... For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found:  Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.  Thou art my hiding place:  Thou shalt preserve me from trouble:  Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance ... I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye" (Psalm 32:1, 2, 6-8).  These promises are the assurance of God.  {10MR 243.4}

We cannot exert a correct influence when we are under a cloud of anxiety and depression.  We must reach out the hand of faith, and grasp the hand of our Redeemer.  We must not wait for the latter rain.  It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us.  When we gather up the fragments of light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, who loves to have us trust Him, then every promise will be fulfilled.  "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (Isaiah 61:11).  {1MR 177.2} 

Satan claims the world.  He claims us as his.  Then shall we give him that which he claims?  No.  I am somebody else's property.  I have been bought with a price, and my business is to glorify God in my body and spirit.  I have no time to talk unbelief.  It is faith that I must talk.  I must strengthen faith by exercise.  And then my faith grows as I venture upon the promises of God, and I can grasp more and more.  {2MCP 676.2} 

I have chosen Christ as my portion and I want to share with Him in His sufferings and be a partaker with Him in His joy.  If we remain close to our Redeemer He has promised that no one shall pluck us out of His hand.  {5MR 262.2}

The promise of the Spirit is not appreciated as it should be.  Its fulfillment is not realized as it might be.  It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so powerless.  Learning, talents, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment, may be possessed; but without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will be touched, no sinner be won to Christ.  On the other hand, if they are connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts.  God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the universe.  {COL 328.1}

The most hopeless, the most incurable of all sins is pride, self-sufficiency.  This sin stands in the way of all advancement, all growth in grace.  It has caused the ruin of thousands and thousands of souls.  A man may be a great sinner, but if he realizes that he has sinned against God, if he repents and confesses his sin, and strives to make restitution for the past, he will receive forgiveness.  God declares, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."  His promise to the contrite, repentant soul is, "Tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  {ST, April 9, 1902 par. 1} 

Pray with simple faith.  In the future world we shall see what great victories have been won by the prayer of faith.  Prayer has "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions [not only beasts of prey, but human beings], quenched the violence of fire, [we shall know what this means when we hear the reports of the martyrs who died for their faith and felt no pain], escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" [Hebrews 11:33, 34].  {21MR 43.3} 

This life of sanctification and joy in believing is for every soul who in faith will claim the promises of the Word of God, and draw upon divine strength for the work of overcoming.  {4MR 356.2} 

In God you can do valiantly.  Tell it to the Lord in prayer, talk it to the Lord by the way.  "Thee I seek; Thee I will follow; Thee I will serve.  Under the shadow of Thy wings will I abide.  Command me as Thou wilt; I will obey Thy voice."  Yield always to the heavenly guidance.  When trials come, possess your soul in patience.  Wait on the Lord and have one purpose in view, to seek the eternal good of all those with whom you are connected, holding fast your integrity in the strength of your God.  He will redeem His promise.  Your bread shall be provided; your water shall be sure.  This means not only temporal bread and water but the bread and water of eternal life.  {TMK 268.3} 

I must trust in Him irrespective of the changes of my emotional atmosphere.  I must show forth the praises of Him who has called me out of darkness into His marvelous light.  My heart must be steadfast in Christ, my Saviour, beholding His love and gracious goodness.  I must not trust Him now and then, but always, that I may manifest the results of abiding in Him who has bought me with His precious blood.  We must learn to believe the promises, to have an abiding faith so that we may take them as the sure word of God.  {10MR 79.3} 

Self-denial and cross-bearing are essential to our own good and our success in the perfection of Christian character.  "Draw nigh to God," who is the source of all power, "and he will draw nigh to you."  What is the promise? -- "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."  "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."  {RH, December 9, 1890 par. 11}