Tag: trials
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Thorns and Their Effects
2 Corinthians 12:7 “a thorn was given me in the flesh.” We’ve all had an actual thorn in our flesh at one time or another, or maybe a splinter, or perhaps a speck of dirt in our eye. Inevitably, when we discover something like that it does several things to us. One, it redirects our…
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Strange Gifts
2 Corinthians 12:7 “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.” Is there anything in your life that you’d rather be without? Maybe it’s a physical affliction of some type – an illness, some incurable condition, or a physical weakness of some type…
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When the Pressure’s On
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” One of the things…
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Tests
1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” No one likes a test. Thinking back to my school years, nothing produced stress in that school setting like the fact that there would be a test the next day. …
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Could it be . . .?
John 21:11-12 “So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.” Have you ever had something…
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Are you comfortable?
John 18:25 “Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, ‘You also are not one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’” Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”…
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Will it ever end?
Revelation 2:10 “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” One of the greatest blessings of the Christian life is that there…
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Ears to Hear
John 16:5 “But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” Do you read the Bible? If you do, why do you read it? Hopefully, it is to listen to God’s own words and thus have your eyes opened to His revelation of those things that…
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Perspectives on Suffering
2 Corinthians 4:17 “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Suffering and afflictions are a part of life, every life. In the words above, Paul calls these afflictions “light and momentary.” This from one who later in this same letter to the church at Corinth…
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When stress overwhelms
Luke 22:39-46 “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,…
To Encourage You 