2021-01-03
Deuteronomium 11:11 NLV
Hierdie jaar sien God na jou behoeftes om. Maak nie saak watter politieke party aan bewind is, wat die wisselkoers is, of in watter toestand die behuisings- en werksmarkte is nie, glo dat God in al jou behoeftes sal voorsien. Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit moet vir julle maklik wees om vir ander mense iets te gee, want dan sal hulle vir julle ook iets gee. Ja, hulle sal vir julle baie meer gee, want wat julle aan ander mense doen, sal hulle aan julle doen’ (Lukas 6:38 ABA). God sal mense gebruik om jou te seën, maar Hy alleenlik is jou bron van voorsiening. Jy moet dit nooit vergeet nie.
Wanneer jy introspeksie doen, word jy van jou eie onvolmaaktheid bewus. Wanneer jy om jou kyk, word jy daarvan bewus dat ander mense met dieselfde stryd sukkel. Wanneer jy egter na God kyk, ontdek jy dat Hy ‘…mag het om… oneindig meer te doen as wat ons vra of dink om te vra’ (Efesiërs 3:20 NLV). Onthou jy die middelste vers in die Bybel? ‘Dit is beter om by die Here te skuil as om staat te maak op mense’ (Psalm 118:8 NLV).
Soms laat God toe dat jy die einde van jou kragte bereik, sodat Hy vir jou kan wys dat wanneer jy niks behalwe Hom oor het nie, is Hy al wat jy nodig het! Let die frase op: ‘baie reën wat van die hemel kom,’. Dit klink soos ‘n ander belofte wat God gemaak het: ‘…Toets My hierin of Ek nie vir julle die vensters van die hemel sal oopmaak nie. Ek sal voorspoed op julle laat reën wat meer as genoeg vir julle sal wees!’ (Maleagi 3:10 NLV). Wees hierdie jaar aan God gehoorsaam, en die seëninge van die hemel sal joune wees.
Sielskos: Ps 23; Joh 10:7-18
Deuteronomy 11:11 NKJV
This year look to God for your needs: “The land which you cross over to possess…drinks water from the rain of heaven.” No matter what political party is in power, what the interest rate is, or what shape the housing and job markets are in, believe God to supply all your needs. And He may use different people to do it!
Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38 KJV). God will use people to bless you, but He alone is your source of provision. You must never forget that.
When you look inside yourself, you become aware of your own inadequacy. When you look around, you become aware that others are fighting the same battles. But when you look to God, you discover He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20 NKJV).
Do you remember the verse at the center of the Bible? “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8 KJV). Sometimes God will let you reach the end of your rope in order to show you that when you’ve nothing left but Him, He’s all you need!
Note the phrase “the rain of heaven.” That sounds like another promise God made: “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” (Malachi 3:10 NLT). This year obey God, and the blessings of heaven will be yours.
Soul food: Ps 23; John 10:7-18
Deuteronomy 11:11 NKJV
This year, let’s look to God for our needs: ‘The land which you cross over to possess…drinks water from the rain of heaven.’ No matter what’s going on in the world, who holds the political power, or what the economic situation is, we can believe and trust God to supply everything we need. Jesus said, ‘Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you’ (Luke 6:38 NCV).God uses us to bless others, and He’ll use other people to bless us, but He is the source.
When we look inside ourselves, we become aware of our own inadequacy. When we look around us, we become aware that others are fighting the same battles as we are. But when we look to God, we discover He is ‘able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20 NIV). Psalm 118 says ‘It is better to trust the LORD than to trust people’ (v.8 NCV).
Sometimes God will let us reach our limit, so we’ve nothing left but Him, to show us that He’s all we need. Have a think about the phrase ‘the rain of heaven’ in Deuteronomy 11:11. It sounds like another promise God made: ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’ (Malachi 3:10 NLT). This year, let’s obey God, and look out for His blessings.
Ps 23; John 10:7-18
2021-01-02
Deuteronomium 11:11 NLV
Hierdie jaar sal jy voor ‘n paar berge te staan kom en deur ‘n paar valleie gaan. Die krag wat jy kry wanneer jy jou laaste berg uitgeklim en oorwin het, sal jou deur jou volgende vallei dra. Die soetste vrugte groei in die vallei, omdat dit water uit die bergstrome ontvang. Jesus het gesê: ‘Dis juis hierin dat my Vader verheerlik word, dat julle baie vrugte oplewer en my dissipels is’ (Johannes 15:8 NLV).
Hierdie jaar wil Jesus hê dat jy meer vrugte in sy diens moet oplewer. Hy sê ook vir jou hoe jy dit kan doen: ‘Julle moet aan My verbonde bly soos Ek aan julle. ‘n Loot kan nie uit sy eie vrugte dra as dit nie aan die druiwestok verbind bly nie, en só julle ook nie as julle nie voluit aan My verbonde bly nie. Ek is die druiwestok, julle is die lote. Wie aan My verbonde bly en Ek aan hulle, dra baie vrugte, want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie’ (Johannes 15:4-5 NLV).
Watter tipe vrugte wil God hierdie jaar in jou lewe sien? Paulus sê vir ons: ‘Net soos ‘n boom wat ‘n baie goeie vrug oplewer, wys hierdie mense se lewe dat hulle aan God behoort. Sulke mense gee baie om vir ander. Hulle lewe is vol vreugde. Die vrede wat van God af kom, ken en ervaar hulle. Hulle verdra ander mense sonder om ooit lelik met hulle te wees. Hulle straal vriendelikheid en warmte uit… Hulle doen goeie dinge vir ander mense. Ander kan altyd op hulle reken omdat hulle self deur dik en dun op God vertrou. Hulle is vol deernis en ontferming…’ (Galasiërs 5:22 DB).
Wanneer jy dus hierdie jaar voor ‘n berg te staan kom of deur ‘n vallei gaan, onthou dat God by jou is.
Sielskos: Eks 1-3; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 90:1-6; Spr 1:1-4
Deuteronomy 11:11 NKJV
This year you will face some mountains and go through some valleys. And you need both. The strength gained from climbing and conquering your last mountain is what will get you through your next valley. It’s in the valley that the sweetest fruit grows. That’s because it’s watered by streams that flow from the mountains. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8 NKJV).
This year Jesus wants you to be more fruitful in His service. And He tells you how: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 NKJV). What kind of fruit is God looking for in your life this year?
Paul tells us: “When we live God’s way…He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard – things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely” (Galatians 5:22-23 MSG). So this year when you face a mountain or go through a valley, remember that God is with you.
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 90:1-6; Prov 1:1-4
