Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17.

Into the daily life there come many perplexing problems that we cannot solve. There are those who wish to adjust every difficulty, to settle every question, before they begin to work. Such will surely fail. In the end, the future will be just as indistinct, and the problems just as perplexing, as when they began to speculate. It is in following the light given that we receive greater light….

Move forward at the call of God. When He points out a work to be done, in His name and with full faith take up that work. You may not see the end from the beginning. Perplexities may surround you. Your brethren may tell you of the lions in the way. But, nevertheless, go forward, saying, “The Lord wants this work done, and I will not fail nor be discouraged. I will act my part.” …

There are critics who, if you listen to their words, will rob you of all heart and hope. Do not allow them to discourage you. Say, “God abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.” He has given to every man his work, and He calls upon all to begin to work just where they are. He cannot do what He desires to do until the human agent acts his part.

At times the arm of faith seems too short even to touch the Saviour’s garment, but there stands the promise, with God behind it: “Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not” (Isaiah 58:9-11)….

It is not our efforts that bring victory. It is seeing God behind the promise, and believing and trusting Him. Grasp by faith the hand of infinite power. The Lord is faithful who hath promised.

Questions will arise that cannot be settled by any amount of thinking. Do not spend time trying to settle them. Take up the work waiting to be done, trusting in God as your wisdom. His righteousness will go before you, and the questions that have troubled you will answer themselves.—Manuscript 54, April 29, 1902, “How to Solve Perplexing Problems.”

From The Upward Look – Page 133

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. Psalm 116:13.

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, 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.

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 am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13)….

Instead of bemoaning your weakness, and talking unbelief, and feeling that you are hardly used [i.e., abused], 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….

Study the life that Christ lived while on this earth. He did not disregard the simplest, smallest duty that fell to Him. Perfection marked all that He did.

Look to Jesus for help, and this will enable you to perform your daily duties with the grace and dignity of one who is seeking for a crown of immortal life. We dwell much on the grandeur of Christ’s life. We speak of the great things that He accomplished, of the miracles that He wrought, speaking peace to the tempestuous waters, opening the ears of the deaf, raising the dead. But His attention to small things is even higher proof of His greatness and His compassion.—Letter 72, April 28, 1903, to a lay sister in Maine.

From The Upward Look – Page 132

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9.

God gives men the light, but many are filled with a self-sufficient, masterly spirit; and they strive by carrying out their own ideas to reach a height where they will be as God. They place their mind first, as if God must serve with them. Herein lies the danger in this: Unless God shall in some way make these men understand that He is God, and that they are to serve Him, human inventions will be brought in that will lead away from Bible truth, notwithstanding all the cautions that have been given.

The Lord Jesus will always have a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the Prince of life, He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His work. When a church proves unfaithful to the word of the Lord, whatever their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and, unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach….

God is not “worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing” (Acts 17:25). No magnificence of outward display can please God, when the heart is serving idols and the hands are polluted with iniquity. The Holy Spirit will unite with those in the church who, with contrition of heart, will walk humbly with God. To all who look to Him and walk in the footsteps of Christ, He gives sanctification, comfort, and victory over the world. The people of God, His chosen kingdom, are not as a stagnant pool. They are as a river, constantly flowing, and as it advances becoming deeper and wider, until its life-giving waters are spread over all the earth. Whenever the gospel of God is received, its grace heals the maladies that sin has produced. The Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in His beams. Light, strength, and refreshing come from the Lord, and the good fruit borne bears witness to a work of righteousness.—Manuscript 33, April 27, 1903, “God’s Purpose for His Church.”

From The Upward Look – Page 131

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalm 37:3.

The Lord is acquainted with all our circumstances. When that Ethiopian traveler was reading the Scriptures, as he rode in his chariot, angels of God were looking upon the scene. One of the disciples was sent to meet the chariot, and when he came to the place, he saw the man studying the Scriptures. Philip said to him, “Understandest thou what thou readest?” He answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Then Philip opened to him the Scriptures. And when he had heard and believed, the Ethiopian asked, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:30, 31, 36).

This experience shows the Lord’s care for His people. It was the Spirit of God that led this man’s mind to the Scriptures. But he could not interpret their meaning. Then the Lord sent one of His servants to enlighten his mind, and to make him understand.

When the Ethiopian asked, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” Philip did not wait to see how he would hold on to the faith. He said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (verses 37, 38).

The Lord wants everyone of us to fill the very place He has appointed us. If we will walk in simplicity and godliness, and trust in the Lord, just as the little child trusts its earthly parent, He will enable us to do the work He has given us to do. If we will seek the Lord, He will work for us…. The Lord will work out our salvation for us, if we will commit the keeping of our souls unto Him as unto a faithful Creator….

It is not we who make the impression upon the mind and heart. Angels of God make the impression. They see every effort we make, and they soften the hearts and enlighten the minds of those for whom we are working, so that heavenly impressions can be made, and hearts and minds can be led to see and understand….

You are not working alone. When you are tempted to become discouraged, remember this: Angels of God are right around you. They will minister to the very earth, causing it to give forth its treasures. This is the instruction I am trying to give to our people. I want them to understand what could be accomplished, if they would work the will of the Lord. It is the Lord who has given the instruction. Let us follow His directions.—Manuscript 13, April 26, 1909, “To the Workers and Students at Hill Crest School.”

From The Upward Look – Page 130

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. 2 Peter 1:3.

True Christians are faithful in little things, remembering that the Word of God declares, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). A faithful, steady obedience to the words of Christ makes men pure in mind, resolute in purpose, and faithful in every station of life.

True service is the unveiling of a heart made fragrant by the love of God. Such service gives nobility to the character in this life. Under its influence, love to God and man speaks from the lips and is revealed in the actions….

When God’s people place the gift of speech under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, thousands will hear the message that God is love; that He “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). His heart of infinite love embraces every human being. His love is an inexhaustible wellspring of joy and peace. It is as enduring as eternity. It is the fountain opened for Judah and Jerusalem. From its unfailing supply every soul may be satisfied. This love is the life of God, working with transforming power in the soul, perfecting Christian character, making human beings partakers of the divine nature. Through Christ this living stream of love and life flows to the world….

In the Christian warfare life, spiritual life, courage, constancy, and decision are needed. Be strong in the Lord. Human courage will not suffice. The Christian soldier must be strong in the Lord. God is all-sufficient. In the omnipotence of His might gird on the armor. Make use of all the proper means of defense against the enemy of souls. You are everyone to perfect an individual character for yourselves. Resist temptation. Cultivate the Christian virtues. Be strong; yea, be strong!

Those who have so many battles to fight must be strong for service. Gain strength and help from the Source of all power. If we trust in the Lord, we shall triumph in the warfare against unseen foes, but if we trust in our own strength, we shall surely meet with defeat. The armor is prepared. Put it on, and fight bravely for the Lord.—Letter 67, April 25, 1902, “To My Brethren in Positions of Responsibility in the Pacific Press.”

From The Upward Look – Page 129