2017-12-04
Philippians 2:13 NLT
Another way in which God will lead you is: Through the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. As a parent, you wouldn’t allow your children to get into trouble if you could stop them – and neither would God. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” God will give you a desire to do His will, plus the power to carry it out. You ask, “But how can I know God’s voice?” Through time, through testing, through experience, and most of all through intimacy with Him. When a loved one calls you on the phone, they don’t have to say, “Hello, this is your husband or your wife calling.” You know their voice! And learning to recognize the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit is crucial, because much of the time you won’t be able to figure it out. “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24 NLT). When all is said and done, you will say, “Honestly, I didn’t figure this thing out. It must have been God.” The longer you walk with God the less you’ll know about why He leads as He does, but you’ll know with assurance that He does lead you. Knowing that is what will draw you back to Him time and time again to seek His guidance. The apostle Jude said, “I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith” (Jude v.3 NIV). Those words – “I felt I had to” – are nothing less than the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Soul food: Gen 30:25-31:55; John 13:18-38; Ps 2; Ecc 3:1-4
2017-12-03
Psalm 119:105 NIV
When you pray, “Lord, what should I do?” He can respond to you in several ways. Let’s look at some over the next few days. He will answer you through His written Word. Instead of turning to “Tom, Dick, and Harry” for guidance, go to God. Make His Word your first option rather than your last resort. The Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Without a regular daily intake of God’s Word, you’ll be “in the dark” as to what’s best for you and the direction your life should go. “I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled” (Ezekiel 12:25 NIV). If God says it in His Word, you can count on it. There are precepts in Scripture, but mainly God has given us principles to follow. These principles require wisdom and discernment. The Psalmist said, “I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge” (Psalm 119:66 NLT). This doesn’t mean you must have a particular verse for every decision or move you make. That’s not how it works. Most times when you ask God for guidance, He will give you “good judgment and knowledge,” and that’s enough to get you moving in the right direction. Will you sometimes experience fear? Yes, but that’s when you must use your faith! Your greatest clarity as to God’s will often comes from hindsight, not foresight. It’s in looking back on how God has led you that you say, “Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave” (1 Kings 8:56 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-7; 1 Kings 18:41-46; Mark 4:35-41
Psalm 119:105 NLV
Wanneer jy bid, ‘Here, wat moet ek doen?’ kan Hy op verskeie maniere reageer. Kom ons kyk oor die volgende paar dae na ‘n paar daarvan. Hy sal jou deur sy Skrif antwoord. In plaas van om enigeen in die omtrek vir leiding te vra, gaan na God toe. Maak sy Woord jou eerste opsie, eerder as jou laaste uitweg. Die Psalmdigter het geskryf, ‘U woorde is ‘n lamp vir my voete en ‘n lig op my pad.’ Sonder ‘n gereelde daaglikse inname van God se Woord, sal jy in die duister bly oor wat die beste vir jou is en die rigting wat jy moet inslaan. ‘…Wat Ek sê, gebeur altyd. Dit sal nie verder uitgestel word nie…’ (Esegiël 12:25 NLV). As God dit in sy Woord sê, kan jy daarop staatmaak. Daar is bevele in die Skrif, maar God het ons hoofsaaklik beginsels daarin gegee waarvolgens om te lewe. Hierdie beginsels benodig wysheid en oordeelkundigheid. Die Psalmdigter het gesê, ‘Leer my goeie oordeel en kennis, want ek vertrou op u gebooie’ (Psalm 119:66 NLV). Dit beteken nie dat jy ‘n spesifieke vers vir elke besluit en aksie wat jy maak, moet hê nie. Die meeste kere wat jy God vir leiding vra, sal Hy vir jou ‘goeie oordeel en kennis’ gee, wat genoeg is om jou in die regte rigting te stuur. Sal jy soms vrees ervaar? Ja, maar dis dan wanneer jy jou geloof moet gebruik! Jou grootste oomblikke van helderheid rakende God se wil, gebeur dikwels wanneer jy terugkyk, nie vorentoe kyk nie. Dis wanneer jy terugkyk na hoe God jou gelei het, wat jy kan sê, ‘…Nie een woord van al die goeie beloftes wat Hy… gegee het, het onvervuld gebly nie’ (1 Konings 8:56 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kon 17:1-7; 1 Kon 18:41-46; Mark 4:35-41
2017-12-02
Matteus 7:12 DB
Die Bybel sê, ‘…dit sal verskriklik gaan net voor die Here weer kom… Elkeen sal net aan homself dink en niks vir ander omgee nie…’ (2 Timoteus 3:1-2 DB). As jy dit nie glo nie, probeer om ‘n parkeerplek te neem wat ‘n ander motoris wil hê. Of hou die mense wat inkopies doen dop as hulle in die ry probeer indruk om dertig sekondes te spaar. Wat van ‘jou sitplek’ in die kerk; jy weet, die een wat jy al dertig jaar warm maak? Die Bybel sê, ‘…Wees eerder nederig deur van medegelowiges meer te dink as van jouself. Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se dinge’ (Filippense 2:3-4 NLV). Jesus het gesê, ‘…vra julle elke dag af hoe julle wil hê ander mense teenoor julle moet optree. Gaan tree dan eerste so teenoor hulle op…’ Met ander woorde, oefen om ander mense eerste te stel. Die Nobel pryswenner en mediese sendeling, Albert Schweitzer, het gesê, ‘Die enigstes tussen julle wat waarlik gelukkig sal wees, is diegene wat uitgevind het hoe om te dien.’ As jy motivering nodig het, begin die beste kwaliteite in plaas van die slegtes in mense te soek. Onthou, hulle moet dieselfde met jou doen. As jy regtig sukses in die lewe wil behaal, moet jy ander mense ‘n klein bietjie meer liefhê as wat hulle verdien, soos God jou liefhet. Ons verwag te dikwels van almal anders om die Goue Reël te beoefen, sonder om dit self te doen. Die lofsanger Henry Burton het geskryf: ‘Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on. ‘Twas not given for thee alone, pass it on. Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, till in heaven the deed appears – pass it on.’
Sielskos: Gen 28:1-30:24; Joh 13:1-17; Ps 130; Spr 31:28-31
Matthew 7:12 TM
The Bible says, “As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed… self-promoting…dog-eat-dog…the kind…who smooth-talk…and take advantage” (2 Timothy 3:1-6 TM). If you don’t believe that, try sliding into a parking space another motorist wants. Or watch shoppers in a checkout line elbowing one another to save thirty seconds. And how about “your seat” in church; you know, the one you’ve been warming for thirty years? The Bible says, “Be humble and consider others more important than yourselves. Care about them as much as you care about yourselves” (Philippians 2:3-4 CEV). Jesus said, “Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.” In other words, practice putting others first. Nobel Prize-winning medical missionary Albert Schweitzer said, “The only ones among you who will really be happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” If you need motivation, start looking for the good qualities in people instead of the bad ones. And remember, they have to do the same in your case. Do something to help them. If you really want to get ahead in life, love others a little bit more than they deserve, just like God loves you. Too often we expect everyone else to practice the Golden Rule. Hymnist Henry Burton wrote: “Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on. ‘T was not given for thee alone, pass it on. Let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, till in heaven the deed appears – pass it on.”
Soul food: Gen 28:1-30:24; John 13:1-17; Ps 130; Prov 31:28-31
