2020-04-29
Johannes 17:4 NLV
Meer as die helfte van diegene wat die bediening binnegaan, verlaat dit binne tien jaar as gevolg van stres en ontmoediging. Hoe kan jy dit vermy? Deur Christus se voorbeeld te volg. Hoe het Jesus dit gedoen? Hy sê vir ons: ‘…Ek verseker julle, die Seun kan niks uit sy eie doen nie. Hy doen slegs wat Hy die Vader sien doen. Wat die Vader ook al doen, dit doen die Seun net so. Die Vader het die Seun lief en wys Hom alles wat Hy self doen… Ek is nie daartoe in staat om enigiets uit My eie te doen nie…’ (Johannes 5:19-20; 30 NLV). Dit klink eenvoudig, nè? Eenvoudig – maar nie maklik nie. Mense sal jou probeer ompraat om goeie dinge te doen wat nie noodwendig God se hoogste prioriteit vir jou is nie. Jy kan jou lewe spandeer om die ‘goeie’ te doen en nooit by die ‘beste’ uitkom nie. Jesus het gesê: ‘Ek het… die werk voltooi wat U vir my gegee het om te doen.’ As God dit nie vir jou gee nie, moenie dit aanpak nie. Indien Hy dit vir jou gee, moenie dit sonder sy hulp aanpak nie. Staanhorlosies kom met twee instruksies: Moet dit eerstens nie laat afloop nie. Tweedens, moet dit nie te styf opwen nie. Hoekom het Jesus voor dagbreek opgestaan om te gaan bid en soms deurnag gebid? Sodat Hy nie te afgemat of te opgewen sou raak nie! Die Bybel sê: ‘Gee jou kommer oor aan die Here, Hy sal vir jou sorg. Hy sal gelowiges nie teleurstel nie’ (Psalm 55:23 NLV). Hy kan egter net jou kommer en sorge dra, wanneer jy dit vir Hom gee.
Sielskos: Jak 3-5; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 94:12-23; Spr 10:27
2020-04-28
1 Timothy 6:4 NIV
Some people miss all the good things in life by focusing only on what’s wrong. They miss the flowers in the garden and point out the weeds. Who are they? They’re the “Yes, but” people. In order to help them and to deal with them the right way, you must: (1) Be discerning. Recognize that often their outward bravado masks a deep inner insecurity. It lets them shift the focus off their own fears and onto the faults of others. (2) Be accepting. Our first inclination is to ignore and isolate difficult people. That’s a mistake. Difficult people often want to be ignored, and avoiding them just provides the emotional distance for them to hide. Plus, it confirms their belief that you don’t care and won’t listen because you think they’re wrong and you’re right. (3) Be interested. Show genuine concern for their family, their work, and their well-being. “Yes, but” people usually struggle with giving and receiving love; they’re inclined to elevate opinion and loyalty above communication and reconciliation. And nowhere is it more evident than in their personal lives. So be prepared to empathize with the trail of broken relationships you’re likely to find. (4) Be kind. The Bible says, “Love is patient, love is kind…It…always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV). Avoiding “Yes, but” people doesn’t work; neither does arguing with them or trying to straighten them out. You can’t change the habits of a lifetime in one or two conversations. But given enough time, the one strategy that never fails is love.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 10:24-26
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
The things we focus on will help shape our attitude. If we look at the positives, we’ll be more likely to have a positive and thankful attitude. If we’re aware of the positives but choose to remember all the negative things, then we’re more likely to have a negative attitude. Some of us can end up missing the good things in life because we’re focusing on what’s wrong. It’s true that there will always be negative things in our lives. Maybe it’s a bad relationship, rejection, frustration at work, or a health issue. These things can make it really hard to be positive. They can feel overwhelming and end up being all we can see. But the Bible tells us to ‘rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.’ How can we do this when we’re facing difficult things? We need to keep focused on the good things in our lives. These are the things God has blessed us with. He gives us good gifts: ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above’ (James 1:17 NIV). We can also keep our eyes focused on God Himself. He never changes, He never leaves us, He never stops loving us. These are incredible things that we can always be thankful for, no matter how bad our circumstances are. This doesn’t mean we have to pretend to be happy when we’re hurting. God wants us to be real, and He wants to comfort us when we’re struggling. The Bible tells us that there is ‘a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance’ (Ecclesiastes 3:4 NIV). But whatever season we find ourselves in, we can always be joyful and grateful because of everything God has done for us.
Jam 1-2; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 10:24-26
1 Timoteus 6:4 NLV
Sommige mense loop al die goeie dinge in die lewe mis, omdat hulle te besig is om op die slegte te fokus. Hulle kyk die blomme in die tuin mis en wys die onkruid uit. Wie is hulle? Hulle is die ‘Ja, maar…’ mense. Om hulle te help en hulle reg te hanteer moet jy: 1) Kan onderskei. Besef dat hulle brawe maskers dikwels ‘n onderliggende onsekerheid verbloem. Dit laat hulle toe om die fokus van hulle eie vrese op die foute van ander mense af te skuif. 2) Kan aanvaar. Ons eerste reaksie is om moeilike mense te ignoreer en te isoleer. Dis ‘n fout. Moeilike mense wil dikwels geïgnoreer word en wanneer jy hulle vermy, verskaf jy emosionele afstand aan hulle om weg te kruip. Dit bevestig ook hulle oortuiging dat jy nie omgee nie en nie wil luister nie, omdat jy dink dat hulle verkeerd en jy reg is. 3) Geïnteresseerd wees. Wys dat jy regtig in hulle familie, hulle werk en hulle welstand belangstel. ‘Ja, maar…’ mense sukkel dikwels om liefde te gee en te ontvang; hulle is geneig om opinie en lojaliteit bo kommunikasie en rekonsiliasie te stel. 4) Vriendelik wees. Die Bybel sê: ‘Die liefde is geduldig en vriendelik… Die liefde bly stil oor ander se foute, dit bly steeds vertrou, dit hou aan met hoop, dit verduur alles… Die liefde sal nooit vergaan nie…’ (1 Korintiërs 13:4-8 NLV). Om ‘Ja, maar…’ mense te vermy werk nie; ook nie om met hulle te argumenteer of om te probeer dat hulle sin insien nie. Jy kan nie gewoontes van ‘n leeftyd in een of twee gesprekke verander nie. Met genoeg tyd, is liefde egter die een strategie wat egter nooit misluk nie.
Sielskos: Jak 1-2; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 94:1-11; Spr 10:24-26
2020-04-27
Psalm 35:13 NIV
Misdirected prayers. Some folks turn the blessing at mealtime into a public airing of their frustrations. Others bounce their prayers off God, hoping to hit the person across the table – the one they’re trying to win to Christ. Don’t do that. God gets enough bad press without you adding to it! Jesus said, “When you come before God, don’t turn that into a theatrical production” (Matthew 6:5 MSG). Judgmental prayers. In one church a childless couple was praying for a baby. The prayer group arbitrarily decided the husband wasn’t “godly” enough to be a father, so they spent their time asking God to change him. If God gave children only to perfect parents, the human race would be extinct! The Bible says, “We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy” (Daniel 9:18 NLT). Quorum-based prayers. You think there’s a better chance of getting your prayers answered if you involve a lot of people, like having a quorum at a business meeting. With God, what matters is the faith with which you pray, not the number of people. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 NIV). Now, when you face a situation that’s too big to handle alone, it’s wise to reach for someone who really knows God and can pray in agreement with you. “If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19 NIV). Which raises the question: Do you have prayer partners you can call on? Are you a prayer partner for someone else?
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 10:22-23
