Gods Sabbath

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E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

mistakes. In response to God’s educational work, like us, David learned slowly, but eventually God’s lessons were mastered, pro viding us with clear illustrations to help us master them too.

The Path to Success

David’s story would have been written entirely differently had he refused to look on the dark picture around him and turned his mind instead to the Lord. If he had done so, and dwelt on his many blessings, he would have been able to nourish his faith to such an extent that he would have given the problem solving back to God where it rightfully belonged. This principle was later embodied in the advice Paul gave when he said: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, what ever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians . 4:8. A failure to remove the mind from the immediate and de manding witness of sight and circumstances, and focus it in stead on God’s wonderful promises and His faithful fulfillment of them in the past, is common to all defeats experienced by God’s children in testing times. Each of us has some such expe rience we can recall, but we also have the great revelations of God’s works recorded in the Scriptures. These serve to increase our faith and remind us that what the Lord did for those loyal men and women back then, He is as eagerly waiting to do for us today. But we must do our part. Instead of dreaming up plans for ourselves, our job is to turn trustingly to God. To remove our minds from the distressing situation in which we are placed and to think instead of God’s power and majesty, is something we must do for ourselves. God cannot do that for us, without turn ing us into His puppets. Instead, He works hard to influence and encourage us to take this step, by sending His angels and Holy Spirit to our aid. Without exception, victory over sin and Satan depends on our taking this step. We must not allow our atten tion to be riveted on the forbidding circumstances surrounding