2021-11-30
Psalm 105:19 DB
God mag dalk nie presies wanneer jy dit wil hê reageer nie, maar Hy is altyd betyds. ‘…Hy sal die goeie nie weerhou van hulle wat doen wat reg is nie’ (Psalm 84:12 NLV). Dis moeilik om toe te kyk hoe God ander mense seën, terwyl jy gedwing word om te wag. God se plan vir Josef was om in ‘n paleis te woon, maar tog het hy vir jare in die tronk as gevolg van misdade wat hy nooit gepleeg het nie, gebly. Dit was egter in die tronk wat hy die skinker ontmoet het aan wie die farao goedgesind was. Deur hierdie vriendskap is Josef tot tweede in bevel van Egipte bevorder. Wanneer jy met God ‘n pad stap, word jou geleenthede vir bevordering deur sy plan, nie deur iemand ander se aksies nie, gereguleer. Voorbereiding vind altyd voor bevordering plaas.
Toe Elia vuur uit die hemel by Karmelberg laat neerkom het, het almal hom bewonder en toegejuig. Hy het egter daarna vir jare deur ‘n hongersnood gelewe, waar sy enigste vriend ‘n arm weduwee was. Saam moes hulle God vir elke ete vertrou. Dis daar wat Elia belangrike lesse oor nederigheid, goddelike leiding en vertroue op God in tye van nood, geleer het – dinge wat nie noodwendig natuurlik tot ons kom nie.
Wanneer God iets groots gaan bou, neem Hy die tyd om ‘n sterk fondasie te lê. ‘En so het Jesus grootgeword en in wysheid toegeneem; en Hy was geliefd by God en almal wat Hom geken het’ (Lukas 2:52 NLV). Gee jouself tyd om te groei. Laat Hom toe om ‘n fondasie onder jou te bou wat jou en die seëninge wat Hy in die komende jare vir jou in gedagte het, sal kan ondersteun.
Sielskos: Jos 8:30-10:43; Joh 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Spr 28:9-12
Psalm 105:19 CEV
God may not respond exactly when you want Him to, but He is always on time. “No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11 NKJV). It’s difficult to watch God blessing others while you’re forced to wait. The Bible tells us, “Joseph remained a slave until his own words came true, and the Lord had finished testing him.” God’s plan was for Joseph to live in a palace, yet for years he lived in a prison, charged with crimes he never committed. But it was there he met a butler who had the ear of Pharaoh, and through this connection, he was promoted to the number-two spot in Egypt.
Understand this: When you walk with God, your opportunities for advancement are regulated by His plan, not someone else’s actions. And preparation always precedes promotion. When Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, everybody admired and applauded him. But then he spent years living through a famine, and the only friend he had was an impoverished widow. Together they had to trust God for every meal. That’s when Elijah learned important lessons about humility, divine guidance, and trusting God in times of need; things that don’t necessarily make sense to your natural mind.
When God is going to build something great, He takes time to lay a strong foundation. “Jesus grew…in Favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52 NIV). Allow yourself time to grow. Let Him build a foundation under you that will sustain you and the blessings He has in mind for you in the years ahead.
Soul food: Jos 8:30-10:43; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Prov 28:9-12
Psalm 105:19 NLT
God might not respond in the exact way and at the exact time we want Him to, but His timing is always perfect. ‘The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right’ (Psalm 84:11 NLT). It’s difficult to watch God blessing others while we’re forced to wait.
The Bible tells us, ‘Until the time came to fulfil his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.’ God’s plan was for Joseph to live in a palace, but for years he lived in a prison, charged with crimes he never committed. But it was there that he met a butler who had the ear of Pharaoh, and through this connection, Joseph was promoted to the number-two spot in Egypt.
When we walk with God, our opportunities are regulated by His plan, not by someone else’s actions. And preparation always comes before promotion. When Elijah called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, everybody admired and applauded him. But then he spent years living through a famine, and the only friend he had was an impoverished widow. Together they had to trust God for every meal. That’s when Elijah learned important lessons about humility, divine guidance, and trusting God in times of need; things that don’t necessarily make sense to our human minds at first.
