2022-10-26
Psalm 127:1 NLV
Niemand weet meer van die huwelik as God nie. Sy Woord sê: ‘As die Here die huis nie bou nie, is die bouers se arbeid tevergeefs…’ Kom ons kyk dus na sy Woord en sien watter tipe raad Hy vir jou huwelik het:
1) Wees gewillig om raad te aanvaar. Salomo sê: ‘Selfvoldaanheid lei altyd tot rusies. Hulle wat na ander luister, het wysheid’ (Spreuke 13:10 NLV). Voor die argument dus in ‘n krisis ontaard, vra ‘n vriend wat jy vertrou of ‘n berader vir hulle insette. Dit verg nederigheid, maar betaal groot dividende.
2) Moenie ophou praat nie. Selfs as iets vir jou voor-die-hand-liggend lyk, moenie aanvaar dat jou maat jou gedagtes kan lees nie. Moet ook nie stilstuipe kry nie. Sê vir jou man of vrou wat jou pla, selfs al beteken dit julle moet deur ‘n meningsverskil werk. Dis wanneer jy nie genoeg omgee om van jou maat te verskil nie, dat dinge uitmekaar val.
3) Hou jou liefde lewendig. Om ‘n sterk huwelik te bou, beteken dat jy oor en oor en oor op dieselfde persoon verlief moet raak. Paulus skryf: ‘Ek bid dat julle liefde vir mekaar meer en meer sal word deurdat julle ‘n al beter begrip en ‘n fyn aanvoeling ontwikkel’ (Filippense 1:9 NLV).
Dis onmoontlik om van huwelikstres te ontsnap, maar jy kan dit beheer deur geleenthede weg van die daaglikse sleur te skeduleer. Gaan stap saam, kyk ‘n fliek saam, gaan drink koffie, doen iets wat julle weer bymekaar uitbring. Laat jou kinders ook weet dat julle tyd neem om saam te wees. Nie net sal hulle leer om dit te waardeer nie, dit sal hulle ook help om later ‘n goeie huwelik van hul eie te bou.
Sielskos: 2 Pet 1-3; Joh 6:16-24; Ps 85; Spr 24:11-14
Psalm 127:1 NKJV
Nobody knows more about marriage than God. He not only thought up the idea – He put the first couple together. And His Word says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it.” So let’s turn to His Word and see what kind of help He has to offer your marriage.
(1) Be willing to take advice. Solomon says, “Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise” (Proverbs 13:10 NLT). So before the argument reaches a stalemate and the stalemate becomes a full-blown crisis, get input from a trusted friend or counselor. That takes humility, but it pays great dividends.
(2) Don’t stop talking. Even though something seems obvious to you, don’t assume your mate can read your mind. And don’t resort to “the silent treatment.” Tell your husband or wife what’s bothering you, even if it means working through a disagreement. It’s when you don’t care enough to disagree that things fall apart.
(3) Keep your love alive. Building a strong marriage means falling in love over and over again – with the same person. Paul writes, “Use your head… so… your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush” (Philippians 1:9 MSG).
It’s impossible to escape marital stress, but you can control it by scheduling breaks away from the daily grind. Take a walk together, watch a movie you both enjoy, go for coffee, do whatever reconnects you. And let your children know you’re taking time out to be together. Not only will they learn to appreciate it, it will help them build a good marriage of their own later on.
Soul food: 2 Pet 1-3; John 6:16-24; Ps 85; Prov 24:11-14
2022-10-25
Filippense 2:4 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Moet niks uit selfsug doen of om daarmee te spog nie. Wees eerder nederig deur van medegelowiges meer te dink as van jouself. Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se belange’ (verse 3-4 NLV). Dit beteken dat jy die volgende vyf dinge moet doen:
1) Stel opreg in ander mense belang. ‘As ander blydskap ervaar, juig saam met hulle. As hulle hartseer is, deel dit met hulle’ (Romeine 12:15 NLV). Jy kan dit slegs doen wanneer jy die moeite doen om uit te vind wat in iemand anders se wêreld aangaan.
