they shall harmonize and form a valuable character, we have a work which no one but ourselves can do.—Testimonies for the Church 4:606 (1881). A Noble Character Formed by Stern Battles With Self.—Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-around character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.—Christ’s Object Lessons, 331 (1900). Meditation and Action Essential.—Abstract meditation is not enough; busy action is not enough—both are essential to the formation of Christian character.—Testimonies for the Church 5:113 (1882). Develop Good Mental Habits.—If we would develop a character which God can accept, we must form correct habits in our religious life. Daily prayer is as essential to growth in grace, and even to spiritual life itself, as is temporal food to physical well-being. We should accustom ourselves to lift the thoughts often to God in prayer. If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy. We cannot for one moment separate ourselves from Christ with safety. We may have His presence to attend us at every step, but only by observing the conditions which He Himself has laid down.—The Review and Herald, May 3, 1881. (The Sanctified Life, 93.) Earnest Purpose and Steadfast Integrity Essential.—Thoroughness is necessary to success in the work of character building. There must be an earnest purpose
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