2020-12-13
Proverbs 4:18 MSG
Phil Cooke writes: “Growth is what we do with knowledge. Growth is where we take our knowledge, how we apply it, and how we use it in our everyday lives. Leadership expert John Maxwell taught me long ago to change my orientation from goals to growth. When he said those words, it was a revelation. I’d always learned that goals were important, and I tried and tried to use a system of reaching goals, but I’d always struggled with it. I could see that goals motivated lots of people…but reaching goals always left me empty and unsatisfied. But when John showed me how to focus my attention on growth, everything suddenly fell into place. The process taught me that goals are great, but when we reach a goal, we’re finished. But with growth, it’s a never-ending process – always learning, always moving forward, always achieving. I hope when I reach the end of my life, there will be a couple of good books on my nightstand. I want to learn and grow until my last breath…Look at the people in your circle of friends. Why do some succeed and others seem to stagnate? Why do some move to higher levels of achievement while others stay at the same place for years at a time? Many people blame the system, the company, or their boss. They blame society, their upbringing, or their past. But a lifetime plan for growth can break through barriers and overcome nearly any obstacle.”
The Bible puts it like this: “The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.” And the more they grow!
Soul food: Eze 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Thes 4:13-18
Job 8:7 NLT
Phil Cooke writes: ‘Growth is what we do with knowledge. Growth is where we take our knowledge, how we apply it, and how we use it in our everyday lives. Leadership expert John Maxwell taught me long ago to change my orientation from goals to growth. When he said those words, it was a revelation. I’d always learned that goals were important, and I tried and tried to use a system of reaching goals, but I’d always struggled with it. I could see that goals motivated lots of people…but reaching goals always left me empty and unsatisfied. But when John showed me how to focus my attention on growth, everything suddenly fell into place. The process taught me that goals are great, but when we reach a goal, we’re finished. But with growth, it’s a never-ending process – always learning, always moving forward, always achieving…I want to learn and grow until my last breath… Why do some succeed and others seem to stagnate? Why do some move to higher levels of achievement while others stay at the same place for years at a time? Many people blame the system, the company, or their boss. They blame society, their upbringing, or their past. But a lifetime plan for growth can break through barriers and overcome nearly any obstacle.’
There’s nothing wrong with having a goal in life, but let’s make growth a priority so we can keep learning and keep reaching for more. Job 8:7 says: ‘Though you started with little, you will end with much.’ Let’s try to make this our attitude towards knowledge and learning, so we can grow and achieve more for God’s kingdom.
Eze 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Thes 4:13-18
2020-12-12
Philippians 2:13 NIVUK
When it comes to doing what pleases God, there are two obstacles we need to overcome – the ‘want to’ and the ‘able to’. Giving up our own plans and embracing God’s doesn’t come easily to us. Our old nature wants what it wants, not what God wants. And even when God’s will is clear, and we want what He wants, we don’t always have the ability or the confidence to do it. That’s where God steps in by working in us to give us the ‘want to’ and the ‘ability to’. The willingness and the capability come from Him, not from us.
So if God’s already working in us, why do we struggle so much to know His will and to follow His plan for our lives? The problem is that our old natures are self-centred and tend to resist God’s will. So what can we do to overcome our old natures?
1) Surrender yourself to God. ‘Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice’ (Romans 12:1 NIV).
2) Renew your mind. ‘Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will’ (Romans 12:2 NIV). In the original Greek, ‘renewal’ means to be ‘inwardly renovated’ by aligning your thoughts with God’s – to intentionally think like He thinks.
In other words, God initiates the ‘want to’ and the ‘ability to’, and we cooperate by aligning our minds with His. When that happens, we can be confident ‘that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion’ (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
Col 3-4; Philemon; John 19:1-16; Ps 105:8-15; Prov 30:5-9
Filippense 2:13 NLV
Wanneer jy God wil behaag, is daar twee struikelblokke wat jy moet oorkom – die ‘wil’ en die ‘kan.’ Om jou eie planne te laat vaar en God se wil te omarm, gebeur nie maklik nie. Jou ou vleeslike natuur wil hê wat dit wil hê, nie wat God wil hê nie. Selfs wanneer God se wil duidelik is en jy wil hê wat Hy wil hê, het jy nie noodwendig die nodige vermoë om dit te kan doen nie. Gelukkig is dit waar God die situasie betree om vir jou die ‘wil’ en die ‘kan’ te gee. Die gewilligheid en die vermoë om dit te kan doen kom egter van Hom af, nie van jou af nie.
Jy vra: ‘Hoekom is dit dan so ‘n stryd om God se wil te doen, wanneer Hy in my werk?’ Die probleem is dat jou natuurlike gedagtes self-gesentreerd is en geneig is om God se wil teen te staan. Wat is dus die antwoord?
1) Gee jou liggaam en sy begeertes aan God oor. ‘…gee dan julleself aan Hom as ‘n lewende en heilige offer…’ (Romeine 12:1 NLV). 2) Vernuwe jou gedagtes. ‘…laat God julle omvorm deurdat Hy julle denkpatrone vernuwe. Dan sal julle goed kan onderskei wat Hý wil hê julle moet doen, naamlik dit wat werklik goed en aanvaarbaar en volmaak is’ (Romeine 12:2 NLV). Deur jou gedagtes te vernuwe, beteken dat jy dit in lyn met God se gedagtes bring – om doelbewus te dink soos Hy dink. Met ander woorde, God inisieer die ‘wil’ en ‘kan’ in jou en jy werk saam deur jou gedagtes in lyn met syne te bring.
Wanneer dit gebeur, kan jy seker wees dat ‘…God die goeie werk wat Hy in julle begin het, sal voortsit totdat Hy dit voltooi…’ (Filippense 1:6 NLV).
Sielskos: Kol 3-4; Filemon; Joh 19:1-16; Ps 105:8-15; Spr 30:5-9
Philippians 2:13 NIV
When it comes to doing what pleases God, there are two major hurdles you need to overcome – the “want to” and the “able to.” Relinquishing your own plans and embracing God’s will doesn’t come easily. Your old fleshly nature wants what it wants, not what God wants. And even when God’s will is clear, and you want what He wants, you lack the necessary ability to do it. Fortunately, that’s where God steps into your dilemma by working in you to give you the “want to” and the “ability to.” But the willingness and the capability both come from Him, not you.
You ask, “Since God is working in me, why is there such a struggle to know and to do His will?” The problem is, your natural mind is self-centered and tends to resist God’s will. So what’s the answer?
(1) Surrender your body and its appetites to God. “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1 NIV).
(2) Renew your mind. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2 NIV).
In the original Greek, “renewal” means to be “inwardly renovated” by aligning your thoughts with God’s – to intentionally think like He thinks. In other words, God initiates the “want to” and the “ability to,” and you cooperate by aligning your mind with His. When that happens, you can be confident “that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6 NIV).
Soul food: Col 3-4; Philemon; John 19:1-16; Ps 105:8-15; Prov 30:5-9
