2017-11-06
Ecclesiastes 11:1 CEV
The Dead Sea has such high mineral concentrations that even non-swimmers can stay afloat in it. The only problem is the smell. Because it has no outlets, any fresh water that comes in quickly becomes contaminated. There’s an important biblical principle at work here: “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25 NLT). God never intended you to be a reservoir that just takes in, but a river of blessing that flows out to others. The Bible says: “A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NLT). So if you need a job, volunteer at a soup kitchen while you’re looking for work. If you’re praying for an increase in your business, pour your best into someone else’s business and ask God to prosper them. Solomon writes, “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for in the days ahead you yourself may need much help” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 TLB). Even if you don’t have a specific need right now, sow a seed of kindness anyway. God knows what the future holds, and one day when you need it most, it will come back to you as a harvest.
Soul food: Isa 49-52; John 7:25-32; Ps 123; Prov 29:1-3
2017-11-05
1 Tessalonisense 4:3 NLV
Toe God vir Adam en Eva geskep het, het Hy vir hulle gesê, ‘Wees vrugbaar en vermeerder en vul die aarde…’ (Genesis 1:28 NLV). Dit help verduidelik hoekom seks een van ons sterkste drange is. Dit kan jou egter ook voortdryf om besluite te neem wat jou lewe opmors en jou verhoudings vernietig. Die Bybel sê: ‘Dit is God se wil… Weerhou julle van seksuele sondes… Tree op soos mense wat aan God behoort en wat sy eer soek. Moenie uit seksuele drange ‘n lewensmaat soek soos die mense wat God nie ken nie’ (1 Tessalonisense 4:3-5 NLV). Hoekom het God dit gesê? Omdat iemand gaan seerkry wanneer daar fisiese intimiteit sonder ware toewyding is. Jy moet luister na wat God oor hierdie kwessie sê. Jy moet nou luister, voor jy jou in situasies bevind waar jy in die versoeking kom om jou karakter in gevaar te stel, want teen daardie tyd is dit reeds te laat. Ons almal baklei met ons seksualiteit, veral in ‘n kultuur waar ‘seks verkoop.’ Seks is ‘n onlosmaakbare deel van ons en skuldgevoelens daaroor het ‘n manier om ons verwyderd van God te laat voel, soos niks anders kan nie. Om jou waardes te bepaal en kernreëls te vestig, het jy nodig om die volgende te bid: ‘Here, ek gaan nie toelaat dat my impulse my dikteer nie, of dat sonde my van U skei nie. Ek kies om by u standaarde te hou, om op u Gees staat te maak om my daagliks krag te gee. Ek bid ook vir krag dat indien ek wel sondig, ek die moed sal hê om vir vergifnis te vra, weer op te staan en nader aan U te beweeg.’ Dit is ‘n gebed wat God sal antwoord!
Sielskos: 2 Kon 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV
When God created Adam and Eve, He told them to “multiply and replenish the earth” (See Genesis 1:28). That helps explain why sex is one of our strongest drives. But it can also propel you into making decisions that mess up your life and destroy your relationships. The Bible says: “It is God’s will that you should…avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honourable, not in passionate lust like the heathen” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NIV). Why did God say this? Because when there’s physical intimacy without true commitment, somebody’s going to get hurt. You need to heed what God says on this issue. And you need to do it now, before you get into situations where you’re tempted to compromise your character, because by then it’s too late. We all struggle with our sexuality, particularly in a culture where “sex sells.” Sex is such an integral part of us, and guilt about it has a way of making us feel separated from God like nothing else can. In order to determine your values and establish some ground rules, you need to pray: “Lord, I’m not going to allow my impulses to dictate to me, or sin to separate me from You. I choose to keep Your standards, to rely on Your Spirit to give me strength day by day. And if I do sin, to seek Your forgiveness, get back up, and move closer to You.” That’s a prayer God will answer!
Soul food: 2 Kings 6:1-7; Matt 14:22-33
2017-11-04
Rigters 3:31 NLV
As Samgar op die feit gefokus het dat hy teen seshonderd Filistyne te staan gaan kom, sou hy heel waarskynlik opgegee het nog voordat hy begin het. Satan sal jou probeer ontmoedig en verslaan deur jou oorweldig te laat voel. Dis dan wanneer jy moet terugslaan en jou doelwit in kleiner stappe moet opbreek. Jy mag dalk nie jou verslawing, angs of anoreksia vir die res van jou lewe oorkom nie, maar met God se hulp kan jy vandag die stryd wen. Moet jou nie oor volgende week of volgende jaar bekommer nie. Kan jy versoeking vir vier-en-twintig uur oorkom? Kan jy die stryd vir een dag wen? Jy weet jy kan. Die Vyand weet dit ook. Neem dit dus een dag op ‘n slag. Ons spandeer heeltemal te veel energie deur op die einste ding te fokus wat ons nie kan beheer nie – die uitkoms. Jy sê, ‘Wat as ek weer in my slegte gewoonte verval? Wat as ek nie my doelgewig bereik of my droomwerk kry nie?’ Jesus het gesê, ‘En los môre se probleme vir die dag van môre. Van probleme het elke dag immers oorgenoeg. Leef vandag voluit vir God!’ (Matteus 6:34 DB). Die manna wat die Israeliete in die wildernis ontvang het, het op ‘n daaglikse basis, nie maandeliks of jaarliks nie, geval. God wou hê dat hulle in volle afhanklikheid van Hom lewe. God se genade, nie jou eie dade nie, is die sleutel tot sukses. Die woord vir jou vandag is: ‘die Here hou nooit op om vir ons om te gee nie. Hy bly getrou. Sy liefde het ons gespaar… ‘n Mens kan altyd op U vertrou. Elke oggend is U maar weer daar…Ek vertrou die Here, want Hy gee vir my lewe’ (Klaagliedere 3:22-24 DB).
Sielskos: Jes 45-48; Joh 7:14-24; Ps 30; Spr 28:25-28
Judges 3:31 NIV
If Shamgar had focused on the fact that he was going up against six hundred Philistines, he would probably have given up before he even started. Understand this: Satan will try to discourage and defeat you by making you feel overwhelmed by the problem. That’s when you need to counterpunch, by breaking down your goals into smaller steps. You may not be able to overcome your addiction, anxiety, or anorexia for the rest of your life, but with God’s help you can win the battle today. Don’t worry about next week or next year. Live in day-tight compartments. Can you resist temptation for twenty-four hours? Can you win the battle for one day? You know you can. And so does the Enemy. So take it one day at a time. We spend far too much energy focusing on the very thing we can’t control – the outcome. You say, “What if I fall back into my bad habit? What if my romantic efforts aren’t reciprocated? What if I don’t hit my target weight or get my dream job?” Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time” (Matthew 6:34 TLB). The manna the Israelites received in the wilderness arrived daily, not weekly or monthly. Why? Because God wanted them to live in total dependence on Him. God’s grace, not your own works, is the key to victory. The word for you today is: “His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his lovingkindness begins afresh each day…therefore I will hope in him” (Lamentations 3:21-24 TLB).
Soul food: Isa 45-48; John 7:14-24; Ps 30; Prov 28:25-28
