2020-11-15
1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT
There are a several times in the Bible when living for God is compared to a race. (Take a look at Hebrews 12:1, 2 Timothy 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 for some examples.) In God’s kingdom, we’re not in competition with others, but we should all want to ‘win’ at fulfilling our own God-given purpose. Here are some traits that top athletes have which can also help us as we run our race for God:
1) Self-awareness. Athletes need to be honest about their strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to work on. We need to regularly bring our strengths and weaknesses to God, so He can help us refine our stronger areas and improve our weaker ones.
2) Focus. Athletes stay focused on the thing they’re aiming for, such as the finish line, the centre of a target, or the goal. We can’t fulfil God’s purpose for our lives if we’re looking in a different direction. We need to keep our hearts and minds fixed on Him, and on path He’s laid out for us.
3) Confidence. In order to build confidence and improve, athletes have to push themselves out of their comfort zones. God’s purpose will often take us beyond what feels comfortable, but as we push through our anxieties with God, He’ll help us develop confidence and trust in Him.
4) Discipline. Athletes need to be disciplined enough to stick with their strict training regimes, even when things are tough. We also need to be disciplined in what we say, how we spend our time, and how we handle temptations, to ensure we stay close to God.
5) A plan. Athletes go into a race or a game prepared with a plan of action. We may know God’s purpose, but we also need to ask Him for a plan of how to fulfil it, and the steps we need to take to get there.
Matt 6:1-4; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 14:12-14; 2 Cor 9:6-11
1 Korintiërs 9:26 NLV
Of dit nou in die wêreld van sport of in die koninkryk van God is, het alle wenners die volgende vyf karaktereienskappe.
1) Selfkennis. Wenners is eerlik oor hulle sterk- en swakpunte. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Want die Here sien elke hart en verstaan en ken elke plan en gedagte. As jy na Hom soek, sal jy Hom vind…’ (1 Kronieke 28:9 NLV). In gebed sien jy jouself soos jy is. Soos jy God se Woord lees, begin jy jouself sien soos jy kan wees.
2) Fokus. Waar jy ookal vandag is, wees daar – want dis waar God is. Mense wat hulle hele lewe lank vir hulle ‘skip om in te kom’ wag, word gewoonlik teleurgestel, of sterf in die hawe. Wenners lewe in die huidige oomblik. Hulle weier om een plek te wees, terwyl hulle gedagtes op ‘n ander plek is.
3) Selfvertroue. Wenners oorkom angstigheid deur hulle oë op die doelwit te hou. Soos hulle nader daaraan kom, vermeerder hulle selfvertroue. Judas skryf: ‘Maar julle, geliefdes, moet aanhou om julleself op te bou…’ (Judas vers 20 NLV). Dis iets wat jy vir jouself en daagliks deur gebed en God se Woord moet doen.
4) Taaiheid. Wenners offer die hede vir die toekoms op. Hulle het geleer om nee vir vergunnings en ja vir dissipline te sê, want die prys is vir hulle meer werd as die koste. Paulus skryf: ‘Ek brei my liggaam en dissiplineer dit om werklik bruikbaar te wees…’ (1 Korintiërs 9:27 NLV).
5) ‘n Wenplan. Wenners weet dat talent alleenlik nie genoeg is nie; jy het ook ‘n plan nodig waarvolgens jy moet lewe. Het jy al God se plan vir jou lewe ontdek? Lewe jy daarvolgens? Indien nie, praat vandag met Hom daaroor. Dis een van die belangrikste gesprekke wat jy ooit sal hê.
Sielskos: Matt 6:1-4; Mark 12:41-44; Luk 14:12-14; 2 Kor 9:6-11
1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT
Whether it’s in the world of sports or the kingdom of God, all winners exhibit these five traits:
(1) Self-awareness. Winners are honest about their strengths and weaknesses. The Bible says, “The Lord searches every heart…If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV). In prayer you see yourself as you are. As you read God’s Word, you begin to see yourself as you can be.
(2) Focus. Wherever you are today, be there – because that’s where God is. People who spend their lives “waiting for their ship to come in” are usually disappointed, or die on the pier. Winners live in the present moment. They refuse to be in one place while their mind is in another.
(3) Confidence. Winners overcome anxiety by keeping their eyes on the goal. As they get closer, their confidence increases. Jude writes, “Dear friends, by building yourselves up” (Jude v. 20 NIV). This is something you must do for yourself, and do daily through prayer and God’s Word.
(4) Toughness. Winners sacrifice the present for the future. They’ve learned to say no to indulgence and yes to discipline, because to them the prize is worth the price. Paul writes: “Like an athlete I punish my body…training it to do what it should, not what it wants” (1 Corinthians 9:27 TLB).
(5) A game plan. Winners recognize that talent alone isn’t enough; you need a plan to live by. So, have you discovered God’s plan for your life? Are you living by it? If not, talk to Him about it today. It’s one of the most important conversations you will ever have.
Soul food: Matt 6:1-4; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 14:12-14; 2 Cor 9:6-11
2020-11-14
Psalm 34:1 NKJV
The psalmist said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth…magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (vv. 1-3 NKJV).
Observe three things in this Scripture: (1) Praise comes from an act of your will. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” It’s not an impulse; it’s a decision you make regardless of your feelings. The word hallelujah is a command form of the word “praise.” It’s an expression of worship, but it’s also an order to start praising the Lord.
(2) Praise stirs your emotions. “My soul [emotions] shall make its boast in the Lord” (v. 2 NKJV). First, David praised the Lord because he was commanded to. Second, he praised Him because he wanted to. That’s the order of things. If you want to change your feelings – change your focus. Before it was over, David was singing, “The Lord redeems the soul of His servants…none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned” (v. 22 NKJV).
(3) Praise rubs off on others. “Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” Praise is contagious; it changes the atmosphere around you. When you get together with people of praise, decorum gives way to delight, and you find yourself lifted to a realm of joy you never knew. And praise has many forms of expressions. Psalm 150 outlines nine different ways to praise God. You can speak, shout, sing, clap your hands or raise them. You can play musical instruments, you can stand, kneel, or dance. The point is – be sure to praise God!
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 11:1-16; Ps 4; Prov 26:17-22
Psalm 34:1 NLT
It’s important for us to remember to praise God for everything He’s done for us. The psalmist wrote, ‘I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together’ (Psalm 34:1-3 NLT). There are lots of things we can learn about praise in these few verses.
1) Praise is a decision we have to make. ‘I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.’ It can be easy to praise God when things are going well for us, but we need to make a conscious decision to praise Him during the bad times too. Praising God during tough times helps to remind us of how good he’s been in the past, and because we know He doesn’t change, He’ll be just as good to us in the future too.
2) Praise strengthens us. ‘I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.’ When we’re struggling or facing challenges, it’s God’s strength, not our own, that’ll get us through. When we praise God, we give Him the glory and acknowledge that we need Him. He has never let us down or left us to face things alone, and He never will.
3) Praise unites us. ‘Come, let us tell of the LORD’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.’ Joining others in praise and worship and sharing in each other’s joy helps us to feel connected on a deeper level. It’s an opportunity to set aside our differences and remember that we’re united by our love for God.
1 Chr 19:1-23:20; John 11:1-16; Ps 4; Prov 26:17-22
