2022-04-05
Johannes 8:32 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘en julle sal begryp wat die waarheid beteken, en die waarheid sal julle vrymaak.’ Dit verg dapperheid om ‘n pynlike realiteit in die gesig te staar. Dis makliker om op ‘n huwelik wat in die moeilikheid is op te gee, as om te bly en na ‘n beter plek toe te werk. Dis makliker om aan wanhoop en selfbejammering oor te gee as om terug skool toe te gaan en opleiding vir ‘n nuwe beroep te kry.
Dit verg dapperheid om vir jou beginsels op te staan wanneer jy in die spervuur beland. Iemand het egter gesê: ‘Tensy jy vir iets opstaan, sal jy vir enigiets val.’ Die waarheid is dat enige tyd wanneer jy gewillig is om vir iets op te staan of om iets nuuts te probeer, sal iemand jou teenstaan. Dis maklik om dapper te wees wanneer jy sterk voel, maar dis baie moeiliker om dapper te wees wanneer jy swak en onvoldoende voel. Dis egter dan wanneer jy dapperheid die nodigste het.
Generaal Omar Bradley het opgemerk: ‘Dapperheid is die kapasiteit om reg op te tree, selfs wanneer jy doodbang is.’ Dapperheid beteken dat jy sê: ‘As God dit beloof het, glo ek dit,’ en dat jy dan ten spyte van struikelblokke vorentoe beweeg.
As jy vandag ‘n dosis dapperheid nodig het, lees en mediteer oor die volgende verse: 1) ‘…wees sterk en moenie moedeloos word nie, want julle werk sal beloon word’ (2 Kronieke 15:7 NLV). 2) “Versterk die moeë hande van dié wat moeg geword het. Bemoedig dié wie se knieë swak word en knik. Sê vir dié wat bang is: ‘Wees sterk en moenie bang wees nie. Want julle God kom… om julle te red!'” (Jesaja 35:3-4 NLV). Dís dapperheid!
Sielskos: Lev 5-7; Luk 22:1-13; Ps 26; Spr 9:8-9
John 8:32 NKJV
Jesus said, ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled situation than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than to treat a setback as a learning opportunity and start again. It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. But somebody once said, ‘Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.’ The truth is, whenever you’re willing to stand for something or try something new, somebody will take a shot at you.
The English word courage is related to the French word cœur, meaning ‘heart’. Hence the phrase ‘don’t lose heart’. It’s easy to be brave when we’re feeling strong, but it’s much harder when we’re feeling weak and inadequate. But that’s exactly the time when we need courage the most. General Omar Bradley said, ‘Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.’ The courage he’s talking about isn’t a hollow, ‘fake it till you make it’ mindset.
Courage means saying, ‘If God promised it, I believe it’ and choosing to move forwards despite the obstacles. If you need an injection of courage today, read and think about these verses: 1) ‘Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded’ (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV). 2) ‘Energise the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!”‘ (Isaiah 35:3-4 MSG).
Lev 5-7; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 26; Pro 9:8-9
John 8:32 NKJV
Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” It takes courage to face a painful reality. It’s easier to bail out of a troubled marriage than to stay and work your way through to a better place. It’s easier to give in to despair and self-pity than go back to school and train for a new career.
It takes guts to stand up for your convictions when you’re under fire. But somebody said, “Unless you stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” The truth is, anytime you’re willing to stand for something or try something new, somebody will take a shot at you.
The English word courage is derived from the French word cœur, meaning “heart.” Hence the phrase “don’t lose heart.” It’s easy to be brave when you feel strong, but it’s much harder when you feel weak and inadequate. Yet, that’s when you need courage the most.
General Omar Bradley remarked, “Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.” And the courage he is referring to isn’t hollow hype. It has nothing to do with a “fake it till you make it” mentality. Courage means saying, “If God promised it, I believe it” and moving forward despite the obstacles.
If you need an injection of courage today, read and meditate on these verses: (1) “Be strong and do not give up… your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV). (2) “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is… on his way… He’ll save you!'” (Isaiah 35:3-4 MSG). Now that’s courage!
Soul food: Lev 5-7; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 26; Pro 9:8-9
2022-04-04
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
God knew the battles Joshua would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, so He told Joshua three times: ‘Be strong and of good courage.’ Whenever we move forwards, at some point we’ll come up against obstacles that block our path. It can be so disheartening to feel we’ve been making good progress, only to be stopped in our tracks. But rather than seeing obstacles as enemies (even if that’s how they feel), let’s try to think of them as resources that we can use to our advantage.
Every obstacle we face reveals our strengths and weaknesses. They also shape us and make us wiser and more confident when we overcome them. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: ‘Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.’
Whenever we leave our comfort zones and step out in faith to follow God, we’ll be tested. But we’ll also discover opportunities to reach heights we thought were beyond us and go further than others who had more talent but settled for the easier option. In The Message paraphrase, Paul tells us: ‘Every detail works to your advantage… So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace’ (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 MSG).
Let’s not give up when we face obstacles and problems, and instead tackle them with courage and God’s help.
Lev 1-4; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 18:30-50; Pro 9:7
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Knowing the battles he would have to fight in order to conquer the promised land, God told Joshua this, no less than three times: “Be strong and of good courage.” Anytime you move forward, obstacles will block your path. Count on it! H. G. Wells asked, “What on earth would a man do with himself, if something did not stand in his way?” What did he mean? That adversity is your friend – even when it feels like your enemy. Every obstacle you face reveals your strengths and weaknesses. It also shapes you and makes you wiser and more confident.
Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”
Anytime you leave your comfort zone and step out in faith to follow God, you will be tested. But you will also reach heights you thought were beyond you and go further than others who had greater talent but settled for the status quo.
Paul tells us: “Every detail works to your advantage… So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace” (2 Corinthians 4:15-17 MSG). Courage can be defined as simply “not giving up.”
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 21:25-38; Ps 18:30-50; Pro 9:7
