2020-11-12
Nehemiah 4:14 NIV
Don’t just think about the problem, think about the Lord. Nehemiah said: “After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles…officials and the rest of the people, ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.'” What specifically should you remember? Three things:
(1) Remember God’s goodness to you in the past. When you start thinking about all the good things He’s already done in your life, your spirit will be lifted and your anxiety eased.
(2) Remember God’s closeness in the present. What is He doing in your life right now? The truth is, He is with you whether or not you feel His nearness. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
(3) Remember God’s power for the future. He will give you strength for your needs.
When you get discouraged, get your mind off your circumstances and focus on the Lord, because circumstances can depress and discourage you. Chances are, if you’re feeling disheartened it’s because you are thinking gloomy thoughts. If you want to feel uplifted, make a concerted effort to think uplifting thoughts. Choose some encouraging Bible verses to memorize and quote them to yourself: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NIV). “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV). “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23 NIV). Keep in mind that it’s your thoughts that determine your feelings, and by filling your mind with promises from God’s Word you can overcome discouragement.
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; John 10:11-21; Ps 83:1-8; Prov 26:7-12
Nehemia 4:14 NLV
Moenie net aan die probleem dink nie, dink aan die Here. Nehemia het gesê: ‘Ek het sake dopgehou en toe die leiers, die amptenare en die res van die volk bymekaargeroep en gesê: ‘Moenie vir die vyand bang wees nie! Hou in gedagte dat die Here groot en vreesaanjaend is’…’
Wat moet jy spesifiek onthou? Drie dinge: 1) Onthou die Here se goedheid aan jou in die verlede. Wanneer jy aan al die goeie dinge wat Hy reeds in jou lewe gedoen het begin dink, sal jou gees opgebeur word en jou angs verminder.
2) Onthou God se nabyheid in die hede. Wat is Hy besig om tans in jou lewe te doen? Die waarheid is dat Hy by jou is, of jy nou sy nabyheid voel of nie. Hy het gesê: ‘…Ek sal jou nie los nie. Ek sal jou nie in die steek laat nie’ (Hebreërs 13:5 NLV).
3) Onthou God se krag vir die toekoms. Hy sal jou krag vir jou behoeftes gee.
Wanneer jy moedeloos raak, neem jou gedagtes van die omstandighede af en fokus op die Here, want omstandighede kan jou depressief maak en jou ontmoedig. Die kans is goed dat jy moedeloos voel, omdat jy negatiewe gedagtes dink.
Kies ‘n paar bemoedigende Bybelverse om te memoriseer en vir jouself aan te haal: ‘Ek kan onder alle omstandighede regkom deur Hom wat my krag gee’ (Filippense 4:13 NLV). ‘…As God aan ons kant is, wie kan ooit téén ons wees?’ (Romeine 8:31 NLV). ‘…As ‘n mens glo, is álles moontlik!’ (Markus 9:23 NLV). Hou in gedagte dat dit jou gedagtes is wat jou gevoelens bepaal en wanneer jy jou gedagtes met beloftes uit God se Woord vul, kan jy moedeloosheid oorkom.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 12:23-15:29; Joh 10:11-21; Ps 83:1-8; Spr 26:7-12
2020-11-11
Nehemiah 4:14 NIV
We all experience times of discouragement. Whether it’s in our relationships, our studies, our jobs, following God’s call, or just life in general, there’ll be times when we don’t seem to be getting anywhere, or we feel overwhelmed by the problems and challenges that lie ahead. So for the next few days, let’s take a look at how we can break through discouragement.
First, look for a better way of doing things. While rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, the people of Judah were laughed at by their enemies, who said that they weren’t capable of completing the task, and then threatened to attack and kill them. The Jews understandably became fearful and discouraged. But Nehemiah ‘stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows’ (v. 13 NIV).
Nehemiah realised that in order to experience breakthrough in their situation, they’d have to start doing things differently. So he organised the people in a different way, to provide the best protection while the wall was being built.
When we get discouraged, we mustn’t give up on our goals. Instead, we should take a step back and ask God to help us find a new approach. That might mean we have to do things with a new attitude, try a new strategy, or find a new way of working. We can also ask God to help us see our situation from His perspective. Sometimes, simply looking at things from a different angle can help us to see a way through our problems and give us the encouragement and confidence to carry on.
1 Chr 10:1-12:22; John 10:1-10; Ps 133; Prov 26:1-6
Nehemiah 4:14 NIV
First, find a better way. While rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, Nehemiah said, “I looked things over.” Realizing there were enemies to be defeated and obstacles to be overcome, he “stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows” (v. 13 NIV). In order to overcome discouragement, Nehemiah realized they’d have to start doing things differently. They needed a new system. So he organized the people according to their gifts and strengths.
Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for different results. And there’s wisdom in that. When you get discouraged, don’t give up on your goals. Instead, devise a new approach! Question: Was it wrong for the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem? No, they were just going about it in the wrong way!
There’s a lesson here for us all. For example, do you have a problem in your marriage? Don’t give up; try a new attitude. Do you have a problem in your business? Don’t throw in the towel; look for a new approach, reorganize your schedule, and refocus on your goal.
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 principle? That’s where 80 percent of your time is spent on the 20 percent of activities that aren’t productive, and as a result, you get frustrated. What you need to do is devote 80 percent of your time to the 20 percent that produces the highest results. Business managers call this ROI time – “return on investment.” So practice devoting the majority of your time and energy to the things you know bring results.
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; John 10:1-10; Ps 133; Prov 26:1-6
Nehemia 4:14 NLV
Eerstens, vind ‘n beter manier. Terwyl hulle besig was om Jerusalem se mure te herbou, het Nehemia gesê: ‘Ek het sake dopgehou…” Hy het besef dat daar vyande was om te verslaan en struikelblokke om te oorkom, dus het hy toe: ‘…wagte agter die laagste dele van die muur geplaas waar daar oop gedeeltes was. Ek het ook mense by die families laat wagstaan, gewapen met swaarde, spiese en boë’ (vers 13 NLV). Om moedeloosheid te oorkom, het Nehemia besef dat hulle dinge anders sou moes begin doen. Hulle het ‘n nuwe sisteem nodig gehad. Dus het hy mense volgens hulle gawes en sterkpunte georganiseer.
Waansin word gedefinieer as om dieselfde ding oor en oor te doen en vir ander resultate te hoop. Daar is wysheid in hierdie definisie! Wanneer jy moedeloos word, moenie op jou doelwitte opgee nie. Dink eerder aan ‘n nuwe benadering. Was dit verkeerd van die Jode om die mure van Jerusalem te herbou? Nee, hulle het dit net op die verkeerde manier aangepak!
Daar is ‘n les vir ons almal hieruit te leer. Het jy byvoorbeeld ‘n probleem in jou huwelik? Moenie tou opgooi nie; probeer ‘n nuwe houding. Het jy ‘n probleem in jou besigheid? Moenie opgee nie; soek ‘n nuwe benadering, herorganiseer jou skedule en herfokus jou doelwit.
Het jy al ooit van die 80/20 beginsel gehoor? Dis waar 80 persent van jou tyd aan die 20 persent van aktiwiteite wat nie produktief is nie, bestee word en gevolglik raak jy gefrustreerd. Wat jy eintlik moet doen, is om 80 persent van jou tyd aan die 20 persent aktiwiteite wat die beste resultate produseer, te wy. Begin dus oefen om die meerderheid van jou tyd en energie aan die dinge wat jy weet resultate gee, te bestee.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 10:1-12:22; Joh 10:1-10; Ps 133; Spr 26:1-6
