2020-01-18
Ephesians 2:8 NIV
We can feel insecure when we’re not sure who we are and we not sure that we’re good enough to be loved. It can affect all of our relationships, including our relationship with God. If they’re not dealt with, our insecurities can damage our relationships and we can end up trying to earn love and approval. But in Jesus we have a secure identity. Through Him we can be: 1) Secure in our appearance. God created us in His image, and He doesn’t make mistakes. We might not look like the people we see in magazines, but that doesn’t mean we’re not beautiful. The Bible says: ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14 NIV). 2) Secure in our purpose. God created us with a purpose in mind. He’s given us gifts and skills for us to use to advance the kingdom and glorify Him. Sometimes we can feel like we’re not good enough to be used by God, but that’s not true. We each have our part to play, and we can know that God has things for us to do, even if we’ve messed up in the past. 3) Secure in our future. Once we’ve accepted Jesus and surrendered our lives to Him, we can be secure in our eternal future. We don’t need to earn our salvation. It’s a gift from Him. The Bible says: ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.’ We need to believe the truth that we’re loved, chosen, and accepted. When we know exactly who we are in Christ, we’ll be secure in our identity and able to focus on the things God’s called us to do.
Exo 28-29; Matt 8:10-17; Ps 84; Prov 2:16-19
Psalm 102:28 NLT
When you ask parents about their future hopes for their kids, you’ll hear words like happy, secure, and self-confident. Those are nice sentiments, but not guarantees. But what makes that kind of adult? A childhood filled with trophies and good grades? A life in the country, far away from the crime-ridden city? Enriching pastimes like travel and music? The truth is, not one of these things predicts later happiness. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t encourage children to study and excel; having parents who value knowledge makes a difference. The important qualities, however, aren’t external, they’re internal. Psychologist Dr. Edward Hallowell says to feel secure, your children need to develop two crucial skills: (1) The ability to overcome adversity. (2) The capacity to sustain joy. He says, “Life is full of disappointments. Only by failing the first time and learning to try, try, and try again will a person get the most out of their abilities.” But how do you teach your kids to be joyful in the face of adversity? There’s only one way to do it: Introduce them to the source of joy. Isaiah said, “My soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with…salvation” (Isaiah 61:10). David said, “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11). Jeremiah said, “Thy word was unto me the joy…of mine heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). God never promised us a life without problems, but His Word says, “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives…joy” (Galatians 5:22 NLT).
Soul food: Exo 28-29; Matt 8:10-17; Ps 84; Prov 2:16-19
2020-01-17
Romans 12:2 NCV
What we consume determines our performance. That’s why you need to be careful what you feed your body, your children, your pets, and even your car. But what you feed your mind is equally important, especially when you consider these two laws that operate in life: (1) The law of cognition. Your thoughts influence your emotions and your behavior. The Bible says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Jesus said a good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit (See Matthew 7:18). In other words, good thinking can’t produce bad results, just as bad thinking can’t produce good results. (2) The law of exposure. The Bible says, “Do not…be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.” You’ll always think about what you are exposed to the most. And given the violence, lust, and greed portrayed by the media, it’s not surprising that crime and immorality are on the rise. You can’t just say, “I’m going to read this magazine, watch this program, listen to this music, but it won’t affect me.” Social science now confirms what God said all along – it does affect you! Where you go, what you read, (or don’t read), what you watch, and the dreams you entertain all shape your mind. Paul writes, “Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise” (Colossians 3:16 TLB). So when you need the right mind-fuel, remember: “God whose gracious Word can make you into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need” (Acts 20:32 MSG).
Soul food: Exo 25-27; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
Romeine 12:2 NLV
Ons prestasie word deur dit wat ons verbruik, bepaal. Dis hoekom jy versigtig moet wees met wat jy jou liggaam, jou kinders, jou troeteldiere en selfs jou kar voer. Dit waarmee jy jou gedagtes voer is net so belangrik, veral wanneer jy hierdie twee lewenswette oorweeg: 1) Die wet van kognisie. Jou gedagtes beïnvloed jou emosies en jou gedrag. Jesus het gesê dat ‘n goeie boom nie slegte vrugte kan dra nie en dat ‘n slegte boom nie goeie vrugte kan produseer nie (sien Matteus 7:18). Met ander woorde, goeie denke kan nie slegte resultate produseer nie, net soos slegte gedagtes nie goeie resultate kan produseer nie. 2) Die wet van blootstelling. Die Bybel sê: ‘Moenie julle leefstyl aanpas by die gedragspatrone van hierdie wêreld nie, maar laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe…’ Jy sal altyd aan dit waaraan jy die meeste blootgestel word, dink. As mens kyk na die geweld, belusting en gierigheid wat deur die media uitgebeeld word, is dit g’n wonder dat misdaad en onsedelikheid hoogty vier nie. Jy kan nie net sê: ‘Ek gaan hierdie tydskrif lees, hierdie program kyk, na hierdie musiek luister, maar dit sal my nie affekteer nie.’ Sosiale wetenskaplikes bevestig wat God nog altyd sê – dit affekteer jou wel! Waar jy gaan, wat jy lees (of nie lees nie), wat jy kyk en die drome wat jy het, vorm jou gedagtes. Paulus skryf: ‘Laat die rykdom van alles wat Christus ons leer, julle leefstyl bepaal…’ (Kolossense 3:16 NLV). Wanneer jy dus die regte brandstof vir jou gedagtes nodig het, onthou: ‘[God se] boodskap kan julle geloof sterk maak en dit kan julle help om te weet dat God vir julle die dinge sal gee wat Hy belowe het om vir al die gelowiges te gee’ (Handelinge 20:32 ABA).
Sielskos: Eks 25-27; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Spr 2:11-15
Romans 12:2 NCV
If we want our cars or our bodies to function well, we have to give them the right fuel. But what we feed our mind is equally important. Our thoughts influence our emotions and our behaviour. The Bible says: ‘The mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Luke 6:45 NIV). Jesus said a good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit (take a look at Matthew 7:18). Good thinking can’t produce bad results, just as bad thinking can’t produce good results. The Bible says, ‘Do not…be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.’ So how can we think differently? Firstly, we need to think about the unhelpful things we’re filling our minds with. We’ll always end up thinking about what we’re exposed to the most. The things we read, watch, and listen to affect our minds. Secondly, we need to be filling our minds with God’s truth. We need to remember that God’s ‘gracious Word can make you into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need’ (Acts 20:32 MSG). When we spend time reading the Bible, we soak in the truth of who we are, and who God is. The things we focus on can change how we feel. When we’re focused on God, we’ll feel peace. When we’re focused on our problems, we might feel fearful and overwhelmed. The Bible says: ‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you’ (Isaiah 26:3 NIV). The fuel we give our minds is our choice. God doesn’t force us to read the Bible or focus on Him. We have to make the choice to shift our focus away from unhelpful, worldly things, and onto God.
Exo 25-27; Matt 8:1-9; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
