2019-03-16
Psalm 143:10 NLV
Jy ontvang krag deur die daad van oorgawe, wat jy op geen ander manier kan ontvang nie. Jy ontvang vryheid deur oorgawe, wat jy andersins nooit sal ken nie. Die 12-Stap program vir herstel bied ‘n pad na vryheid vir verslaafdes aan. By die kern van die twaalf stappe lê daar egter ‘n groot paradoks: In watter een van die twaalf stappe sê dit, ‘Probeer nou rêrig hard om nie te drink nie’? In watter van die twaalf stappe sê dit, ‘Besluit nou om nie te drink nie’? Wonderbaarlik vra hierdie kragtige metode teen ons magtigste verslawings, nooit vir mense om te besluit om dit wat hulle lewens vernietig, op te hou doen nie. In plaas daarvan om die wil te mobiliseer, gee hulle volgelinge hul wil aan God oor. As jy die probleem deur jou wil probeer oorkom, sal dit jou verslaan. As jy egter jou wil aan God oorgee, word verlossing moontlik. Oorgawe, wat ons dink ‘n nederlaag beteken, is op die ou einde die enigste pad na oorwinning toe. Dis nie net die geval met alkohol en dwelms nie, maar met sonde in die algemeen. Hoekom misluk ons wil? Die handleiding van Alkoholiste Anoniem sê dat wanneer dit by alkohol kom, sê en voel ons ‘nooit weer nie.’ Ons doen dit egter weer. Hoekom? ‘Ons is op sekere tye nie in staat om met genoegsame krag die herinnering van die lyding en vernedering van selfs net ‘n week gelede in ons gedagtes op te roep nie. Die sekere nagevolge wat met die drink van alkohol gepaard gaan, skrik ons nie af nie. As hierdie gedagtes plaasvind, is hulle wasig en word hulle maklik met die ou verslete gedagte dat ons dit hierdie keer self kan hanteer, vervang.’ Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Gee oor aan God.
Sielskos: Job 18-20; Luk 18:1-17; Ps 116:1-11; Spr 8:8-9
Psalm 143:10 NIV
You receive power through the act of surrender that you cannot receive any other way. You receive freedom through submission that you will otherwise never know. The 12-Step Program for recovery offers a path to freedom for addicts. But at the core of the twelve steps lies a great paradox: In which of the twelve steps does it say, “Now try really hard not to drink”? In which of the twelve steps does it even say, “Now decide not to drink”? Amazingly, this powerful tool against our most powerful addictions never asks people to decide to stop doing what is destroying their lives. Instead of mobilizing the will, its followers surrender their will to God. If you try to overcome the problem by your will, it will beat you. But if you surrender your will to God, deliverance becomes possible. Surrender, which we think means defeat, actually turns out to be the only way to victory. This is not just the case with alcohol and drugs, but with sin in general. Why does our will fail? The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous says that when it comes to drinking, we say and feel “never again.” But we do it again. Why? “We are unable, at certain times, to bring into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the suffering and humiliation of even a week ago…the certain consequences that follow taking a drink do not crowd into the mind to deter us. If these thoughts occur, they are hazy and readily replaced by the old threadbare idea that this time we can handle it ourselves.” So the word for you today is: Surrender to God.
Soul food: Job 18-20; Luke 18:1-17; Ps 116:1-11; Prov 8:8-9
2019-03-15
Matthew 16:24 CEV
Surrender is not the same thing as passivity. God’s will for your life involves exercising creativity, making choices, and taking initiative. Surrender does not mean being a doormat; it does not mean you accept circumstances fatalistically. Often it means you will have to fight to challenge the status quo. It doesn’t mean that you stop using your mind, stop asking questions, or stop thinking critically. Surrender is not a crutch for weak people who cannot handle life. Instead, surrender is the glad and voluntary acknowledgment that there is a God, and He is not you. His purposes are wiser and better than your desires. Jesus doesn’t come to rearrange the outside of your life the way you want; He comes to rearrange the inside of your life the way God wants. In surrender, you let go of your life. You recognize that you are no longer the center of the universe, and you put God there. You yield to Him. You offer obedience. You do what He says. Jesus was very clear on this point: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies [to self] it produces many seeds” (John 12:24 NIV). How do you live a productive and fruitful life? By dying to yourself daily. D. L. Moody said the world has yet to see what God can do with one person who is totally surrendered to Him. Today, kneel and pray, “Lord, take me, shake me, break me, and make me what You want me to be.” That’s a prayer He will answer.
