2020-05-16
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
When you’re physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, you become vulnerable. When Samson grew tired, he lay down in Delilah’s lap. Jesus called for 100 percent commitment, but He also knew the importance of staying in balance; of work and rest; of giving out and taking in. “Then Jesus said: ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone” (Mark 6:31-32 NLT). A good general will never commit all his soldiers to the battlefield at the same time. He keeps a reserve force to relieve the exhausted ones when they stagger back from the front lines. Yes, you may have the greatest assignment in the world and be succeeding in it, but unless you “keep a reserve,” you’re opening yourself up to potential danger. That’s why setting aside time each day to be alone with God in prayer and Bible reading is so important. If Satan can’t defeat you outright, he will settle for an exhausted, ineffective version of the person God wants you to be. If you’re a type A, high-energy person, you’re particularly at risk. What’s the answer? “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31 NKJV).
Soul food: Num 34-36; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 11:22
Jesaja 40:31 NLV
Wanneer jy fisies, emosioneel en geestelik gedreineerd is, word jy kwesbaar. Toe Simson moeg geword het, het hy met sy kop op Delila se skoot gaan lê. Jesus verwag 100 persent toewyding van ons, maar Hy ken ook die noodsaaklikheid daarvan om in balans te bly; van werk en rus; van gee en neem. ‘…omdat daar voortdurend talle mense gekom en gegaan het sodat hulle selfs nie kans gekry het om te eet nie, het Jesus toe vir hulle gesê: ‘Kom julle nou self eenkant toe na ‘n stil plek en skep ‘n bietjie asem.’ Hulle het toe per skuit na ‘n stil plek vertrek waar hulle alleen kon wees’ (Markus 6:31-32 NLV). ‘n Goeie generaal sal nooit al sy soldate op een slag na die slagveld uitstuur nie. Hy hou ‘n leërmag in reserwe om die moeë soldate wat van die voorste linies af terugstrompel, af te los. Ja, jy mag dalk die belangrikste roeping in die wêreld hê en sukses daarin behaal, maar as jy nie ‘reserwes’ in plek stel nie, stel jy jouself vir potensiële gevaar oop. Dis hoekom dit so belangrik is om elke dag tyd eenkant te sit om alleen met God in gebed te spandeer en jou Bybel te lees. As Satan jou nie direk kan oorwin nie, sal hy tevrede wees met ‘n moeë, oneffektiewe weergawe van die persoon wat God wil hê jy moet wees. Jy loop veral die risiko as jy ‘n tipe A persoonlikheid met hoë energie is. Wat is die antwoord? ‘…Baie jongmense struikel en val. Maar dié wat hulle hoop op die Here stel, sal hulle krag terugkry. Hulle vlieg hoog, soos arende. Hulle sal hardloop en nie moeg word nie. Hulle sal loop en nooit vermoeid word nie’ (Jesaja 40:30-31 NLV).
Sielskos: Num 34-36; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 18:30-50; Spr 11:22
Isaiah 40:31 NIV
When we’re physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained, we become vulnerable. Jesus knew the importance of staying in balance; of work and rest; of giving out and taking in. ‘Then Jesus said: “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone’ (Mark 6:31-32 NLT). Unless we learn to rest and take time off, we’re opening ourselves up to potential danger. That’s why setting aside time each day to read the Bible and be alone with God in prayer is so important. Sometimes the enemy tries to stop us working for God’s kingdom by persuading us to think that we need to do it all, until we’re exhausted and ineffective. But that’s not how God wants us to live. We can go to Him for rest. Jesus said: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 NIV). It doesn’t matter how old we are, how much responsibility we have, or where we work, every one of us needs to take time off in order to maintain our physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. The Bible says: ‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’ (Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV). If we’re feeling tired and worn out, let’s go to God for the rest we need, and ask Him to renew our strength.
Num 34-36; Mark 9:30-37; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 11:22
2020-05-15
2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV
There’s a difference between confessing your sin and repenting of it. In Scripture, the word “repentance” means “to turn away from sin.” By confessing your sin you acknowledge what you have done; by repenting you turn away from it. And the good news is that there’s no limit to God’s forgiveness. The moment you ask for it, you receive it. However, God doesn’t intend you to keep repeating your sinful patterns over and over again. That’s where “godly sorrow” comes in. Paul writes, “You sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you” (v. 11 NKJV). The purpose of godly sorrow is to make you more diligent when it comes to changing behavior. When you allow sin into your life, you violate your core of righteousness. “For [God]…made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). At the point of salvation God literally made you “the righteousness of God in Christ.” You’re a regenerated spirit living in an unregenerated body, and when you permit sin into your life, it violates the very core of who you are! And that will cause you godly sorrow, leading to repentance and turning away from sin. Don’t settle for saying, “This is a habit I can’t break. But it’s okay because God will forgive me.” Yes, He will forgive you, but He doesn’t want you to settle for a cycle of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and then repeating the same sin. He wants you to be strong and effective in His service. That’s why He’s calling you to a higher level.
Soul food: Num 32:25-33:56; Mark 9:14-29; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 11:19-21
