New Wineskins 7 of 21 – Overcoming Defects of Character

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you seriously engage in this battle to overcome your defects of character:

When a man is earnestly engaged day by day in overcoming the defects in his character, he is cherishing Christ in his soul-temple; the light of Christ is in him. Under the bright beams of the light of Christ’s countenance his entire being becomes elevated and ennobled. He has the peace of heaven in his soul. Many give loose rein to passion, avarice, selfishness, and deception, and all the time excuse themselves and lay the blame on the circumstances which brought around the trial to themselves. But by resisting or enduring temptation, circumstances are controlled by the might of the will, even our faith.

With the wild mountains surrounding him, alone with God, Moses had a precious opportunity to learn himself, to discern his pride and self-exaltation, and to overcome the habits formed amid the luxury, ease, and indulgence of court life.  The conflict was most trying, the effort long, to bring heart and mind on all points in harmony with truth and with Heaven; but Moses was finally a victor.  He came forth from the proving of God,

mild in spirit,

patient in temper,

generous toward the erring,

kind,

reverent,

and humble,

one of the meekest of men in his association with the world.

(4T 346; Signs of the Times, 2.19.1880)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Forgive me for giving “loose rein” to my tongue, my thoughts, my selfish desires-, and for the excuses I make for myself!   Oh, how I crave the experience described in this passage— though the conflict be trying and the effort long, bring my heart and mind on all points in harmony with You, and make me a victor.

Please give me the courage and strength to resist temptation and help me to decide for You in every battle that wars in my soul between good and evil.  You tell me not to remember the former things, for even now, You are doing this new thing in me.  I hear you saying, “Don’t you recognize it?  I’m making a road in your wilderness and rivers in your desert!  I will not leave a stone unturned in your experience!”  Help me to BELIEVE it; give me faith to know that because You said it, and I claim it, it is as good as done!  And where my faith falters, Lord, help my unbelief!

And now I proclaim the name of the Lord and ascribe to Your greatness, for You are The Rock;

Your work is perfect and

all Your ways are justice,

a God of truth and without injustice;

You are righteous and upright,

merciful and gracious,

longsuffering, and

abounding in goodness and truth,

keeping mercy for thousands,

forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

I praise You because with You ALL things are possible, and You who call me are faithful, who also will do it!  In my Deliverer Jesus’ name I pray all this, Amen.

Is. 43:18,19; Mark 9:24; 11:24; Deut. 32:3,4; Ex. 34:6,7; 1 Thess. 5:24

Study Psalm 116 and “return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.”