Sound Mind in a Sound Body I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:8, 9 – {ML 153.1} The Christian should live so near to God that he may approve things that are excellent, “being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” His heart should be attuned to gratitude and praise. He should be ever ready to acknowledge the blessings he is receiving, remembering who it is that has said, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me.” … – {ML 153.2} It is the duty of every one to cultivate cheerfulness instead of brooding over sorrow and troubles. Many not only make themselves wretched in this way, but they sacrifice health and happiness to a morbid imagination. There are things in their surroundings that are not agreeable, and their countenances wear a continual frown that, more plainly than words, expresses discontent. These depressing emotions are a great injury to them healthwise, for by hindering the process of digestion they interfere with nutrition. While grief and anxiety cannot remedy a single evil, they can do great harm; but cheerfulness and hope, while they brighten the pathway of others, “are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” – {ML 153.3} Christ came to restore to its original loveliness a world ruined by sin…. In the new earth there will be no sin nor disease…. And the body will be restored to its original perfection. We shall wear the spotless image of our Lord…. – {ML 153.4} The development of Christian character, tending toward this state of perfection, is a growth toward beauty…. As the heart becomes transformed by the renewing of the mind, the graces of the Spirit leave their impress on the face, and it expresses the refinement, delicacy, peace, benevolence, and pure and tender love that reign in the heart…. – {ML 153.5} * * * * * Give “thanks always for all things unto God.” – {My Life Today 153.6} Ellen G....

The Way, the Truth, and the Life “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” ( John 14:1-6...

  Prayer for Mercy, with Meditation on the Excellencies of the Lord.  A Prayer of David.  “Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me; For I am poor and needy.  Preserve my life, for I am holy; You are my God; Save Your servant who trusts in You!  Be merciful to me, O Lord, For I cry to You all day long.  Rejoice the soul of Your servant, For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.  In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.  Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.  All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify Your name.  For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.   Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.   O God, the proud have risen against me, And a mob of violent men have sought my life, And have not set You before them.  But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Long-suffering and abundant in mercy and truth.   Oh, turn to me, and have mercy on me! Give Your strength to Your servant, And save the son of Your maidservant.  Show me a sign for good, That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed, Because You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.”   Psalm 86  (New King James Version (NKJV)...

Seeing The Invisible “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18...

A Prayer of Repentance. To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. ” Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your loving-kindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. 16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. 18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.”   Psalm 51 New King James Version...

Prosper and Be in Health “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2) The Saviour in His miracles revealed the power that is continually at work in man’s behalf to sustain and to heal him. Through the agencies of nature, God is working, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, to keep us alive, to build up and restore us. When any part of the body sustains injury, a healing process is at once begun; nature’s agencies are set at work to restore soundness. But the power working through these agencies is the power of God. All life-giving power is from Him. When one recovers from disease, it is God who restores him. . . . The words spoken to Israel are true today of those who recover health of body or health of soul. “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” The desire of God for every human being is expressed in the words, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power–these are the true remedies. The things of nature are God’s blessings, provided to give health to body, mind, and soul. They are given to the well to keep them well and to the sick to make them well. . . . Nature is God’s physician. The pure air, the glad sunshine, the beautiful flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards, and outdoor exercise amid these surroundings are health giving–the elixir of life. Nothing so tends to restore health and happiness as living amid attractive country surroundings. Life in the open air is good for body and mind. It is God’s medicine for the restoration of health. * * * * * True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. From My Life Today – Page 140 Ellen G....