31 July 2022
Two-Minute Features | 07 August 2022

Dealing with Thoughts We Don't Want (TMF:1910)

Friday, August 05, 2022
Peace to Live By: Dealing with Thoughts We Don't Want (TMF:1910) - Daniel Litton
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        We can either push a thought down out of fear of it, or we can let it play out, with no reaction, and therefore let it pass. Those are the only two options: push it down or let it pass. The choice is yours. The fear may come up that observing a thought might actually cause a person to sin. I understand the concern. Sin only occurs, though, if we embrace whatever our minds are showing us. If we think a lustful thought, that’s not evil in and of itself in that we cannot control what comes into our minds. It’s only wrong if we say, “Yeah, I like that thought,” and we continue to willingly entertain it. It’s not wrong, however, to observe the thoughts without embracing them. You will see if you let the thoughts play out and pass, that they will go away more and more. Eventually, you won’t even think about that particular thought. I have been taught, you have been taught, that if we see certain things with our eyes, that those thoughts can permanently get inside our heads for us never to forget them. However, by giving up control of trying to get rid of thoughts, you will see that actually can go away forever.

The Longing for Sin Inside Us (TMF:1909)

Thursday, August 04, 2022
Peace to Live By: The Longing for Sin Inside Us (TMF:1909) - Daniel Litton
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       Then, of course, there is the longing for sin—things that are clearly sin. We all have that problem, because as Jesus said, sin resides in our hearts and it can come out naturally, with little effort on our parts. Interestingly enough, we can find that we have a strong desire to not sin, or to overcome a sinful habit. There is nothing wrong with getting rid of sin. However, remember, a desire that is too strong won’t work. We have to observe our sinful thoughts, not react to them, and let them pass. It is the very fear of sin that causes us to sin more. It is by not letting thoughts pass that thoughts get pushed down inside of us. We can either push a thought down out of fear of it, or we can let it play out, with no reaction, and therefore let it pass. Those are the only two options: push it down or let it pass. The choice is yours. The fear may come up that observing a thought might actually cause a person to sin. I understand the concern. Sin only occurs, though, if we embrace whatever our minds are showing us.

Evil Desires, Both Small & Big (TMF:1908)

Wednesday, August 03, 2022
Peace to Live By: Evil Desires, Both Small & Big (TMF:1908) - Daniel Litton
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       Desire inside of us, what James is talking about here, isn’t just something that is related to a big thing. Probably more often than not, our desires, our evil desires, can be for small things. We can have a strong craving that people will notice the work we’ve done, and complement us on how great a job we did and how good we are. We can have the wish that we make it to work without missing any traffic lights, and in giving that up, we see that we make most of them. We can have the desire for what we want to do on a date with our significant other, only to find the person doesn’t want to do that, and we feel really down. Nothing is wrong with any of these desires. The issue is that when they cannot easily be let go of, then we know our desire is too strong and is costing us. Then, of course, there is the longing for sin—things that are clearly sin. We all have that problem, because as Jesus said, sin resides in our hearts and it can come out naturally, with little effort on our parts.

God Does Care About What We Want (TMF:1907)

Tuesday, August 02, 2022
Peace to Live By: God Does Care About What We Want (TMF:1907) - Daniel Litton
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       God does care about what we want. He just doesn’t dig it when we desire it too strongly. And when giving up control, you don’t have to actually give it God. Sometimes that procedure makes the practice of this seem too stressful—and it can place an overall sense of obligation of keeping a new commandment. You simply can just give it up to yourself. I have personal testimony to this fact because this was one of the things I was holding onto—that of finding a spouse. I remember I gave up control of the situation to myself (it wasn’t a promise I made to God or anything like that) and I didn’t tell anyone about my decision. About a week later, I was visiting with my mother on Sunday afternoon and without me mentioning anything at all in regard to this, she told me that she had had two dreams where she saw me in church with my wife and children. After she described my children, of course, I asked “What did my wife look like?” She had a basic description. This technique bore fruit for me very quickly.

Lack of Urgency Opens the Door (TMF:1906)

Monday, August 01, 2022
Peace to Live By: Lack of Urgency Opens the Door (TMF:1906) - Daniel Litton
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       You see, though, the only way you’re ever going to really succeed in this is by giving up control of it—by giving up your desire for it. It’s that very yearning feeling that’s prohibiting you from receiving. Only when that has been given up, can things really flow. When the wantingness is given up, then God’s power is allowed to flow. Life flows instead of death. There is no urgency to receive whatever it is. No urgency is present on the part of the person waiting for a spouse. Because, remember, “all that matters is God.” It may take some time, but my guess is that you will receive your spouse in due time after making this decision. God does care about what we want. He just doesn’t dig it when we desire it too strongly. And when giving up control, you don’t have to actually give it God. Sometimes that procedure makes the practice of this seem too stressful—and it can place an overall sense of obligation of keeping a new commandment. You simply can just give it up to yourself.