Soul food: Job 15-17; Luke 17:20-37; Ps 19; Prov 8:6-7
Matteus 16:24 NLV
Oorgawe is nie dieselfde as passiwiteit nie. God se wil vir jou lewe behels dat jy kreatiwiteit moet uitoefen, besluite moet maak en inisiatief moet neem. Om oor te gee beteken nie dat jy ‘n deurmat is nie; dit beteken nie dat jy omstandighede fatalisties aanvaar nie. Dit beteken dikwels dat jy sal moet baklei om die status quo uit te daag. Dit beteken nie dat jy ophou om jou brein te gebruik, ophou vrae vra of ophou krities dink nie. Oorgawe is nie ‘n kruk vir swak mense wat nie die lewe kan hanteer nie. Oorgawe is eerder die blye en vrywillige erkenning dat daar ‘n God is. Sy doeleindes is wyser en beter as jou begeertes. Jesus kom nie om die buitekant van jou lewe te rangskik soos jy dit wil hê nie; Hy kom om die binnekant van jou lewe te rangskik soos God dit wil hê. Jy kom agter dat jy nie meer die middelpunt van die heelal is nie – jy plaas God daar. Jy bied gehoorsaamheid aan. Jy luister na Hom. Jy doen wat Hy sê. Jesus was baie duidelik oor hierdie punt: ‘Ek verseker julle, as ‘n graankorrel nie in die grond val en sterf nie, bly hy net op sy eie bestaan; maar as hy sterf, lewer hy baie vrug op’ (Johannes 12:24 NLV). Hoe lewe jy ‘n produktiewe en vrugbare lewe? Deur daagliks aan jouself te sterf. D.L. Moody het gesê dat die wêreld nog nie gesien het wat God met een persoon kan doen wat ten volle aan Hom oorgegee is nie. Kniel vandag en bid, ‘Here, neem my, skud my, breek my en maak my wat U wil hê ek moet wees.’ Dis ‘n gebed wat Hy sal beantwoord.
Sielskos: Job 15-17; Luk 17:20-37; Ps 19; Spr 8:6-7
2019-03-14
Galatians 2:20 NIV
John Calvin defined surrender in these words: “To have no other will, no other wisdom, and to follow the Lord wherever He leads.” To do this, you will have to face your greatest fear: Who will drive your life? It’s pretty handy to have Jesus in the passenger seat when we require His service. “Lord, I have a health problem, and I need Your help. Something hard is going on at work, and I’d like it to be different. I’m feeling anxious, and I want You to give me peace of mind. I’m feeling sad, and I’d like a little hope. I’m facing death, and I want to make sure I’m going to heaven.” But when it comes to sliding out from behind the wheel and letting Jesus drive, we’re not so sure about that because it means we are no longer in control. For example, if He’s driving, you are not in charge of your wallet anymore. You can’t say, “I’ll give sometimes when I feel generous, but I reserve the right to keep what I want.” Now it’s Jesus’ money. When you let Jesus drive you’re no longer in charge of your ego. You no longer have the right to satisfy every self-centered ambition. Now it’s His life. You are not in charge of your mouth anymore. You don’t get to gossip, flatter, cajole, condemn, lie, curse, rage, cheat, intimidate, manipulate, exaggerate, and prevaricate anymore. Now it’s not your mouth – it’s His mouth. So here’s the question: Have you invited Jesus along for the ride, or is He driving? The word for you today is: Surrender to God.
Soul food: Job 11-14; Luke 17:11-19; Ps 11; Prov 8:4-5
