We Need to Keep the End Goal in Mind (TMF:735)

Peace to Live By: We Need to Keep the End Goal in Mind (TMF:735) - Daniel Litton
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       In life, there is a time to zoom in and a time to zoom out; both perspectives can help us. Sometimes, we need to focus on the big picture. I've talked about this in the past. When we zoom out and look at things from a perspective that’s in the sky looking downward, we can see what we want to accomplish in our task. And then we should keep this 'end goal' in perspective throughout our determination at something. The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV). We shouldn’t let unimportant things cloud the vision of our future goal. Don’t get caught up focusing on small, insignificant things in life, which weigh us down. If we are constantly worried about unimportant things, we will never get past them to focus on what really matters. We should not make mountains out of mole-hills.

Determination Requires Patience, Part 2 (TMF:734)

Peace to Live By: Determination Requires Patience, Part 2 (TMF:734) - Daniel Litton
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       We don't always get everything in life when we want it. There are times we have to wait, but waiting is in fact good for us. If we are complaining about waiting on something in life, we aren’t being patient, are we? We can choose to operate out of the patience God has given to us, to have a joyful mindset as we trust in God to provide our need at the right time. If we always received things right away, with no wait, there would be no need for patience. The very existence of patience and the fact that God asks us to have patience means we are not going to get everything we want in life right when we want it. Now, that’s very opposite to what a lot of us have been geared in our minds toward. Our culture says you should get what you want now, that you shouldn’t have to wait for what you desire. But that’s not the way life really goes. Besides, if we wait, we will end up with the best of whatever it is we are waiting for.

Determination Requires Patience, Part 1 (TMF:733)

Peace to Live By: Determination Requires Patience, Part 1 (TMF:733) - Daniel Litton
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       Remember, determination toward anything will require patience, right? One of the fruit of the Spirit is patience of course (see Galatians 5:22-24). I believe we already have the fruit of the Spirit, and we can access that fruit, cultivate it, and develop it, as we continue to live out our Christian lives. God will bring it out in us as we grow into becoming more like Jesus. Our growth is a process, and we are a work in progress. That's why no one should expect absolute perfection from any of us. Nonetheless, it is our attitude of patience, that is, having a good attitude toward being patient, that keeps us determined and is pleasing to God. The mere fact that we are being patient means we haven't reached our end goal. Patience means enduring our time joyfully and with a good attitude while we wait to reach our goal. We don't always get everything in life when we want it. There are times we have to wait, but waiting is in fact good for us. If we are complaining about waiting on something in life, we aren’t being patient, are we?

We Should Always Finish What We Start (TMF:732)

Peace to Live By: We Should Always Finish What We Start (TMF:732) - Daniel Litton
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       We shouldn't be a person in life who doesn't finish what he or she starts—doing that is not remaining determined in life. We should want others to have faith in what we say we're going to do, and not say things that were going to do and then not do them. Jesus said to let our Yes be yes and our No be no (see Matthew 5:37). We want to be dependable people, as Christians. We also want God to be proud of us, well-pleased with our behavior, and we cannot accomplish this standing with Him if we do not remain determined. We shouldn't be double-minded in our decisions, but stick with whatever we decide to do and see it through to its end. Now, sometimes we are shown that the decision or path we are on isn't the right choice, and in that case we should change our direction. Remember, determination toward anything will require patience, right? One of the fruit of the Spirit is patience of course (see Galatians 5:22-24).

We Should Always Ask God What His Will Is (TMF:731)

Peace to Live By: We Should Always Ask God What His Will Is (TMF:731) - Daniel Litton
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       Before we are determined to do anything significant in our lives, we should be praying to God asking him what his will is, or whether the idea we have come up with lines up with his will. And when we get God's go or approval, we are then determined to do something in life, something that God is leading us to do. We can have confidence in the fact that God promised he would be with us. Jesus has told us, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV). This promise allows us to not become afraid in our circumstances and challenges. We may not even have the resources that we need to accomplish whatever it is we want to accomplish, but it doesn't matter. God will provide the things we need, when we need them. In fact, our trust in God is all that we really need. And our trust in him pleases him.