within a hundred miles of you who observes the Sabbath, the whole universe
of heaven is in sympathy with you. Christ your Saviour and the heavenly
angels are round about you. If you will call upon God in every time of need,
He will be your helper. Practice the truth in your home. “Ye are My witnesses,
saith the Lord.”
The Witness of a Christian Mother. But I am not able to write you more.
If you love the father of your children, live the life of a Christian at all times
and under all circumstances. If you had done this, God would have worked
in your behalf. But when you please yourself, and displease your heavenly
Father, how can the Lord work in your behalf?
May the Lord help you, my poor, dear, tempted one, to choose the right
way just now. May He help you to give your husband and children a testimony
that you are a Christian in practice, that you love God, that you love Jesus,
who gave His life for you. And as your day is, so shall your strength be. [See
Deuteronomy 33:25.]—Letter 76, 1896.
The Winning of a Non-Christian Companion. My sister, our Saviour is a
present help in every time of need. Do not distrust Him. Do not take your
troubles to human beings; take them to the Lord. You may think that others
should sympathize with you in your downcast feelings, but you will sometimes
be disappointed. Jesus never disappoints one who comes to Him for help.
Are you one that makes mistakes? Go to Jesus, and ask Him to forgive
you, and then believe that He does. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [1 John
1:9]. Ask the Lord to pardon your errors, then rejoice in Him. It will not help
you in the least to keep mourning over your defects. Say, “Lord, I cast my
helpless soul on Thee,
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and Thee alone. I will not worry, because Thou hast said, ‘Ask, and ye shall
receive.”’ Believe that you do receive. Believe that your Saviour is full of
compassion, full of tender pity and love. Let not little mishaps trouble you.
Small mistakes may be ordered by the Lord to save you from making larger
mistakes.
No Argument With Satan. Act your part in helping yourself, as all must do
who would be blessed. Believe that Christ helps you. Refuse to speak a word
of unbelief. When the enemy tells you that the Lord has forsaken you, tell him
that you know He has not, for He declares, “I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.”
Jesus says, “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out” [John 6:37].
Then, my sister, dismiss the enemy. Tell him that you will not dishonor God
by doubting His mercy, His goodness, His love. Never argue with Satan, for
he has wonderful powers of deception. If, when he went to Adam and Eve,
they had kept repeating the words of God, saying “He hath said, and I believe
His word, I will not distrust Him,” they would not have been overcome.
Singing Better Than Bemoaning. Instead of bemoaning your weakness and
talking unbelief and feeling that you are hardly used, begin to sing. Talk of
the mercy and love of God. To all who labor and are heavy laden Christ gives
the invitation, “Come unto Me, ... 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. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” [Matthew
11:28-30]. This is the lesson that Christ desires you to learn, and in learning it
you will find rest.
Gentle Words. When discouraging words are spoken to you, do not reply
unless you can return a pleasant answer. When you are tried and temp