Untitled article by Susan McIntosh

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 7, 1865

By and By.

By Susan McIntosh

How many good impressions have been lost by putting off until a future time, that which we ought to do immediately. When the desire is burning in our bosom to do good, how apt we are to dread taking up the cross and doing our duty; and we let one opportunity after another slip by, until we find it is too late; then we feel burdened and often loose confidence in ourselves; for every time we are tempted to put off a known duty, we grow weaker and weaker, and less inclined to resist the temptations of Satan.

How much better it would be if we could decide at once, and then by steady perseverance in the right way, we would gain strength to still struggle on in the performance of every duty, doing cheerfully that which we feel the Lord has required of us. Oh! that we were more ready to take heed to the counsel of the wise man who hath said, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

But there are times that we can hardly tell what duty is. At such times we should remember there is one who hath told us if we lack wisdom, to "ask of him who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not, and it shall be given us." Let us then not neglect this requirement of the Lord, but go to him immediately, the same as we would to a kind father and ask him for wisdom to direct and lead us in the right way. And when we see the course he has marked out for us, let us not dishonor him by still putting off his requirements. May the Lord help us to be faithful. SUSAN MCINTOSH. Arlington, Wis.