When you pray truly,
all that is best, noblest, most exalted, purest, heavenliest in you,
presses up toward God. Hence earnest prayer always lights up the very
face, and lifts up the life into higher, holier mood. We grow toward
that which we much desire. Hence prayers for Christ-likeness have a
transfiguring effect.
Holy thoughts in the heart have also a transfiguring influence on the
life. "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." If we allow
jealousies, envies, ugly tempers, pride, and other evil things to stay
in our heart, our life will grow into the likeness of these unlovely
things. But if we cherish pure, gentle, unselfish, holy thoughts and
feelings, our life will become beautiful.
Professor Drummond tells of a young girl whose character ripened into
rare loveliness. Her friends watched her growing gentleness and
heavenliness with wonder. They could not understand the secret of it.
She wore about her neck a little locket within which no one was allowed
to look. Once, however, she was very ill, and one of her companions
was permitted then to open this sacred ornament, and she saw there the
words, "Whom having not seen I love." This was the secret. It was
love for the unseen Christ that transfigured her life. If we think
continually of the Christ, meditating upon him, thinking over sweet
thoughts of him, and letting his love dwell within us, we shall grow
like him.
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