When God is going to build something great, He takes time to lay a strong foundation. ‘Jesus grew…in favour with God and man’ (Luke 2:52 NIVUK). If you’re in a season of waiting at the moment, embrace it, because God’s doing important work within you. Allow yourself time to grow and let Him build a firm foundation under you that will sustain and strengthen you in the years ahead.
Jos 8:30-10:43; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 146; Prov 28:9-12
2021-11-29
Spreuke 29:25 NLV
Vierdens, verander jou ingesteldheid. Maak risiko’s jou bang? Voel jy mismoedig as gevolg van mislukkings in die verlede? Sien jy nie die potensiaal wat geleenthede bied raak nie? Jy sal nie in staat wees om vorentoe te beweeg, totdat jy uitvind wat jou terughou nie. ‘Jy stel vir jouself ‘n slagyster as jy vir mense bang is. Jy beveilig jou lewe as jy op die Here vertrou.’
Vyfdens, moenie vir geleenthede wag om aan jou deur te kom klop nie. Dit gebeur selde; jy moet vir geleenthede gaan soek. Assesseer jou bates, talente en hulpbronne. Deur dit te doen, kry jy ‘n prentjie van jou potensiaal. ‘Maar ek het nie enige spesiale talente nie,’ sê jy. Ja, jy het. ‘Ons het gawes wat van mekaar verskil volgens die genade wat God aan elkeen van ons gegee het…’ (Romeine 12:6 NLV).
Sesdens, neem die volgende stap. Dis een ding om ‘n geleentheid raak te sien; dis iets anders om iets daaraan te doen. Iemand het een keer geskerts: ‘Almal het ‘n goeie idee in die stort. Net ‘n paar mense klim egter uit, droog hulself af en gaan doen iets daaromtrent.’ Kies die beste geleentheid wat jy sien, bid daaroor, doen die beste daarmee wat jy kan en hou aan totdat jy alles moontlik gedoen het om dit te laat gebeur. Wanneer jy jou beste gedoen het, vertrou op God om die res te doen.
Winston Churchill het gesê: ‘Moed word tereg as die eerste van menslike eienskappe geag… want dit is die eienskap wat alle ander waarborg.’ Waar kom hierdie moed vandaan? Van God af! Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘Vertrou deurgaans op die Here, want die Here God is vir altyd ‘n veilige toevlug’ (Jesaja 26:4 NLV).
Sielskos: Jos 5:1-8:29; Joh 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 28:5-8
Proverbs 29:25 NCV
Next, we may need to change our mindset. If we can see what needs to be done, but we’re reluctant to take the initiative ourselves, it’s important that we try and discover what’s holding us back – otherwise, we won’t be able to move forward. Maybe we’re scared by risk, discouraged by past failures, or worried about what others will think of us. ‘Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust in the LORD, you will be safe.’ We shouldn’t let our fears rule our lives; instead, we should hand them over to God and trust Him to see us through.
We also shouldn’t wait for opportunities to come to us. Opportunity doesn’t very often just land on our plates. We have to go and look for it. It’s a good idea for us to spend time assessing our skills, talents, and resources. Doing this will give us a more accurate picture of our potential. Maybe you think that there’s nothing particularly unique about you, or that you don’t really have any special skills. But nothing could be further from the truth: ‘We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us’ (Romans 12:6 NCV).
Finally, take the next step. It’s one thing to notice an opportunity; it’s another to act on it. We should choose the best opportunity we see, pray about it, do the best with it that we can, and keep going until we’ve done everything possible to make it happen. And when we’ve done our best – trust God to do the rest. ‘Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the LORD GOD is an everlasting Rock’ (Isaiah 26:4 AMP).
Jos 5:1-8:29; John 14:15-25; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 28:5-8
