Developing Good Habits

Today's Devotion Thursday, July 18, 2019

Developing Good Habits

Today's Text I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. Psalm 119:101

We are nearing the end of time, and we want now, not to meet the world's tastes and practices, but to meet the mind of God; to see what saith the Scriptures, and then to walk according to the light which God has given us. Testimonies for the Church 5:506. The youth are forming habits which will, in nine cases out of ten, decide their future. The influence of the company they keep, the associations they form, and the principles they adopt will be carried with them through life. Testimonies for the Church 4:426. We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others. Testimonies for the Church 4:452. There is no need of being spiritual dwarfs if the mind is continually exercised in spiritual things. But merely praying for this, and about this, will not meet the necessities of the case. You must habituate the mind to concentration upon spiritual things. Exercise will bring strength. Many professed Christians are in a fair way to lose both worlds. To be half a Christian and half a worldly man makes you about one-hundredth part a Christian and all the rest worldly. Testimonies for the Church 2:264. The mind must be educated and disciplined to love purity. A love for spiritual things should be encouraged; yea, must be encouraged, if you would grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.... The will must be exercised in the right direction. I will be a whole-hearted Christian. I will know the length and breadth, the height and depth, of perfect love. Listen to the words of Jesus: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6. Ample provisions are made by Christ to satisfy the soul that hungers and thirst for righteousness. Testimonies for the Church 2:264-266. Note: In some areas phrases have been omitted by the compilers for whatever reason. I have restored them as underlined text, that the full intent of the author may be given.

My Thoughts: My friend, when we accept Christ as our Savior and receive the new birth of His Spirit within us, we are saved. Jesus said "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24). At the moment that we have received Christ the work of sanctification begins. Our salvation is not based upon our ability to keep the law of God, but upon the merits of Jesus Christ. The process of fitting us for heaven is the work of Christ to within our hearts. Sanctification is the work of our whole lives and must be done in cooperation with the Son of God dwelling within us. The essence of our lives is manifested in our characters, and what distinguishes us from one another is our characters. Being born with carnal hearts, our characters have been corrupted by sin. The work of sanctification is the work of purifying our characters and fitting us for heaven. The work of sanctification is the work of the Spirit of Christ within the heart. Our part in the sanctification of our lives is to surrender our wills to His. The sinful habits that we have were not developed in an instant, but have been learned over time, thus time is needed to remove them from our characters. My friend, as we daily spend time with Jesus, denying self and surrendering our lives to His, our defects of character are overwritten by the righteous character of Jesus, and new habits of righteousness are formed within. When we fill our minds with the things of God, renewed in spirit, we will begin to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1, 2). May you present yourself as a living sacrifice to God today, that the renewing of your mind may bring honor and glory to God. God bless,

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Part 2: The Second Angels Message - Wes Taitague In part 2 of the True Three Angels Message Series, we take a look at how the change in the focus of the first angels message has led the remnant church away from the message of the One true God and to a false experience of righteousness by faith. This message was presented at the Advent Bible Fellowship on Guam, July 6, 2019 RESOURCES: Archive of Daily Devotions Melodies of Prayer Free Bible & Commentary Bible Study Resources The Truth About God The Final Protest Revelation1412.org Recommended YouTube Channels (New) The Advent Bible Fellowship YouTube channel Open Face Fellowship Revelation 14:12 Pro-life Andrew Smyrna Gospel Ministry Line of Truth Ministries

Friday: Unashamed of Jesus