2021-12-31
Joel 2:29 NKJV
God spoke through the prophet Joel saying, “Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and…maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days” (vv. 28-29 NKJV). Regardless of your age or gender, God has a vision for you to fulfill. And sometimes it won’t make sense because you don’t feel qualified.
In the musical Man of La Mancha, there is a scene where Don Quixote and his servant stand gazing at a dilapidated inn. When Quixote describes his vision of turrets and magnificent gates, his servant tries hard to see the same picture, but all he can see are ruins. And when he attempts to describe them, Quixote says, “Stop! I will not allow your facts to interfere with my vision!”
Most great achievements begin as a vision in someone’s heart. And many times people try to convince the person it can’t be done – or that he or she can’t do it. Often this confirms the visionary’s deepest fears about his or her abilities. And that’s the crucial point! If you can disregard your critics and rise above your fears, God will enable you to fulfill the vision He has given you.
But keep in mind that while your vision may come to you in an instant, it can take a lifetime to fulfill. Habakkuk writes, “The vision is…for an appointed time…Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). A God-given dream often defies the facts, so if you have a vision, look for supporters, not critics. And when someone shares his or her vision with you, become a cheerleader.
Soul food: Phil 3:8-14; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Ps 77:11-20; Prov 9:10-12
Joël 2:29 NLV
God het deur die profeet Joël gepraat en gesê: ‘…Julle oumense sal drome droom. Jongmense sal visioene sien. In dié tyd sal Ek my Gees selfs op slawe en slavinne uitstort’ (verse 28-29 NLV). God het ‘n visie vir jou om te vervul, ongeag jou ouderdom of geslag. In die musiekblyspel, Man of La Mancha, is daar ‘n toneel waar Don Quixote en sy dienskneg voor ‘n vervalle herberg staan. Toe Quixote sy visie van torings en manjifieke hekke beskryf, het sy dienskneg hard probeer om dieselfde prentjie te sien, maar al wat hy kon sien was ‘n ruïne. Toe hy probeer om die ruïne te beskryf, het Quixote gesê: ‘Stop! Ek sal nie toelaat dat jou feite met my visie inmeng nie!’
Baie keer probeer mense die persoon oortuig dat dit nie gedoen kan word nie – of dat hy of sy dit nie kan doen nie. Dikwels bevestig dit die persoon se diepste vrese oor sy of haar vermoë. Dis die keerpunt! As jy jou kritici kan verontagsaam en bo jou vrese kan uitstyg, sal God jou in staat stel om die visie wat Hy vir jou gegee het, te vervul.
Hou egter in gedagte dat die visie dalk in ‘n oogwink na jou toe kan kom, maar dat dit ‘n leeftyd kan neem om dit te vervul. Habakuk skryf: ‘… Stadig maar seker breek die tyd aan wanneer die visioen waar sal word… Wees seker dit gaan gebeur, dit sal nie onnodig talm nie’ (Habakuk 2:3 NLV).
‘n Godgegewe droom weerspreek dikwels die feite, so as jy ‘n visie het, moet jy vir ondersteuners en nie vir kritici nie, uitkyk. Wanneer iemand ook dan sy of haar visie met jou deel, moet jy hulle rasieleier word.
Sielskos: Fil 3:8-14; 2 Kor 5:14-21; Ps 77:11-20; Spr 9:10-12
Joel 2:29 NLT
God spoke through the prophet Joel, saying, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants – men and women alike’ (v.28-29 NLT).
God has a vision for each of us to fulfil. And sometimes our vision won’t make sense because we don’t feel qualified. In the musical Man of La Mancha, there’s a scene where Don Quixote and his servant stand gazing at a dilapidated inn. When Don Quixote describes his vision of turrets and magnificent gates, his servant tries hard to see the same picture, but all he can see are ruins. And when he describes what he sees, Don Quixote says, ‘Stop! I will not allow your facts to interfere with my vision!’
