Make Christ Your Counselor

At a recent Spirit of Prophecy meeting a young pastoral intern came up and shared his personal testimony with me. Five years earlier he had been wrestling with his faith and struggling to know what he believed. Unsure where to turn next, he asked God for help.

Shortly thereafter, he felt impressed to read The Desire of Ages. He searched online and found the White Estate’s “EGW Writings 2” app, where he discovered he could listen to the book. Though he had grown up Adventist and had heard others mention the title, he had never read one of Ellen White’s books for himself.

What began as a simple step of faith became a turning point in his life. As he listened each day on his drive to work, the story of Christ’s life and ministry softened his heart, and hope began to grow. Learning of His loving sacrifice changed him. The Holy Spirit led this young man to know Jesus not merely as doctrine to be believed, but as his personal Friend and Savior.

Jesus’ love transformed him. His interests shifted, his priorities changed, and the doubts that had once clouded his mind gradually faded. The anxiety that had burdened him gave way to a deep sense of peace and the joyful assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ—the friend he had come to know personally while listening to all 87 chapters of The Desire of Ages.

By the time he finished the audiobook, he was no longer the same man. His heart burned with gratitude and a renewed sense of purpose. After all Jesus had done for him, he wanted to dedicate his life in service to Him. Filled with a newfound passion for his Savior, he enrolled in the nearby Adventist seminary and began preparing for pastoral ministry.

What began with a prayer, an app, and an audiobook became a life now dedicated to ministering to others on behalf of his Best Friend, Jesus.

It was only a tool, but through the resources it placed before us, we both encountered the One who changed our lives.

Tools for Every Generation

God has long used the new tools of each generation to advance the gospel. During the Reformation the printing press helped spread revival. In the twentieth century, Adventists embraced emerging media: H.M.S. Richards began broadcasting what became The Voice of Prophecy in 1929, and Faith for Today brought the gospel to television audiences beginning in 1950. Each used the emerging media of their time to share the gospel in new ways.

Today we live in a digital age, in which spiritual materials are placed directly into the hands of the masses. The newly redesigned EGW Writings app builds on that opportunity, providing tools intended to encourage prayer, Bible study, and engagement with the counsels God has given through the Spirit of Prophecy.

Among the new features is Inspirational Moments, a daily devotional guide designed to help users begin the day with Christ. Ellen White urges us, “Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work.”¹ The app also brings Scripture and Ellen White’s writings side by side with Bible commentaries and study resources in split-screen format, while new search tools make it easier to find relevant passages in Ellen White’s writings.²

Imagine what your life might look like after spending the next year immersed in God’s Word and His inspired counsels. Ellen White wrote, “The very image of God is to be reproduced in humanity.”³ A life shaped by Christ can make you a better spouse, a kinder parent or neighbor, and a better colleague or church member. Christ’s peace will quiet anxious minds, patience will soothe tense homes, and light will fill struggling communities.

Spiritual Renewal in 2027

A new year is coming soon. As we look toward OneVoice27 and its call to share Christ with the world, our preparation must begin personally—quietly on our knees, with an open Bible, and with the Spirit of Prophecy pointing us to Jesus.

Ellen White wrote, “It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ.”⁴

The year 2027 marks 2,000 years since Christ began His earthly ministry. This is a moment for contemplation, consecration, and renewal. What if this special anniversary motivated church members to first grow in their relationship with Christ and then share the good news with others?

The world does not need louder voices; it needs surrendered lives testifying of God’s love. Let the EGW Writings app be a tool that supports preparation, helping you spend time in prayer and with Scripture and inspired counsel. Embrace it as a companion in your spiritual journey. Begin today. Strengthen your faith, deepen your relationship with Christ, and prepare your heart for the mission ahead.

A Useful Tool

Fifteen years ago I faced a personal crisis in my own life. Having just laid to rest my precious wife after her short battle with cancer, my life was torn apart and full of emotional turmoil. I couldn’t sleep at night. Hours would slowly pass, but the devastating pain prevented sleep. Turning to the EGW Writings app, I used its search engine to find a multitude of passages on hope, love, salvation, Christ’s sacrifice, and the promise of eternal life. I discovered that if I spent a minimum of 30 minutes reading from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, I felt at peace amid the storm. By handing over my sorrows to my loving Savior, I could rest in His watchful care.

Five years ago a young man downloaded the same app and pressed play. He, too, could not have dreamed that those first words from The Desire of Ages would eventually lead him to attend the seminary and start a life of ministry. We shared with each other the blessings that the EGW Writings app had brought to our lives. It was only a tool, but through the resources it placed before us we both encountered the One who changed our lives.

Ellen White once counseled, “Brethren and sisters, meditate much, pray much. Depend entirely upon the One who cannot err. Make Christ your Counselor.”⁵

That invitation remains. Whatever tools we use, may they lead us to know Christ more deeply, follow Him more faithfully, and share Him more freely with the world.