Praising God in all Circumstances

1. “The soul may ascend nearer Heaven on the wings of praise.”¹
2. “In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disap­pointed hopes have been among our greatest bless­ings.”²
3. “The way of the Lord’s helping we may not know; but this we do know: He will never fail those who put their trust in Him.”³
4. “Could Christians realize how many times the Lord has ordered their way that the purposes of the en­emy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them.”⁴
5. “The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop. If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He re­fines.”⁵
6. “All that has perplexed us in the providences of God will in the world to come be made plain. The things hard to be understood will then find explanation. The mysteries of grace will unfold before us. Where our finite minds discovered only confusion and broken promises, we shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony. We shall know that infinite love ordered the experiences that seemed most trying.”⁶
7. “Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God su­preme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.”⁷
8. “To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. ‘The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly’ (2 Peter 2:9). From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.”⁸
9. The Father’s presence encircled Christ, and nothing befell Him but that which infinite love permitted for the blessing of the world. Here was His source of comfort, and it is for us. He who is imbued with the Spirit of Christ abides in Christ. Whatever comes to him comes from the Savior, who surrounds him with His presence. Nothing can touch him except by the Lord’s permis­sion. All our sufferings and sorrows, all our tempta­tions and trials, all our sadness and griefs, all our per­secutions, privations, in short, all things work together for our good. All experiences and circumstances are God’s workmen whereby good is brought to us.”⁹
10. “Moses had a deep sense of the personal presence of God....... The presence of God was sufficient to  carry him through the most trying situations in which a man could be placed. Moses did not merely think of God; he saw Him. God was the constant vision before him; he never lost sight of His face. He saw Jesus as his Savior, and he believed that the Savior’s merits would be imputed to him. This faith was to Moses no guesswork; it was a reality. This is the kind of faith we need, faith that will endure the test. Oh, how often we yield to temptation because we do not keep our eye upon Jesus! Our faith is not continuous because, through self-indulgence, we sin, and then we cannot endure ‘as seeing Him who is invisible.’ “My brother, make Christ your daily, hourly companion, and you will not complain that you have no faith. Contemplate Christ. View His character. Talk of Him. The less you exalt self, the more you will see in Jesus to exalt. God has a work for you to do, keep the Lord ever before you.”¹⁰
11.  “Begin to educate your tongues to praise Him and train your hearts to make melody to God; and when the evil one begins to settle his gloom about you, sing praise to God. When things go crossways at your homes, strike up a song about the matchless charms of the Son of God, and I tell you, when you touch this strain, Satan will leave you.”¹¹
12. “Unbelievers are often converted as they listen to pure words of praise and gratitude to God.”¹² “No more effective means [telling about and praising God for blessings received] can be employed for winning souls to Christ.”¹³

2 Cor. 3:18 By beholding the Lord we are changed into His likeness.

Phil. 1:6 God will complete the work He began in you.

FOR WISDOM AND STRENGTH

James 1:5, 6 Wisdom will be given if you ask in faith.

Prov. 3:5, 6 Rely on God for guidance.

Ps. 32:8 God will teach you the way to go.

Ex. 33:14 God’s presence will go with you and give you rest.

Isa. 58:11 He will guide you continually.

Heb. 4:15, 16 Come with confidence to the throne of grace.

James 4:7 Resist the devil, and he will flee.

James 5:14, 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick.

James 5:16-18 Prayer has great power.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxieties on Him.

1 John 5:14, 15 You can know He hears when you ask.

Phil. 4:13 I can do all things in Christ.

Jer. 1:7 He will give you words to speak.

Prov. 14:26 In the fear of the Lord you can have strong confidence.

Isa. 41:13 The Lord your God will hold your right hand.

FOR OTHERS

Ezek. 11:19, 20 God promises to give others a new heart that they may keep His laws.

1 John 5:16 God promises to give spiritual life to those for whom you pray.

John 12:32 Christ uplifted on the cross draws people to Him.

Acts 5:31 Repentance is a gift.

John 16:8 The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.

Heb. 4:12 God’s Word reaches the heart.

Jer. 32:40, KJV I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

Jer. 33:3 If we call, God will answer with great things.

Isa. 49:24, 25 God promises to deliver those who are captives of Satan.

ALL-INCLUSIVE

Ps. 34:10 If you seek the Lord, you will not lack any good thing.

Ps. 37:3-5 Delight in the Lord, and He will give the desires of your heart. Commit your way to Him, and He will act.

Ps. 84:11 God will withhold no good thing from you if you walk uprightly.

Eph. 3:20 He is able to do far more than we ask.

Luke 1:37 With God nothing is impossible.

Rom. 8:28 In everything God works for good. John 16:24 Ask and receive so that your joy may be full.

John 15:7 If you abide in Christ, you can ask whatever you will and it shall be done. John 15:16 Anything you ask in Christ’s name the Father will give to you.

Luke 11:9 Ask and you will be given.

Matt. 28:20 I am with you always.

References:

¹ Steps to Christ. 1892. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1956, p. 104.

² The Ministry of Healing. 1905. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1942, p. 474.

³ Prophets and Kings. 1917. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1943, p. 576.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ The Ministry of Healing. p. 471.

⁶ Testimonies for the Church. Vol 9. 1855-1909. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948, p. 286.

⁷ The Ministry of Healing. p. 481.

⁸ The Desire of Ages. 1898. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1940, p. 528.

⁹ The Ministry of Healing. 488-489.

¹⁰ Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 651-653.

¹¹ Review and Herald, August 5, 1900.

¹² Messages to Young People. 1930. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1930, p. 424.

¹³ Christ’s Object Lessons. 1900. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1941, p. 300.

¹⁴ Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 333.