2020-07-08
Psalm 37:7 NCV
We don’t like waiting. Whether we’re waiting for a meal in a restaurant, we’re stuck in standstill traffic, or we’re waiting for our bus to come, we can find ourselves becoming impatient and frustrated. We don’t like to wait for anything, including God. But the word ‘wait’ shows up many times throughout the Bible. God doesn’t always answer our prayers or bring change in our lives immediately. Sometimes we have to wait. So what can we do in the waiting? Firstly, we need to remember that God’s working in our waiting. Jesus said, ‘My Father is always at his work’ (John 5:17 NIV). It might not look like anything’s happening, but God’s working things out for our good (have a read of Romans 8:28). God says: ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 NIV). Sometimes we just have to hand everything over to Him and remember that He works in His own ways and in His own timing. Secondly, we need to trust God. The Bible says: ‘Wait and trust the LORD.’ Trusting can be easier said than done. We like to be in control and work everything out ourselves. Waiting and trusting can feel really uncomfortable. But the Bible teaches us to ‘trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding’ (Proverbs 3:5 NIV). While we’re waiting we shouldn’t assume the worst, worry, make demands, or take control. Instead we should keep our eyes fixed on God and expectantly wait for Him to come through for us. The psalmist wrote: ‘We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield’ (Psalm 33:20 NIV). Let’s declare those words today too.
Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 137; Prov 15:15-17
Psalm 37:7 NKJV
When you’re in a doctor’s waiting room there are things you shouldn’t do – like try to treat other patients, or have them treat you. Or ask the receptionist for a stethoscope or a blood pressure cuff. And it wouldn’t be wise to ask the person sitting next to you, “What prescriptions are you taking? Perhaps I could try them.” It’s called a waiting room because you’re supposed to wait. But we don’t like to wait. We weave through traffic looking for a faster lane. We drum our fingers on the countertop while the microwave heats our coffee: “Come on, come on.” We don’t like to wait for anything, including God. Over and over in Scripture when it speaks about our relationship with God, the word “wait” keeps showing up. And here’s what we fail to understand: While we are waiting, God is working. Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work” (John 5:17 NIV). The sign on God’s waiting room reads “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). You can be still because He is active, and you can rest because He is busy. To wait, biblically speaking, is not to assume the worst, or worry, or fret, or make demands, or take control. Waiting is not inactivity. Waiting is sustained effort to stay focused on God through prayer and faith. To wait is to “rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…not fret.” God is the Great Physician. You are in His waiting room. He knows what ails you better than you do, and He has a prescription to fix it. So trust Him, and wait.
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 137; Prov 15:15-17
2020-07-07
Joel 2:28 NLT
World champion boxer George Foreman was raised in a Christian home, and eventually he came back to his roots – but not before he tried the world of gangs, drugs, and violence. Recognizing not only his physical prowess, but also his potential, a friend suggested he join a local gym to work out his aggression in a more constructive way. That led to his becoming a world heavyweight champion boxer, and making millions of dollars. But the career of a world champion boxer is relatively short, and eventually Foreman, aging and overweight, reached the place where the only fights he could get paid just a few thousand dollars. He desperately needed to lose weight and get back in shape. A friend introduced him to a healthy diet, and part of his new eating regimen involved using a little grill. One day Foreman’s wife suggested that instead of simply using the grill for himself, he should put his name on it and others would buy it. And they did! Over 100 million George Foreman grills have been sold, and people are still buying them. Think about it. George Foreman made more money with his little grill than he made as a prizefighter. The Bible says that when the Holy Spirit empowers them, “your old men will dream dreams.” So regardless of your age, it’s not too late for you. Just get down on your knees today and pray, “Lord, all that I have and all that I am, I give fully to You. Use me as You see fit.” And when He answers, be prepared for Him to take you in a whole new direction.
Soul food: Jer 31-32; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 122; Prov 15:10-14
Joel 2:28 NLT
Have you invited the Holy Spirit into your life? Some people can be afraid of the Spirit, but the Spirit provides us with comfort, guidance, and power. The Spirit helps us to grow and become more like Jesus (take a look at Galatians 5:22-23). Paul describes the Holy Spirit as a gift for Christians (you can find this in Acts 2:38). It’s not something to fear, but an amazing gift from God to help us every moment of every day. Jesus told His disciples: ‘the Holy Spirit…will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you’ (John 14:26 NLT). Not only does the Spirit teach us, but the Spirit also helps us when we feel weak. The Bible says: ‘the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words’ (Romans 8:26 NLT). In many different ways, the Spirit empowers us to live our lives for God. We can see God’s promise of His Spirit to His people in the Old Testament. He said: ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.’ This links with the spiritual gifts that Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 12. The Spirit empowers us to play our part in God’s kingdom. When we have the Spirit inside of us, we have some of God’s power within us. In 1 Thessalonians 5, we’re told to ‘not stifle the Holy Spirit’ (v.19 NLT), so let’s allow the Spirit to be at work in us today.
Jer 31-32; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 122; Prov 15:10-14
Joël 2:28 NLV
Die wêreldkampioen bokser, George Foreman, is in ‘n Christelike huis grootgemaak en het uiteindelik na sy wortels teruggekeer – maar nie voor hy in ‘n wêreld van bendes, dwelms en geweld vasgevang geraak het nie. ‘n Vriend het sy potensiaal raakgesien en hom aangemoedig om by ‘n plaaslike gym aan te sluit om sodoende sy aggressie op ‘n meer konstruktiewe manier uit te laat. Dit het daartoe gelei dat hy ‘n swaargewig wêreldkampioen bokser geword het en miljoene dollars gemaak het. Die loopbaan van ‘n wêreldkampioen bokser is egter relatief kort en uiteindelik het Foreman, ouer en oorgewig, die punt bereik waar hy net in gevegte wat ‘n paar duisend dollar betaal het, begin veg het. Hy moes dringend gewig verloor en fiks word. ‘n Vriend het hom aan ‘n gesonde dieet voorgestel en as deel van sy nuwe eetplan, moes Foreman ‘n klein braaipan gebruik. Een dag het Foreman se vrou voorgestel dat hy sy naam op die klein braaipan moet aanbring en dat ander mense dit sou koop. Hulle het! Daar is al oor die 100 miljoen George Foreman braaipanne verkoop en mense koop dit steeds. Dink daaraan. George Foreman het meer geld met sy klein braaipan as met al sy prysgevegte gemaak. Die Bybel sê dat wanneer die Heilige Gees hulle bemagtig, ‘…Julle oumense sal drome droom…’ Ten spyte van jou ouderdom, is dit nie vir jou te laat nie. Gaan net vandag op jou knieë en bid: ‘Here, alles wat ek het en alles wat ek is, gee ek ten volle aan U. Gebruik my soos U dit goed dink.’ Wanneer Hy antwoord, moet jy voorbereid wees dat Hy jou in ‘n hele nuwe rigting mag neem.
Sielskos: Jer 31-32; Luk 5:27-39; Ps 122; Spr 15:10-14
