Section 10—Mental Health
Chapter 45—Individuality (Part 2)
Consecration Beautifies Individuality—A life consecrated to the service of God will be developed and beautified in its individuality. No person can sink his individuality in that of another, but we are all, as individuals, to be grafted into the one parent stock, and there is to be unity in diversity. The great Master Artist has not made two leaves of the same tree precisely alike; so His creative power does not give to all minds the same likeness. They are created to live through ceaseless ages, and there is to be complete unity, mind blending with mind; but no two are to be of the same mold.—Manuscript 116, 1898.
God Gives to Each an Individual Work—Things in the natural world are to be considered and their lesson applied to the spiritual life, the spiritual growth. To every man God—not man—has given his work. This is an individual work—the formation of a character after the divine similitude. The lily is not to strive to be like the rose. There are distinctions in the formation of the flowers and in the fruits, but all derive their peculiar variance from God. All are the Lord’s. So it is God’s design that even the best of men shall not all be of the same character.—Manuscript 116, 1898.
Respect Each Other—We each have a work to do. We may be of different nationalities, but we are to be one in Christ. If we allow peculiarities of character and disposition to separate us here, how can we hope to live together in heaven? We are to cherish love and respect for one another. There is to be among us the unity for which Christ prayed. We have been bought with a price, and we are to glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits.—Manuscript 20, 1905.
Utter Failure When Copying Others—The man who seeks to pattern after any man’s character will make an utter failure. Each person is to look to God for himself, to trade with conscientious fidelity upon the talents God has given him. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13). It is in you, brother, in you; not in another for you. You are to have an individual experience. Then you will have rejoicing in yourself, and not in another.—Manuscript 116, 1898.
Each Mind Has Its Peculiar Strength—I am pained to see the little value placed upon men whom the Lord has used and whom He will use. God forbid that every man’s mind shall follow in the channel of another man’s mind. One man’s mind may be, by some, exalted as being in every degree superior, but every mind has its peculiar weakness and its peculiar strength. One man’s mind will supply another man’s deficiency. But if all work in the one harness and are given encouragement to look, not to men to know their duty, but to God, they will develop under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and will work in unity with their brethren. One will supply another’s lack.—Letter 50, 1897.
Not to Shape Other Minds—God has given to every man an individual responsibility. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Man is not to work out any other man’s salvation. He is not to become the transcript of any man’s mind. He is required to act in his capacity according to the ability God has given him. No man, whatever his experience, whatever his position, is to feel that he accomplishes a wonderful work when he fashions and shapes the mind of any human being after his own mind and teaches him to voice the sentiments he may express. This has been done again and again to the detriment of human beings.—Manuscript 116, 1898.
Not to Be a Shadow of Others [See chapter 29, “Dependence and Independence.”]—Oh, how much the workers need the spirit of Jesus to change and fashion them as clay is molded in the hands of the potter! When they have this spirit, there will be no spirit of variance among them; no one will be so narrow as to want everything done his way, according to his ideas; there will be no inharmonious feeling between him and his brother laborers who do not come up to his standard. The Lord does not want any of His children to be shadows of others; but He would have each one be his own simple self, refined, sanctified, ennobled by imitating the life and character of the great Pattern. The narrow, shut-in, exclusive spirit which keeps everything within the compass of one’s self has been a curse to the cause of God and always will be wherever allowed to exist.—The Review and Herald, April 13, 1886.
No One to Submerge His Mind—God permits every human being to exercise his individuality. He desires no one to submerge his mind in the mind of a fellow mortal. Those who desire to be transformed in mind and character are not to look to men, but to the divine Example. God gives the invitation, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” By conversion and transformation men are to receive the mind of Christ. Every one is to stand before God with an individual faith, an individual experience, knowing for himself that Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. For us to imitate the example of any man—even one whom we might regard as nearly perfect in character—would be to put our trust in a defective human being, one who is unable to impart a jot or tittle of perfection.—The Signs of the Times, September 3, 1902.
Rules for Strong Minds—It is well for Brother and Sister _____ and Brother and Sister _____ to have strong minds. Each is to maintain his individuality. Each is to preserve an individuality that will not be submerged in the individuality of another. No human being is to be the shadow of another human being. God’s servants are to labor together in a unity that blends mind with mind.—Letter 44, 1903.
https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/78.273#291
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating each of us as unique individuals. Please bless us to fully embrace our own individuality and work and not that of another. Bless us to be all You would have us be and grant us the mind amd love of Jesus that others might be drawn to You through us. Because we ask all these in the Awesome name of Your Son, Almighty Jesus the Christ, our Savior, we say Thank You and Amen.
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DID YOU KNOW THIS…?
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.—John 15:16 KJV — The WORD OF GOD—It’s the only flesh that is safe to eat (meditate on) to live forever!]
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Do you feel sorrowful, disconnected—without a place to feel at home or useful? I pray this might show you the way forward. Watch…
https://www.youtube.com/live/2QB6fcwVuws?si=fsEvZU-rkI-BngfD
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Thursday, Aug. 27: “Be Smart! Pack a Lunch” Cooking Class
*Exception: $10 for any cooking class
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If you want to support Christian radio programming for these final days, please visit
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I coordinate wonderful health and worship events and conferences online and onsite as a gospel medical missionary at Uchee Pines, a total plant-based health retreat, where doctors and practitioners specialize in lifestyle medicine. For event details, visit https://www.ucheepines.org/events
Therefore, if at any time you fail to receive this post as a text, please visit
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where devotionals are first posted daily (almost without fail). From there devotionals are publicly shared to my page on FB, LinkedIn, and Signal (in My Story), and to a response-restricted group on WhatsApp (once again when I am able to find the time to successfully rebuild it).
NOTE: These began as daily texts to encourage my academy roommate and dear friend of nearly 50 years, until she suddenly passed March 2023. Now I continue to compile and send them to anyone who will receive them and to her family in honor of their mom. Lately, I have begun featuring consecutive chapter portions of a select Bible-based book.
If you agree to continue receiving them, then this is my personal gift to you; and in this way, I not only honor God but the memory of a very dear friend whom I desperately miss.
My personal prayer is that God will bless me to find ways to multiply this gift, so that we all may be encouraged to be found faithful in the sight of a Holy God, whenever Christ returns or our eyes are shut in the sleep of death.
It is a prayerful process that leads me to share from my personal study.
So please feel free to forward to your loved ones or to anyone, as God leads you. I’m calling them Barb’s Devotionals.