2) Wees opgewek. ‘Blydskap laat ‘n mens se gesig straal. Hartseer maak ‘n mens terneergedruk’ (Spreuke 15:13 NLV). Moenie jou probleme op iemand anders afpak nie, hulle het genoeg van hul eie. Neem jou probleme eerder in gebed na die Here toe.
3) Wees versigtig wat jy sê en sê altyd minder as wat jy dink. “‘n Dwaas bars uit in woede. Iemand wat wys is, hou homself in toom” (Spreuke 29:11 NLV). Wees altyd vriendelik en hoflik, omdat hoe jy iets sê net so belangrik is as wat jy sê.
4) Wees betroubaar. Die Bybel sê: ‘…gedurende die laaste dae… sal… mense… hulle vriende verraai…’ (2 Timoteus 3:1-4 NLV), maar jy hoef nie hierdie profesie te vervul nie. Streef daarna om ‘n persoon te wees wie se woord betekenis het.
5) Wees ‘n bemoediger. Barnabas was bekend as ‘n motiveerder, want hy het mense ‘…aangespoor om lojaal aan die Here te bly’ (Handelinge 11:23 NLV). Selfs ‘n glimlag kan wondere verrig. Job het gesê: ‘Wanneer hulle moedeloos was, het ek hulle met ‘n glimlag bemoedig. Wanneer ek met goedkeuring na hulle kyk, was dit vir hulle kosbaar’ (Job 29:24 NLV). Soms is dit so eenvoudig!
Sielskos: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; Joh 6:1-15; Ps 126; Spr 24:10
Philippians 2:4 MSG
Paul writes, “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (v. 4 MSG). That means do these five things:
(1) Be genuinely interested in others. “Laugh… when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down” (Romans 12:15 MSG). And you can only do that when you take the time to find out what’s going on in someone else’s world.
(2) Be upbeat. “A cheerful heart brings a smile… a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day” (Proverbs 15:13 MSG). Don’t dump your problems on others, they have enough of their own. Take them to the Lord in prayer.
(3) Be careful what you say, and always say less than you think. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in” (Proverbs 29:11 KJV). And since how you speak is as important as what you say, always be kind and courteous.
(4) Be reliable. The Bible says, “In the last days… men shall be… trucebreakers” (2 Timothy 3:1-3 KJV), but you don’t have to fulfill that prophecy. When you say you will do something, do it. Character is measured by actions, not words. So strive to be a person whose word has meaning.
(5) Be an encourager. Barnabas was known as a motivator because he “encouraged the believers” (Acts 11:23 NLT). Ever notice what happens when you push a kid on a swing? Eventually he starts pumping and doing it himself; he just needed a little help to get going. Even a smile can work wonders. Job said, “When they were discouraged, I smiled… My look of approval was precious to them” (Job 29:24 NLT). Sometimes it’s that simple!
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; John 6:1-15; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
2022-10-24
Jeremiah 1:5 MSG
When God blesses you, get ready for the complainers who think He should have blessed them instead – or at least as much as you. When a dispute arose about which of the twelve tribes should lead Israel, God told Moses to have each tribal leader write his name on his staff and place it overnight in the tabernacle. Then God said, “The man I have chosen… buds will grow on his rod! Then… this… complaining… will stop!” (Numbers 17:5 TLB). Imagine an old stick with no roots or sap blossoming in the dark! The truth is, faith can’t grow without hardship; it must incubate in the darkness of adversity. There is a stage at which you don’t even know you have been chosen by God; only He knows.
He told Jeremiah, “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.” Before you were a beep on a monitor, God had plans for you. The reason you didn’t die on the operating table or in that car accident is because God had His hand on you. Furthermore, He didn’t choose you because you’re so virtuous and wonderful. No, “He chose what the world thinks is unimportant… so… no one can brag” (1 Corinthians 1:28-29 NCV).
When God created the heavens and the earth, the Bible says, “Darkness covered the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2 NRS). Then God spoke and said, “Let there be lights… And it was so” (Genesis 1:14-15 NIV). And today God can bring light out of your darkness and hope out of your despair. He is not intimidated by the darkness – it’s where He does some of His best work!
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; John 5:31-47; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
