2020-05-13
Daniël 2:21 NLV
Besef dat moeilike tye nie vir altyd aanhou nie. Die seisoen van teëspoed waarin jy jouself nou bevind, sal tot ‘n einde kom. Wanneer dit gebeur, sal jy daaruit leer sodat jy ‘n beter toekoms kan bou. Sommige van jou grootste seëninge spruit uit jou moeilikste omstandighede. Paulus skryf: ‘Ons swaarkry op die oomblik is gering en tydelik, maar dit bewerk vir ons ‘n heerlikheid wat alles verreweg oortref en vir altyd vas sal staan’ (2 Korintiërs 4:17 NLV). Uit jou grootste toetse kom jou grootste getuienisse. Moenie groot besluite tydens ‘n storm neem nie. Gedagtes en gevoelens kan dikwels te midde van ‘n krisis op hol gaan; dis die tye wat jy versigtig moet wees om besluite te neem. Bly kalm, dissiplineer jouself om op dit wat jy kan doen te fokus en vertrou op God om dit te doen wat jy nie kan nie. Net soos ‘n fout aan die vlieënier se kant kan veroorsaak dat ‘n vliegtuig van koers af raak of ‘n noodlanding moet doen, kan ‘n slegte besluit jou daarvan weerhou om jou lewensdoelwit te bereik. Laat jou emosies bedaar voor jy enige besluite neem. Jy mag dalk nie altyd daardie opsie hê nie, maar probeer om nie belangrike besluite te neem voor die storm verby is nie. Net soos die wind vreeslik tydens ‘n storm waai, so kan jou gedagtes wild en woes word; en dis nie die tyd om noodsaaklike evaluerings te doen nie. Wat moet jy dus doen? Paulus antwoord: ‘Moet oor niks bekommerd wees nie, maar bid oor alles. Vra alles wat julle nodig het van God… Omdat julle aan Christus behoort, sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (Filippense 4:6-7 NLV).
Sielskos: Num 27-29; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 62; Spr 11:15
Daniel 2:21 NIV
Realize that rough times won’t last forever. As surely as God created spring to follow winter, “He changes times and seasons…He gives wisdom.” The season of adversity you’re in will end. And when it does, you’ll glean from it the wisdom to build a better future. Sometimes your greatest blessings come from your most negative circumstances. Paul writes, “Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT). Tough times don’t last, but tough people do! Out of your greatest tests come your greatest testimonies. Don’t make major decisions during a storm. Thoughts and feelings often run wild in the midst of a crisis; those are times when you need to be careful about making decisions. Remain calm, discipline yourself to focus on what you can do, and trust God to do what you can’t. Just as a pilot error can cause a plane to be diverted from its intended destination, or have to make a dangerous emergency landing, a bad decision can divert or delay you from reaching your destiny. Let your emotions subside – before you decide. You may not always have that option, but as much as possible, put significant decisions on hold until your storm passes. Just as the wind blows about wildly during a storm, your thoughts can become wild and frantic, and that’s not the best time to make crucial assessments. What should you do? Paul answers, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and…His peace will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
Soul food: Num 27-29; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 62; Prov 11:15
Daniel 2:21 NIV
When we’re going through a rough time, we need to remember that it won’t last forever. Just as there are seasons throughout the year, there are seasons in our lives too. Daniel said: ‘He changes times and seasons…He gives wisdom.’ If we’re in a season of hardship, disappointment, hurt, or loneliness, we can rest in the knowledge that it will end. And through it, we’ll have more wisdom for our future. Sometimes our greatest blessings come from our most negative circumstances. Paul wrote: ‘Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!’ (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT). Tough times don’t last. When we have the right attitude, we know that we’ll survive. So how can we have the right attitude when we’re in a stormy season of life? We need to remain calm, discipline ourselves to focus on what we can do, and trust God to do what we can’t. It’s also wise for us to avoid making big decisions when we’re in a storm. Just as the wind blows wildly during a storm, our thoughts can become wild and frantic, and that’s not the best time to make big decisions. A bad decision can take us down the wrong path, and lead us further away from God’s plans and purposes for us. When we have an unhelpful attitude, we’re unlikely to make decisions that are helpful to us. If we’re in a storm, and struggling to have the right attitude, we can take the advice Paul gave to the church in Philippi. He said: ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need…His peace will guard your hearts and minds’ (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
Num 27-29; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 62; Prov 11:15
2020-05-12
Philippians 4:8 KJV
We all need “an attitude adjustment” from time to time. It’s crucial to maintain the right attitude when the going gets rough. No matter what happens in your life, determine to go through it with the right attitude. In fact, determine beforehand to keep a positive mindset in the midst of every negative situation that arises. If you make this a conscious decision and meditate on it during the good times, when difficulties arise you’ll already be prepared. Paul writes: “Whatsoever things are true…are honest…are just…are pure…are lovely…are of good report; if there be any virtue…any praise, think on these things…and the God of peace shall be with you” (vv. 8-9). Some of the greatest writers and composers in history created masterpieces during the worst times of their lives. Beethoven’s most famous symphonies were written when he was almost totally deaf and experiencing great sorrow. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to think, “I could never be like those people.” If you think like that, you’ll be defeated before you even try. Maintaining a right attitude is always much easier than regaining a right attitude. So as soon as you sense yourself becoming negative, make an immediate attitude adjustment. The Bible says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7KJV). The moment the Enemy sends negative thoughts into your mind, stop them midstream. Discipline yourself to stand strong with a positive attitude in every circumstance. When you do, “the God of peace shall be with you.”
Soul food: Num 25-26; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 57; Prov 11:14
Filippense 4:8 ABA
Ons almal moet van tyd tot tyd ons houding aanpas. Dis noodsaaklik om die regte houding te onderhou wanneer dinge moeilik raak. Maak nie saak wat in jou lewe gebeur nie, besluit om dit met die regte houding aan te pak. Besluit inderwaarheid voor die tyd om ‘n positiewe gedagtegang in elke negatiewe situasie te handhaaf. As jy dit bewustelik besluit en daaroor in goeie tye mediteer, sal jy gereed wees wanneer moeilike tye hulle opwagting maak. Paulus skryf: ‘…Julle moet altyd dink aan die dinge wat waar is, wat mooi is, wat reg is, wat rein is, wat pragtig en goed is. Ja, julle moet dink aan alles wat mooi is, alles waarop ‘n mens trots kan wees… Julle moet dieselfde doen, dan sal God wat vrede gee, by julle wees’ (verse 8-9 ABA). Sommige van die geskiedenis se grootste skrywers en komponiste het meesterstukke in die moeilikste tye van hulle lewens geskep. Beethoven se bekendste simfonieë is geskryf toe hy amper heeltemal doof was en groot hartseer ervaar het. Een van die grootste foute wat jy kan maak, is om te dink: ‘Ek sal nooit soos daardie mense kan wees nie.’ As jy so dink, is jy reeds oorwonne, nog voor jy begin het. Dis makliker om ‘n goeie houding te onderhou, as om ‘n goeie houding terug te kry. Sodra jy dus agterkom dat jy begin negatief raak, moet jy onmiddellik jou houding aanpas. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Weerstaan die duiwel en hy sal van julle af wegvlug’ (Jakobus 4:7 NLV). Die oomblik wat die Vyand negatiewe gedagtes in jou kop plaas, moet jy dit onmiddellik stop. Dissiplineer jouself om met ‘n positiewe houding in alle omstandighede sterk te staan. Wanneer jy dit doen, sal ‘God wat vrede gee, by julle wees.’
Sielskos: Num 25-26; Mark 8:14-26; Ps 57; Spr 11:14
