2017-07-16
Psalm 119:59 NKJV
One of the great keys to success in life is having the right approach. But to improve your approach you need to assess where you’re starting from. This may take some time. And depending on how self-aware you are, it may even be difficult. The key is to look at yourself objectively, to separate yourself from your attitude. Your goal isn’t to condemn yourself; it’s to see yourself clearly so you can make positive changes in the way you think. When professional loggers discover a logjam, they climb a large tree near the river so they can look over the problem and find the cause. What they’re looking for is the “key log” creating the jam. Once they remove that, the river takes care of the rest. An inexperienced person could spend hours, days, even weeks moving logs around without results. The point is you don’t necessarily need to change all your thinking – just the few items that keep you from having the right approach to life. Once you do, your life will begin to flow in the right direction. Here are some questions that may help you discover the “key log” that’s holding you back. How do you feel about yourself? When do you feel the most negative about yourself? What causes you the greatest problems when dealing with others? Insecurity? Resentment? Inferiority? What negative thoughts constantly control your mind? These are important questions, for “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). If you want to change your life for the better, ask God to make you aware of what’s impacting it for the worse.
Soul food: Num 9:15-23; Ex 24:15; Mat 17:1-8
Psalm 119:59
Een van die grootste sleutels tot sukses is om die regte benadering te hê. Om jou benadering te verbeter, moet jy jou beginpunt oorweeg. Dit kan tyd neem. Afhangende van hoe selfbewus jy is, kan dit selfs moeilik wees. Die sleutel is om objektief na jouself te kyk en jouself van jou denkwyses te verwyder. Die doel is nie om jouself te veroordeel nie; dis om jouself duidelik te sien sodat jy positiewe veranderinge in die manier wat jy dink, kan maak. Wanneer professionele houtkappers ‘n opeenhoping van stompe in die rivier kry, klim hulle in ‘n boom naby die rivier sodat hulle oor die probleem kan uitkyk en die oorsaak daarvan kan bepaal. Hulle soek die ‘sleutelstomp’ wat die opeenhoping veroorsaak. Sodra hulle daardie stomp verwyder, hanteer die rivier self die res. ‘n Onervare persoon kan ure, dae, selfs weke spandeer om stompe sonder resultate rond te beweeg. Die punt is dat jy nie noodwendig al jou denkwyses hoef te verander nie – net die paar sleutelitems wat jou daarvan weerhou om die regte benadering tot die lewe te hê. Sodra jy dit doen, sal jou lewe in die regte rigting begin vloei. Hier is ‘n paar vrae wat jou sal help om die ‘sleutelstomp’ wat jou terughou, te ontdek: Hoe voel jy oor jouself? Wanneer voel jy die negatiefste oor jouself? Wat veroorsaak die grootste probleme wanneer jy in aanraking met ander mense kom? Onsekerheid? Gegriefdheid? Minderwaardigheid? Watter negatiewe gedagtes beheer jou denke? Dit is belangrike vrae, want soos jy dink, so is jy. As jy jou lewe ten goede wil verander, vra God om jou bewus te maak van dit wat jou terughou.
Sielskos: Num 9:15-23; Eks 24:15; Mat 17:1-8
2017-07-15
Romans 8:2 NKJV
You say, “I fall so far short of God’s standards. Will there ever come a time when my old carnal nature will stop acting up, and trying to drag me down?” There’s bad news and there’s good news. The bad news is, just as the law of gravity is always in operation, so is “the law of sin” that your fleshly nature wants to respond to. The good news is, you can access a higher law and operate in it. It’s called “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” and it overrides “the law of sin and death.” The law of gravity says that what goes up must come down. But when you’re in an airplane another law is in operation – the law of aerodynamics. It works like this: The plane moves at a certain speed, and the proper thrust enables it to climb out of gravity’s pull. That doesn’t mean the law of gravity is no longer the law of gravity. Getting the idea? You ask, “What is this law of the Spirit?” Good question. Here’s the answer. When you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit and relying on His power rather than your own, which means being sensitive to His leading and obeying His commands, you’re no longer controlled by “the law of sin and death.” It’s no longer about trying harder, but leaning harder on God’s Spirit who lives within you and drawing from Him the strength to live victoriously.
Soul food: 2 Sam 14:21-17:13; Mat 26:14-25; Ps 123; Prov 18:13-16
Romeine 8:2 DB
Jy sê, ‘Ek skiet so tekort ten opsigte van God se standaarde. Sal daar ooit ‘n tyd kom wat my ou vleeslike natuur my nie meer sal probeer aftrek nie?’ Daar is slegte nuus en daar is goeie nuus. Die slegte nuus is dat, net soos die wet van swaartekrag altyd in werking is, net so wil jou vleeslike natuur altyd op die ‘wet van sonde’ reageer. Die goeie nuus is, jy kan toegang tot ‘n hoër wet kry en daarin lewe. Dit is die wet van die Gees in Christus Jesus en dit skakel die ‘neerdrukkende wet van die sonde en die dood’ uit. Die wet van swaartekrag sê dat dit wat opgaan weer moet afkom. Wanneer jy egter in ‘n vliegtuig is, is ‘n ander wet van toepassing – die wet van aërodinamika. Dit werk as volg: Wanneer ‘n vliegtuig teen ‘n sekere spoed met ‘n sekere dryfkrag beweeg, is dit in staat om bo swaartekrag uit te styg. Dit beteken egter nie dat die wet van swaartekrag nie meer in werking is nie. Kry jy die idee? Jy vra, ‘Wat is die wet van die Gees?’ Die antwoord is: Wanneer jy in die Gees bly en op sy krag eerder as jou eie staatmaak, wat beteken dat jy sensitief is vir sy leiding en aan sy opdragte gehoorsaam is, word jy nie meer deur die ‘neerdrukkende wet van die sonde en die dood’ beheer nie. Dit gaan dan nie meer daaroor om harder te probeer nie, maar om meer te steun op God se Gees wat in jou bly en krag uit Hom te put om ‘n oorwinnende lewe te lei.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 14:21-17:13; Mat 26:14-25; Ps 123; Spr 18:13-16
2017-07-14
Malachi 3:16 KJV
Is it possible that when we get to heaven there’ll be a “Mothers’ Honour Roll,” listing the names of all the faithful mothers who prayed day and night on behalf of their children and grandchildren? Maybe, but this much we do know: God honours mothers who honour God! He responded to the prayers of Hannah and gave her a son who would grow up to be a prophet and lead the nation of Israel. And Paul writes concerning Timothy: “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5 NKJV). The Bible tells us God keeps records: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another…the Lord hearkened …and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and…thought upon his name.” John writes: “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). Susanna Wesley had nineteen children (nine died as infants), and she spent an hour every day praying for each one by name. Her prayers paid off. One of her sons, John, brought a spiritual awakening to England and founded the Methodist Church. Maybe there will be an honour roll for mothers in heaven, and maybe not. But one thing is sure – when mothers pray, God listens and lives are changed. So never stop praying for your kids, Mom.
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; Mat 26:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 18:10-12
