Counseling Sheet

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D.
Preventive Medicine

"This is the discipline which the Lord anciently gave to His people, and it is the discipline which should exist in our missions, our colleges, our publishing houses, our sanitariums. God likes to see men understand their weak points, and instead of closing their eyes to their defects, they should make persevering efforts to overcome them." 1BC 1108

‍Jesus' awareness of time:

‍Jesus was always conscious of time. "My time is not yet come." John 7:6. "My time is at hand." Mt. 26:18. "My time is fulfilled." Mark 1:15.

"The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it... We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity." COL 342‍

Time - a lesson for today:‍

"The Lord loves to see His work done as perfectly as possible. In the wilderness, the Israelites had to learn to accomplish with exactness and promptness the work connected with the order of the camp and especially the work of the tabernacle, its ornaments, and its service. All had to learn before they could accomplish this, to them new work. They had to be trained before they could do it as God desired. There were men there ready to give counsel and advice and to meddle with the work of mounting and dismounting the tabernacle; and those who neglected their special work to meddle with the work of others, thinking they had special wisdom and knew how it should be done, were put to death. Each one had to be taught the value of promptness and exactness in every position of trust. The memory had to be taxed, and they had to realize the responsibility of doing everything in due time. This is the discipline which the Lord anciently gave to His people, and it is the discipline which should exist in our missions, our colleges, our publishing houses, our sanitariums. God likes to see men understand their weak points, and instead of closing their eyes to their defects, they should make persevering efforts to overcome them." 1BC 1108‍

Regularity:‍

"You have not disciplined yourself to regularity. System is everything. Do but one thing at a time, and do that well, finishing it before you begin a second piece of work. You should have regular hours for rising, for praying, and for eating. One hour wasted in the morning is lost, never to be recovered." 5T 181‍

Set rules needed:‍

"Persons who have not acquired habits of close industry and economy of time should have set rules to prompt them to regularity and dispatch. Washington, the nation's statesman, was enabled to perform a great amount of business because he was thorough in preserving order and regularity. Every paper had its date and its place, and no time was lost in looking up what had been mislaid." GW 277-278

"Our schools have been established that in them the youth may learn to obey God and His law, and become fitted for service. Rules for the conduct of those who attend are necessary, and the students should act in harmony with these regulations. No student should think that because he has been allowed to rule in the home he can rule in the school... Those who refuse to obey the regulations should return to their homes." CT 264-265

‍Punctuality essential:‍

"Punctuality and decision in the work and cause of God are highly essential. Delays are virtually defeats. Minutes are golden and should be improved to the very best account. Earthly relations and personal interests should ever be secondary. Never should the cause of God be left to suffer, in a single particular, because of our earthly friends or dearest relatives." 3T 500

‍A record not to be ashamed:‍

"Students should determine that they will make a record that they will not be ashamed to meet in the day of judgment." FE 297‍

Strict account of time required:‍

"Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a more strict account than of our time." COL 342

‍Be methodical:‍

"There are some young men and women who have no method in doing their work. Though they are always busy, they can present but little results. They have erroneous ideas of work, and think that they are working hard; when if they had practical method in their work... they would have accomplished much more in a shorter time... God has entrusted His sacred work to men, and He asks that they shall do it carefully. Regularity in all things is essential. Never be late for an appointment. In no department or office should time be lost in unnecessary conversations." EV 649‍

Character formation promised:

"It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life... The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place." COL 342