2021-05-30
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
Most of our worries can be summed up in two words: “What if?” What if the medical tests are bad…what if the market plummets…what if my mate walks out…what if I lose my job…the list is endless. “Fear involves torment” (1 John 4:18 NKJV), and by focusing on your worries instead of God’s faithfulness, you’re letting Satan torment you.
But you don’t have to! Jesus tells us not to be “fearful…and unsettled” (John 14:27 AMPC). Paul says, “Leave no…room…for the devil [give no opportunity to him]” (Ephesians 4:27 AMPC). And Solomon writes: “The days of the…afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]” (Proverbs 15:15 AMPC).
If you’re afraid of what lies ahead, stop and look back at God’s faithfulness. He’s “utterly trustworthy…He will…[fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMPC). So if you’re plagued by worry, here are some Bible promises you can stand on. “Praise…the Lord, who has given rest to his people…just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave” (1 Kings 8:56 NIV).
You say, “But I’ve failed God. Can I really expect Him to help me?” Yes, because even “if we are faithless, he remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV). Before God redeemed you and made you His child, He was aware of all your faults, flaws, and failures. Nevertheless, His Word says He’s “faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” So the word for you today is – don’t worry, God is faithful.
Soul food: Exo 16:1-35; John 6:30-40
2021-05-29
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
There’s a story about a traveller who met a wise man along the road and asked him, ‘Where’s the road to success?’ The wise man didn’t speak but instead pointed to a place off in the far distance. The traveller, thrilled at the prospect of quick and easy success, rushed off in that direction. When – splat! Down he went! He limped back, bruised and stunned. Assuming he must have misinterpreted the message, he repeated his question, and again the philosopher pointed silently in the same direction. So the traveller took off once more. This time the splat was deafening. Crawling back bruised, broken, and irate, he shouted at the wise man, ‘I asked you which way is success! I followed the direction you indicated, and all I got was splattered! No more pointing – talk!’ Only then did the wise man speak. ‘Success is that way. It’s just a little beyond the splat.’
The fact is, all of us have experienced ‘the splat’ – that moment when we fall, or hit an obstacle that stops us in our tracks. There’s no way to avoid it. But it’s what we do after the splat that makes all the difference. And perseverance always wins.
The Bible says: ‘Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’ Champion racer Rick Mears is attributed with saying: ‘To finish first, you must first finish.’ So if we fall, we need to get up again and keep going.
American educator Hamilton Holt said: ‘Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Half effort does not produce half results. It produces no results. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.’ So today, let’s resolve to keep persevering, and keep going past our ‘splat’ moments.
1 Ki 18:16-20:43; Mark 12:28-44; Ps 113; Prov 12:15-17
Hebreërs 12:1 NLV
Daar is die verhaal van ‘n reisiger wat ‘n ghoeroe langs die pad teëgekom het en vir hom gevra het: ‘Waar is die pad na sukses?’ Die bebaarde wysgeer het nie geantwoord nie, maar net na ‘n plek in die verte gewys. Die man, opgewonde oor die vooruitsig van vinnige en maklike sukses, het in die regte rigting gehardloop. Kerplaks! Hy het hom in ‘n ander bloedgroep in geval. Hy het terug gestrompel, seer en verbaas. Hy het aangeneem dat hy seker die boodskap misverstaan het en het die ghoeroe weer dieselfde vraag gevra. Weer het hy stom na dieselfde rigting gewys. Dus het die reisiger weer in daardie rigting begin hardloop. Hierdie keer was die kerplaks oorverdowend. Bebloed, gebroke en kwaad het die reisiger teruggekruip en vir die ghoeroe geskree: ‘Ek het gevra waar die pad na sukses is! Jy beter nou praat en my sê!’ Eers toe het die wysgeer gepraat. ‘Sukses is daardie kant toe. Dis net ‘n entjie verder as die kerplaks.’
Ons almal het al die ‘kerplaks’ ervaar. Daar is geen manier om dit te vermy nie. Dis egter wat ons na die kerplaks doen wat die verskil maak. Volharding wen altyd. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Kom ons hardloop met volharding op die baan wat voor ons uitgestrek lê.’ Daar word vertel dat die kampioenjaer, Rick Mears, die volgende gesê het: ‘Om eerste klaar te maak, moet jy eers klaarmaak.’ As jy dus geval het, staan weer op en hou aan.
Die Amerikaanse leerkrag Hamilton Holt het gesê: ‘Niks wat die moeite werd is, kom maklik nie. Halwe inspanning produseer nie halwe resultate nie, dit produseer geen resultate nie. Werk, aanhoudende werk en harde werk, is die enigste manier om resultate te bereik.’ Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Hou aan volhard en jy sal wen.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 18:16-20:43; Mark 12:28-44; Ps 113; Spr 12:15-17
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
The story is told of a traveler who met a guru along the road and asked him, “Where’s the road to success?” The bearded sage didn’t speak but instead pointed to a place off in the far distance. The man, thrilled at the prospect of quick and easy success, rushed off in the appropriate direction. Splat! Down he went! He limped back, bruised and stunned. Assuming he must have misinterpreted the message, he repeated his question, and again the philosopher pointed silently in the same direction. So the traveler took off once more. This time the splat was deafening. Crawling back bloody, broken, and irate, he shouted at the guru, “I asked you which way is success! I followed the direction you indicated, and all I got was splattered! No more pointing – talk!” Only then did the sage speak. “Success is that way. It’s just a little beyond the splat.”
The fact is, all of us have experienced “the splat.” There’s no way to avoid it. But it’s what we do after the splat that makes all the difference. And perseverance always wins. The Bible says: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Champion racer Rick Mears is attributed with saying: “To finish first, you must first finish.” So if you’ve fallen, get up again and keep going.
American educator Hamilton Holt said: “Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Half effort does not produce half results. It produces no results. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.” So the word for you today is – keep persevering and you’ll win.
Soul food: 1 Ki 18:16-20:43; Mark 12:28-44; Ps 113; Prov 12:15-17
2021-05-28
1 Corinthians 7:33-34 NKJV
Doctor James Dobson writes: “Which of the following couples is more likely to enjoy the greatest physical attraction in the marriage? The couple that spends every waking hour together and focuses almost exclusively on one another, or the man and woman who has other interests, and then after some time of independence, come closer together again as the pendulum swings? Surprisingly, it’s the one that varies from time to time.
According to behavioral researchers, the healthiest marriages and those with the highest sexual voltage are those that breathe – relationships that move from a time of closeness and tenderness to a more distant posture, and then come together for another reunion as the cycle concludes. This is why it’s not always advantageous for a husband and wife to work together, or to concentrate exclusively on one another in the absence of friends and colleagues outside the family.
There is something about the diversity of interests and activities by each partner that keeps the couple from consuming one another and burning out the relationship in the short run. Marriage is, after all, a marathon and not a sprint. Husbands and wives need to maintain a regenerating system that will keep love alive for a lifetime. Cultivating a healthy interest in many things is one big step in that direction.”
How do you do this? (1) By sharing without smothering. (2) By being so secure in your love that you trust one another. (3) By recognizing that your partner’s personal growth requires some elements you cannot personally provide, and being okay with that.
Soul food: 1 Ki 16:1-18:15; Mark 12:13-27; Ps 108; Prov 12:14
