17 July 2022
Two-Minute Features | 24 July 2022 | 10 July 2022

How We See a Trial (TMF:1900)

Friday, July 22, 2022
Peace to Live By: How We See a Trial (TMF:1900) - Daniel Litton
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       Recall, we said that “all that really matters is God.” It’s important to keep that thought at the forefront of the mind. That puts things into perspective. So, the positive-minded person sees the trial as inconvenient perhaps, but nevertheless not devastating. Within the trial, opportunity is seen to grow. Opportunity is seen to marvel at how God can bring good out of whatever it is. Often it’s a chance to sit back and watch God’s work on display. In not seeing a trial as disastrous, a person is able to navigate through it much more easily. Since the firm foundation of positivity exists, the belief that God is on the person’s side, and the belief that good will come from it, that everything isn’t ruined, then can come the success at the end of it. James said: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one” (1:12, 13, ESV).

The Cause Behind a Trial (TMF:1899)

Thursday, July 21, 2022
Peace to Live By: The Cause Behind a Trial (TMF:1899) - Daniel Litton
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       I think even for trials we feel we may have caused that Satan is often behind them. Let’s say you haven’t been eating right for a long time and you go to the doctor and find out you have Type-2 diabetes. You say to yourself, “I knew it. I should have been eating better. Why didn’t I listen to those background thoughts, those foreboding thoughts of warning?” You see, though, I think Satan can cause a spirit of delusion to come upon a person, and the person, for whatever the reason, doesn’t notice the obvious. He or she doesn’t take heed to what they ought to because of a blindedness caused by the enemy. Regardless of whatever the trial is, really no matter what it is, the beautiful thing is that we have a choice in how we respond to it. And this choice of response then depends on our own level of inner-self. If we are negative minded, the trial is probably going to be seen as heavier and more problematic than it really is. It may be magnified to the point where it is out of proportion with reality. Recall, we said that “all that really matters is God.” It’s important to keep that thought at the forefront of the mind. That puts things into perspective.

Both Small & Big Trials (TMF:1898)

Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Peace to Live By: Both Small & Big Trials (TMF:1898) - Daniel Litton
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       What are some common examples of trials? Well, here’s some on the smaller scale. The car’s tire is flat, the car won’t start, our friend is mad at us, the wife is upset and won’t talk, the dog is sick, the cat is clawing people, a ticket for speeding, a fine for some trash-related incident. What are some larger trials? Our friend decides she doesn’t want to be friends anymore, the husband leaves home, the wife is having an affair, the cat passes away, the dog has a terminal illness, a person is thrown behind bars, a person is fired from their job of ten years. Is God the one who tests us? I heard Pastor Rick Warren talk about this once. He said it’s not God who causes bad things to happen. We can look at Job for an example from Scripture that God actually isn’t the one who causes trials. If you read Job chapter 1, you see that it is really Satan who wants to cause harm to Job, not God. God certainly allowed him to do so, remember? But he told Satan he couldn’t take Job’s life. God was monitoring and watching the whole thing.

What Does Steadfastness Mean? (TMF:1897)

Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Peace to Live By: What Does Steadfastness Mean? (TMF:1897) - Daniel Litton
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       Nonetheless, James says here that it is “the [person] who remains steadfast under trial” that is the good one. We’ve already defined steadfastness, but let’s define it again to refresh our minds. Steadfastness could mean reliable, dependable, of true character, trustworthy, committed, loyal, and even faithful. The bottom line is that we made it through to the other side. We didn’t give up; we didn’t quit. We didn’t throw in the towel. Like I’ve said the last couple of weeks, there are all kinds of trials we can face in our lives. Most will be on a smaller scale, and some on a larger scale. Some people deal with really big trials. And depending on where we stand on the levels of inner-self, that will determine how we even view a trial. Some will take a more self-orientated position, and be engulfed in pity for oneself. Others are more positive, and feel that while what has happened is unfortunate, there is an overall drive in the person to conquer and overcome. They know God is on their side; there’s no doubt about that.

Grace in Growing Old (TMF:1896)

Monday, July 18, 2022
Peace to Live By: Grace in Growing Old (TMF:1896) - Daniel Litton
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       And as we become freer, we realize that it is the love, joy, peace, and patience that really matters. Anxiety, self-righteousness, aggravation, and wantingness have been overcome, and so death is easy to accept, and in fact welcomed. The fear of it is gone; the pride of life is seen to be overrated; and the longing to continue with the pursuits of this world has been surrendered. It is gracious of God how he permits people to grow old. This makes it easier for people to accept the fact they are going to die, and it makes it easier for the people around them. As they see their bodies starting to wear down, starting to fade, they know the time is drawing nearer. And as those who are young observe, they come to this realization as well. The body is telling us that we’re not going have this life forever. A transition is going to occur. The day will come when we transcend into the third realm of existence, the physical Heaven, where Jesus is now, in his physical body. Then all of us will return to earth once everything has been redesigned how God wants it.