Christ has said, "Without me ye can do nothing."  The resolutions you may make in your own finite strength, will be only as ropes of sand; but if you pray in sincerity, surrendering yourself, soul, body, and spirit, unto God, you put on the whole armor of God, and open the soul to the righteousness of Christ; and this alone, -- Christ's imputed righteousness, -- makes you able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  The work of every soul is to resist the enemy in the power and might of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promise is that the devil shall flee from us.  But let all realize that they are in peril, and there is no assurance of safety except as they comply with the conditions of the text.  The Lord says, "Draw nigh to God."  How? -- By secret, earnest examination of your own heart; by childlike, heart-felt, humble dependence upon God, making known your weakness to Jesus; and by confessing your sins.  Thus you may draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  {SD 346.3}

From time to time the Lord has made known his manner of working.  He is mindful of what is passing upon the earth; and when a crisis has come, he has revealed himself, and has interposed to hinder the working of Satan's plans.  He has often permitted matters with nations, with families, and with individuals, to come to a crisis, that his interference might become marked.  Then he has let the fact be known that there was a God in Israel who would sustain and vindicate his people.  When the defiance of the law of Jehovah shall be almost universal, when his people shall be pressed in affliction by their fellow men, God will interpose.  The fervent prayers of his people will be answered; for he loves to have his people seek him with all their heart, and depend upon him as their deliverer.  He will be sought unto to do these things for his people, and he will arise as the protector and avenger of his people.  The promise is, "Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him? ... I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."  {RH, June 15, 1897 par. 12} 

You can be resolute if you will.  It will require higher help than any human friend can give you, but that help is promised, if you yourself will consent to form new habits.  This will require effort on your part, persistent effort; for if Satan sees you taking a step decidedly for Christ, he will employ every ingenious method to deceive and ruin you.  But Christ has provided a refuge for the weak and tempted.  His angels will help, shield, and guide every trusting soul.  {YI, January 25, 1910 par. 8} 

Jesus says, "Abide in Me."  These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence.  Again He invites,"Come unto Me, ... and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28.  The words of the psalmist express the same thought: "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."  And Isaiah gives the assurance, "In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."  Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 30:15.  This rest is not found in inactivity; for in the Saviour's invitation the promise of rest is united with the call to labor: "Take My yoke upon you ... and ye shall find rest."  Matthew 11:29.  The heart that rests most fully upon Christ will be most earnest and active in labor for Him.  {SC 71.1}

It should be our highest aim in life to get ready for heaven.  Sanctification is not the work of a moment, but of a lifetime.  The sinner must repent of his sin, and come to Jesus for pardon.  The promise is, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  "We know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin."  "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not."  Many are deceived on this point.  Their minds are confused, and they do not know what sin is.  But they can know, by studying the word of God.  {5MR 255.2}

It is impossible for any human mind to comprehend all the richness and greatness of even one promise of God.  One catches the glory from one point of view, another the beauty and grace from another point, and the soul is filled with the heavenly light.  If we saw all the glory, the spirit would faint; but we can bear far greater revelations from God's abundant promises than we now enjoy.  It makes my heart sad to think how many lose sight of the fullness of blessing designed for us; they are so contented, feeling. "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing," and know not that they need everything worth having.  {HM, November 1, 1890 par. 15} 

The expression, "He that overcometh," indicates that there is something for every one of us to overcome.  The overcomer is to be clothed in the white raiment of Christ's righteousness, and of him it is written: "I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."  O, what a privilege it is to be an overcomer, and to have our names presented before the Father by the Saviour himself!  And when, as overcomers, we shall be "clothed in white raiment," the Lord will acknowledge our faithfulness as verily as in the days of the early Christian church he acknowledged the "few names even in Sardis" who had "not defiled their garments;" and we shall walk with him in white, for through his atoning sacrifice we shall be accounted worthy.  {RH, July 9, 1908 par. 2} 

My dear friends, in view of these encouraging promises, how earnestly should we strive to perfect a character that will enable us to stand before the Son of God!  Only those who are clothed in the garments of his righteousness will be able to endure the glory of his presence when he shall appear with "power and great glory."  {RH, July 9, 1908 par. 3} 

Many shrink from such a life as our Saviour lived.  They feel that it requires too great a sacrifice to imitate the Pattern, to bring forth fruit in good works, and then patiently endure the pruning of God that they may bring forth more fruit.  But when the Christian regards himself as only a humble instrument in the hands of Christ, and endeavors to faithfully perform every duty, relying upon the help which God has promised, then he will wear the yoke of Christ and find it easy; then he will bear burdens for Christ, and pronounce them light.  He can look up with courage and with confidence, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him."  {RH, April 26, 1881 par. 6} 

We are pilgrims and strangers on this earth, looking for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  The path in which we travel is narrow, and calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice.  We meet with trial and conflict.  But God has not left us to travel without help.  Our pathway to the heavenly Canaan is bordered with the fair flowers of promise.  They blossom all along the way, sending forth their rich fragrance, like the flowers in the gardens of this earth.  {YI, January 23, 1902 par. 2} 

If trial and loss are our lot here, let us remember that the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."  "I reckon," said Paul, "that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  It would be well if we would all begin to reckon as did this hero of faith.  We want an eye single to the glory of God in all the affairs of life; we want a living faith that holds fast the promises of God, no matter how dark the prospect.  We are not to look at the things which are seen, and judge from the world's standpoint, and be ruled by the world's principles; but we are to look at the things which are unseen, eternal.  {RH, February 3, 1885 par. 6} 

Jesus has promised that he will in no wise cast out those who come to him.  We are to come with the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.  What has the Father given the Son?  He has given him every one who has genuine faith in Christ; for this faith will enable its possessor to endure unto the end, and he will be raised up at the last day.  {RH, April 14, 1891 par. 5} 

The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God.  This word imparts power; it begets life.  Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One.  It transforms the nature and re-creates the soul in the image of God.  {Ed 126.4} 

Church membership will not guarantee us heaven.  We must abide in Christ, and his love must abide in us.  We must every day make advancement in the formation of symmetrical character.  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  [Matthew 5:48.]  As God is perfect in his sphere, so are we required to be perfect in ours.  There is a great work before us individually, to reach this high standard.  Our attainments will be just in accordance with the effort we make, our character just what we choose to make it; for through the divine aid promised us, we can overcome.  Jesus knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.  [Psalm 103:14.]  In pitying tenderness he will give us the help and strength we need.  {GW92 446.3}

Our only safety will be found in constantly seeking wisdom from God, in carefully weighing every matter with much fear and trembling, lest there should be brought into the work not the light of heaven, but the weakness of man.  But the Lord has promised to give light to those who seek Him with the whole heart.  If we will but wait patiently and prayerfully upon God, and not follow our own impetuous plans, He will guide our decisions and open many doors of hope and labor.  {TM 211.1}