As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  Psalm 42:1.  {HP 85.1}

He who is a citizen of the heavenly kingdom will be constantly looking at things not seen.  The power of earth over the mind and character is broken.  He has the abiding presence of the heavenly Guest, in accordance with the promise, "I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21).  He walks with God as did Enoch, in constant communion ... {HP 85.2} 

Daily beset by temptation, constantly opposed by the leaders of the people, Christ knew that He must strengthen His humanity by prayer.  In order to be a blessing to men He must commune with God, pleading for energy, perseverance, and steadfastness.  Thus He showed His disciples where His strength lay.  Without this daily communion with God no human being can gain power for service.  It is the privilege of every one to commit himself, with all his trials and temptations, his sorrows and disappointments, to the loving heavenly Father.  No one who does this, who makes God his confidant, will fall a prey to the enemy.  {HP 85.3} 

Our heavenly Father has not sent angels from heaven to preach salvation to men.  He has opened to us the precious truths of His Word and implanted the truth in our hearts that we may give it to those who are in darkness.  If we have indeed tasted of the precious gifts of God in His promises, we are to impart this knowledge to others ... {HP 331.4} 

Tempted souls, whose hearts have ever been at war with the faithful reproving of sin, would cry, Speak unto us smooth things.  What disposition will these make of the message of the True Witness to the Laodiceans?  There can be no deception here.  This message must be borne to a lukewarm church by God's servants.  This message must arouse the people of God from their security and dangerous deception in regard to their real standing before God.  This testimony, if received, will arouse to action, and lead to self-abasement, and confessions of sins.  The True Witness says, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot."  And again, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent."  Then comes the promise, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  "To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."  {RH, September 16, 1873 par. 23} 

Our trust must be wholly in God.  He will be to us a present help in every time of need.  Let us wait upon the Lord and exercise faith in His promises.  He will hear us.  Only believe.  The Captain of our salvation will not leave us to guide our own bark.  We shall have His help and His wisdom just when He sees we need it.  {TDG 361.6} 

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Psalm 51:10.  {HP 24.1}

Let your cry be to God, Convert my inmost soul.  Plead with God for the transforming power of His grace.  Hold fast to your Saviour as did Jacob, until God shall not only reveal to you yourself but shall reveal to you Himself and you shall see in Jesus a strength and support, a brightness and power, you have never sensed and realized.  Your soul's salvation is in great peril, and now do not, I plead with you, deceive your own soul.  If your faith perseveringly grasps the promises, you will prevail.  This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  {HP 24.2}

I praise the Lord this morning for the peace I enjoy.  There is perfect rest for me in the Lord.  I trust in His love.  Why should we not rest in the love of God, the assurance of His word?  What saith Jesus?  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  What can be more positive than this promise?  "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).  Then come; let us who believe in Jesus Christ not delay a moment, but come.  {TDG 158.2} 

The promise is given, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."  It is the striving souls who receive the assistance of heaven and partake of its elements.  It is by test and trial that the followers of Christ are fitted to dwell with Him in the heavenly courts.  {PC 253.1}

In His parting conversation with His disciples on the night before the crucifixion, the Saviour made no reference to the suffering that He had endured and must yet endure.  He did not speak of the humiliation that was before Him, but sought to bring to their minds that which would strengthen their faith, leading them to look forward to the joys that await the overcomer.  He rejoiced in the consciousness that He could and would do more for His followers than He had promised; that from Him would flow forth love and compassion, cleansing the soul temple, and making men like Him in character; that His truth, armed with the power of the Spirit, would go forth conquering and to conquer.  {RC 44.5} 

"These things I have spoken unto you," He said, "that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).   {RC 44.6} 

 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  1 Corinthians 10:4. {TMK 24.1} 

Christ combines the two types.  He is the rock, He is the living water.  {TMK 24.2} 

The same beautiful and expressive figures are carried throughout the Bible.  Centuries before the advent of Christ, Moses pointed to Him as the rock of Israel's salvation; the psalmist sung of Him as "my redeemer," "the rock of my strength," "the rock that is higher than I," "a rock of habitation," "rock of my heart," "rock of my refuge."  In David's song His grace is pictured also as the cool, "still waters," amid green pastures, beside which the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock.  Again, "Thou shalt make them," he says, "drink of the river of thy pleasures.  For with thee is the fountain of life."  And the wise man declares, "The wellspring of wisdom {is} as a flowing brook."  To Jeremiah, Christ is "the fountain of living waters"; to Zechariah, "a fountain opened ... for sin and for uncleanness."  {TMK 24.3} 

Isaiah describes Him as the "rock of ages," and "the shadow of a great rock in a weary land."  And he records the precious promise, bringing vividly to mind the living stream that flowed for Israel: "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."  "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground"; "in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."  The invitation is given, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters."  And in the closing pages of the sacred word this invitation is echoed.  The river of the water of life, "clear as crystal," proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb; and the gracious call is ringing down through the ages, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."  {TMK 24.4} 

Isaiah 65:17 

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

The Majesty of heaven has invited the weary ones: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."  The reason the burden sometimes seems so heavy and the yoke so galling is because you have got above the meekness and lowliness possessed by our divine Lord.  Cease trying to gratify and exalt self; but rather let self be hidden in Jesus, and learn of Him who has invited you and promised you rest.  {4T 101.2} 

Satan watches his opportunity to bring about circumstances that will tend to arouse unbelief, hoping to lead us to doubt God.  We cannot afford to cherish one thought of unbelief.  When we are tempted to look on the dark side, let us open the windows of the soul heavenward, that the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness may shine in.  Let us draw near to God.  He has promised that as we do this He will draw near to us and lift up for us a standard against the enemy.  The efficiency of His keeping power has in no wise decreased.  Let faith stand its trial without wavering, for Christ is a perfect Saviour.  {HP 120.5} 

Jesus is more precious to the soul that beholds Him by the eye of faith than is anything else beside, and the believing soul is more precious to Jesus than fine gold of Ophir.  Christ looks upon His hands -- the marks of the crucifixion are there -- and He says, "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me" (Isaiah 49:16).  The Christian is walled in by the rich full promises of an infinite God.  {TMK 61.4} 

The Lord is coming with power and great glory.  All who have made Christ their refuge will reflect His image, and they will be like Him, for they shall see Him as He is.  They are to be presented to Him without "spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Ephesians 5:27).  {TMK 61.5} 

The Creator of all worlds proposes to love those who believe in His only-begotten Son as their personal Saviour, even as He loves His Son.  Even here and now His gracious favor is bestowed upon us to this marvelous extent.  He has given to men the gift of the Light and Majesty of heaven, and with Him He has bestowed all the treasures of heaven.  Much as He has promised us for the life to come, He also bestows princely gifts upon us in this life, and as subjects of His grace, He would have us enjoy everything that will ennoble, expand, and elevate our characters.  It is His design to fit us for the heavenly courts above.  {Mar 357.3}