2022-04-02
Galatians 5:22 TLV
Panic and anxiety are often our first reactions to conflict and problems. In those initial moments, choosing peace seems impossible. Your subconscious whispers, “If you really care, you will worry.” But a seasoned counselor writes: “Don’t panic! No matter what the situation or circumstance, we usually have… a moment to breathe deeply and… let peace flow through our body and mind… Panic, not the task, is the enemy.”
Anxiety just empowers and enlarges the problem. Your best problem-solving resource is always peace. Fear and anxiety block solutions; answers flow more easily and naturally from a peaceful state of mind. And God’s peace is always available to us – if we choose to use it. Paul writes, “When the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce… in us… peace.” Refuse to let your negative emotions run amok or decide your response.
Jesus said, “[Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful… intimidated… cowardly and unsettled]” (John 14: 27 AMPC). That means you have options; you can choose between peace and inner conflict. In the same verse, Jesus also said, “My [own] peace I… bequeath to you” (v. 27 AMPC), and “bequeath” relates to executing a will. When someone dies, they leave their most cherished possessions to the people they love. But just because Jesus left us His peace doesn’t mean it will automatically operate in us. Plus, when we lose our peace, it’s harder to hear from God.
When Paul says, “Let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule… in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15 AMPC), the word “rule” means “to govern and to control.” So instead of letting yourself get anxious and panicky today, choose peace.
Soul food: Phil 3-4; Luke 21:12-24; Ps 18:1-29; Pro 9:4-6
Galasiërs 5:22 NLV
Paniek en angs is dikwels ons eerste reaksie op konflik en probleme. In daardie aanvanklike oomblikke voel dit onmoontlik om vrede te kies. Jou onderbewussyn fluister: ‘As jy regtig omgee, sal jy bekommerd wees.’ ‘n Ervare berader skryf egter: ‘Moenie paniekerig raak nie! Maak nie saak wat die situasie of omstandighede is nie, ons het gewoonlik ‘n oomblik om diep asem te haal en toe te laat dat vrede deur ons liggaam en gedagtes vloei. Paniek, nie die taak nie, is die vyand.’
Angs bekragtig en vergroot net die probleem. Jou beste hulpbron vir probleemoplossing is altyd vrede. Vrees en angs blokkeer oplossings; antwoorde kom makliker in ‘n vredevolle gemoedstoestand na vore. Paulus skryf: ‘Maar as die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg… vrede…’ Weier om jou negatiewe emosies toe te laat om oor te neem en jou reaksie te beïnvloed.
Jesus het gesê: ‘Ek laat vir julle my vrede na; my vrede deel Ek met julle. Julle moet regtig nie ontsteld of beangs word nie’ (Johannes 14:27 NLV). Jesus laat sy vrede vir ons na, soos om in ‘n testament iets na te laat. Wanneer iemand sterf, laat hulle hulle kosbaarste besittings vir die mense vir wie hulle lief is, na. Dit beteken dat jy opsies het; jy kan tussen vrede en innerlike konflik kies. Net omdat Jesus egter sy vrede vir ons nagelaat het, beteken dit nie dat dit outomaties binne-in ons werk nie.
Dis ook moeiliker om God se stem te hoor wanneer ons ons vrede verloor. Paulus sê: ‘Verder, laat die vrede wat Christus bewerk het, in julle lewe skeidsregter wees…’ (Kolossense 3:15 NLV). Dus in plaas daarvan om toe te laat dat jy vandag angstig en paniekerig word, kies vrede.
Sielskos: Fil 3-4; Luk 21:12-24; Ps 18:1-29; Spr 9:4-6
2022-04-01
Hebreërs 10:38 NLV
Om uit geloof te leef, is iets wat jy leer om te doen deur dit daagliks te beoefen. Voor jy ‘n Christen geword het, het jy op jou eie vermoë en intellek staatgemaak. Nou vertrou jy op God vir die wysheid, leiding, hulpbronne en vermoë om sy wil vir jou lewe te vervul. Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘Omdat hy geglo het, het Noag… gehoorsaam die ark gebou. Daardeur is sy huisgesin gered…’ (Hebreërs 11:7 NLV).