When God gives us a vision, there’ll always be people who are ready to try and convince us that it can’t be done, or that we can’t do it, which can confirm our deepest fears about our abilities. But if we ignore our critics and rise above our fears, God will enable us to fulfil the vision He’s given.
It’s important to keep in mind that although a vision may come in an instant, it can take a lifetime to fulfil. Habakkuk wrote, ‘It is not yet time for the message to come true, but that time is coming soon; the message will come true. It may seem like a long time, but be patient and wait for it, because it will surely come’ (Habakkuk 2:3 NCV). God keeps His promises, so if He’s given you a vision for your life, believe in it, ‘because it will surely come.’
Phil 3:8-14; 2 Cor 5:14-21; Ps 77:11-20; Prov 9:10-12
2021-12-30
Genesis 3:9 NLV
Wanneer jy nie goed oor jouself voel nie, gebruik jy dinge soos werk, kos, verhoudings, geld en dwelms om ‘n muur te bou om mense sodoende daarvan te weerhou om te naby aan jou te kom. Blywende verhoudings kan egter net gebou word wanneer jy ophou wegkruip. Nog ‘n tegniek wat ons gebruik om weg te kruip, is deur die fokus op ander mense te hou deur te vra: ‘Hoekom het sy ‘n nuwe huis gekry en ek nie?’ of ‘Hoekom het hy daardie werk gekry en ek nie?’ Sulke tipe denke laat jou net ellendig voel.
Wat egter nog erger is as om voor mense voor te gee, is om voor God voor te gee. Toe God vir Adam gevra het: ‘Waar is jy?’ het Hy reeds die antwoord geken. Hoekom het Hy dus die vraag gevra? Omdat Hy wou gehad het dat Adam moet erken waar hy was en wat hy geword het.
Eric Hoffer het gesê: ‘Ons lieg die hardste wanneer ons vir onsself lieg.’ Totdat jy die waarheid oor jouself in die gesig staar, sal jy dit moeilik vind om met God te praat. Jy sal eensaam en geïsoleerd voel. Dis tyd om uit jou wegkruipplek uit te kom, om te kniel en te sê: ‘Vader, ek weet dat U my liefhet. Niks kan dit verander of die vreugde daarvan by my steel nie, behalwe my eie vertwyfelinge en weiering om dit te glo. U was lief vir my voor ek nog gebore was, U het my volgens u plan aanmekaar gesit, U het my verlos en vir my ‘n spesiale doel in die lewe gegee en U werk dag na dag daaraan om my ‘n persoon te maak wat U behaag’ (sien Filippense 2:13).
Die goeie nuus is – jy hoef nie meer weg te kruip nie!
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15-16; Matt 3:1-10; Ps 116; Spr 31:30-31
Genesis 3:9 NLT
When you don’t feel good about yourself, you use things like work, food, relationships, money, and mood-altering substances to build a wall and keep people from getting too close. But lasting relationships can only be built when you stop hiding and become transparent with others. Another hiding tactic we employ is keeping the focus on other people by asking, “How come she got a new house and I didn’t?” Or, “Why did he get that job and not me?” That kind of thinking just makes you miserable. But even worse than pretending with people is pretending with God.
When God asked Adam, “Where are you?” He already knew the answer. So why did He ask the question? Because He wanted Adam to acknowledge where he was and what he had become. Eric Hoffer said, “We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.” Until you face the truth about yourself, you will find it hard to talk to God. You will feel lonely and alienated. And you will struggle to look people in the eye in case they see the “real you.”
It’s time to come out of hiding, get down on your knees, and say: “Father, I know you love me. Nothing can change that or rob me of its joy except my own doubts and refusal to believe it. You loved me before I was born, you fashioned me according to your plan, you redeemed me and gave me a special purpose in the world, and you’re working day by day to make me into a person who pleases you” (See Philippians 2:13). The good news is – you don’t have to hide anymore!
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Matt 3:1-10; Ps 116; Prov 31:30-31