Om uit geloof te lewe maak nie altyd sin nie. Dit beteken nie dat jou probleme in die niet gaan verdwyn nie. Soms verander geloof jou omstandighede; ander kere verander dit jou perspektief. Hoe? Deur jou die volharding te gee om vas te byt wanneer die tjek nie in die pos kom nie, of wanneer die dokter sê dat die siekte ongeneeslik is, of jou eggenoot jou vra om te skei, of die kinders die pad byster raak.
Geloof gee jou die krag om te volhard, met vertroue dat God dinge namens jou sal laat uitwerk. Paulus sê vir ons: ‘Wat is geloof dan? Dit is ‘n vaste versekering dat die dinge waarna ons uitsien, inderdaad sal gebeur…’ (Hebreërs 11:1 NLV).
Om uit geloof te lewe, beteken: 1) Om God te gehoorsaam en te glo dat Hy jou nooit in die steek sal laat nie; 2) om in die voetspore van gewone mense, wat buitengewone dinge vir God gedoen het, te loop; en 3) om jou geloof te gebruik omdat jy weet dat dit die enigste geldstelsel is wat in die hemel erken word.
Wanneer die Bybel sê: ‘Dié mense wat my wil doen, sal uit die geloof lewe…,’ beteken dit nie klein, sporadiese opwellings van geloof nie; dit beteken dat jy geloof ‘n leefstyl maak.
Sielskos: Fil 1-2; Luk 21:1-11; Ps 31:14-24; Spr 9:1-3
Hebrews 10:38 NCV
Living by faith is something you learn to do by practicing it daily. Before you became a Christian, you trusted in your own ability and intellect. But those things only took you so far and no further, right? Now you’re trusting God for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability to fulfill His will for your life. The Bible tells us, “By faith Noah… prepared an ark for the saving of his household” (Hebrews 11:7 NKJV). Think about it: When Noah built the ark, there had never even been rain.
Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean your problems will vanish into thin air. Sometimes faith changes your circumstances; other times it changes your perspective. How? By giving you the tenacity to hang in there when the check doesn’t come in the mail, or the doctor says the condition is incurable, or your spouse asks for a divorce, or the kids are running amok, or the company where you have worked for the last twenty years closes its doors. Faith gives you the fortitude to endure, confident that God will work things out on your behalf. Paul tells us, “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
Living by faith means (1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, (2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and (3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognizes. When the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith,” it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle.
Soul food: Phil 1-2; Luke 21:1-11; Ps 31:14-24; Pro 9:1-3
Hebrews 10:38 NCV
Living by faith is something we learn to do by practising it every day. Before we become Christians, we only have our own intelligence and abilities to rely on. But those things will only take us so far, and no further. But when we welcome God into our lives, we can trust Him for the wisdom, guidance, resources, and ability we need to fulfil His will for our lives.
The Bible tells us, ‘It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family.’ (Hebrews 11:7 NCV). When Noah built the ark, he must have trusted what God had told him, because when he started there was no sign of rain.
Living by faith doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t mean our problems will just disappear. Sometimes faith changes our circumstances. But at other times it changes our perspective by giving us the courage and strength to hold on and keep hoping when we’re expecting bad news, can’t see a way out, or don’t know the next step to take.
Faith gives us the stamina to keep going, confident that God will work things out on our behalf. Paul tells us, ‘Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see’ (Hebrews 11:1 NIV). Living by faith means 1) obeying God and believing He will never let you down, 2) following in the footsteps of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God, and 3) using your faith because you know it’s the only currency heaven recognises. When the Bible says, ‘Those who are right with me will live by faith,’ it doesn’t mean little, sporadic bursts of faith; it means making faith a lifestyle.
Phil 1-2; Luke 21:1-11; Ps 31:14-24; Pro 9:1-3
