2022-12-09
Romans 12:3 NKJV
You can’t sit back and do nothing, believing that God will do everything for you. You have a part to play. Paul says God gives each of us “a measure of faith.” Jude says you develop spiritually by “building [yourself] up on your most holy faith” (Jude v. 20 NIV). Faith under attack is just faith under construction. It’s in the battles of life that you discover whether you have nurtured faith or neglected faith.
In Bible times, a Roman soldier’s shield protected him from head to toe. It was made of iron and upholstered with thick layers of fabric, and he saturated it in water when he went into battle. Consequently, the flaming arrows of the enemy fizzled out on contact. Now you understand what Paul meant: “Take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16 NIV). Satan’s arrows can’t penetrate your heart when it’s pure, saturated in Scripture, and fortified by faith.
That’s why Jesus told Peter, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV). It’s your faith that’s under attack! It’s your faith that needs to be fed! It’s your faith that sustains you in life’s battles!
Jesus told us to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22 KJV). Note, Jesus didn’t tell you to have faith in something bigger than yourself. No, He said to have faith in God. It’s the time you spend with God in prayer and the Scriptures that strengthens your faith to win life’s battles.
Soul food: Josh 11-13; John 14:26-15:4; Ps 147:12-20; Prov 29:6-10
2022-12-08
Jeremiah 31:26 NKJV
Sometimes the most “spiritual” thing you can do is get to bed earlier and wake up refreshed so you’re ready to fulfill God’s purposes for the day. When you constantly run on low battery power, it shows up in your attitudes, your relationships, your performance, and your health. That’s why the Bible talks about the importance of sleep: (1) “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2 NLT). (2) “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe” (Psalm 4:8 NLT).
Sleep is an act of trust: When you go to sleep, you acknowledge that the world is in God’s hands, not yours. And it will get along very well, even if you’re not awake to control things. And when you awaken tomorrow morning, just like God giving Israel fresh manna, He will give you what you need for the day. Jeremiah said, “I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.”
Have you ever tried to pray when you were suffering from a sleep deficit? It’s hard to do. Before Elijah was able to spend prolonged time in prayer, the angel of the Lord made him take not one, but two long naps. Contrast that with the disciples in Gethsemane who couldn’t pray because they kept falling asleep. It’s hard to think, feel, and act like Jesus when you lack sleep. That’s why the Bible says, “God gives rest to his loved ones” (Psalm 127:2 NLT).
Soul food: Josh 8:30-10:43; John 14:15-25; Ps 147:1-11; Prov 29:1-5
Jeremia 31:26 NLV
Soms is die mees ‘geestelike’ ding wat jy kan doen om vroeg bed toe te gaan en verfris wakker te word, sodat jy gereed is om God se doelwitte vir die dag te vervul. Wanneer jou battery konstant laag is, word dit in jou houding, jou verhoudings, jou optrede en jou gesondheid, weerspieël.
Dis hoekom die Bybel oor die belangrikheid van slaap praat:
1) ‘Tevergeefs werk jy so hard, van vroegoggend tot laatnag, soos jy swoeg om te bestaan, maar vir hulle wat Hy liefhet, gee Hy dit in hulle slaap’ (Psalm 127:2 NLV).
2) ‘Ek sal in vrede gaan lê en slaap, want U alleen, o Here, laat my veilig woon’ (Psalm 4:9 NLV).
Slaap is ‘n vertrouensdaad: Wanneer jy gaan slaap, erken jy dat die wêreld in God se hande, nie joune nie, is. Wanneer jy môreoggend wakker word, net soos God vir Israel vars manna gegee het, sal Hy vir jou gee wat jy vir die dag nodig het. Jeremia het gesê: ‘Toe het ek wakker geskrik en rondom my begin kyk. Wat ek ervaar het terwyl ek geslaap het, was baie aangenaam.’
Het jy al ooit probeer bid as jy nie genoeg geslaap het nie? Dis moeilik. Voor Elia in staat was om langdurige tye in gebed deur te bring, het die engel van die Here hom gedwing om nie net een nie, maar twee lang slapies te vat. Kontrasteer dit met die dissipels in Getsemane wat nie kon bid nie, omdat hulle aanhoudend aan die slaap geraak het. Dis moeilik om soos Jesus te dink, te voel en op te tree wanneer jy slaap kort. Dis hoekom die Bybel sê: ‘…vir hulle wat Hy liefhet, gee Hy dit in hulle slaap’ (Psalm 127:2 NLV).
Sielskos: Jos 8:30-10:43; Joh 14:15-25; Ps 147:1-11; Spr 29:1-5
2022-12-07
Psalm 118:2 NLT
Do yourself a favour – read Psalm 118!
(1) “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me” (v. 5 NLT). What are you battling today? A destructive habit? A crippling fear? A sense of worthlessness? God wants to set you free.
(2) “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear” (v. 6 NLT). Your future doesn’t rest in the hands of people, but God; a good God who has good plans for you.
(3) “He will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me” (v. 7 NLT). When people try to put you down, God will raise you up. When they withhold from you, He will supply all your needs.
(4) “I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done” (v. 17 NLT). We will all die someday; but you don’t have to die before your assignment is complete and you have brought glory to God.
(5) “The Lord has punished me severely, but he did not let me die” (v. 18 NLT). Is God correcting you? Rejoice; His correction is not rejection. It’s protection against future mistakes.
(6) “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (v. 24 NLT). Whether yesterday was a triumph or a tragedy, God is giving you a new day. Seize it. Rejoice in it!
(7) “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (v. 29 NLT).
You may experience days without enough money, but you will never have a day without God’s mercy. These seven Scriptures are for you, so stand on them today.
Soul food: Josh 5:1-8:29; John 14:1-14; Ps 2; Prov 28:25-28
Psalm 118:2 NLV
Doen jouself ‘n guns – lees Psalm 118! 1) ‘In my nood het ek tot die Here gebid. Die Here het my geantwoord en my bevry’ (vers 5 NLV). Waarmee sukkel jy vandag? ‘n Destruktiewe gewoonte? ‘n Gevoel van waardeloosheid? God wil jou daarvan bevry. 2)
‘Die Here is by my, ek sal nie bang wees nie…’ (vers 6 NLV). Jou toekoms rus nie in die hande van mense nie, maar in God; ‘n goeie God wat goeie planne vir jou het.
3) ‘Die Here is by my. Hy help my. Ek sal neersien op my haters’ (vers 7 NLV). Wanneer mense jou probeer afkraak, sal God jou ophef. Wanneer hulle van jou weerhou, sal Hy in al jou behoeftes voorsien.
4) ‘Ek sal nie sterf nie, maar lewe, en van die Here se werke vertel (vers 17 NLV). Ons almal sal eendag sterf; maar jy hoef nie te sterf voordat jou taak voltooi is en jy God verheerlik het nie.
5) ‘Die Here het my swaar gestraf, maar nie aan die dood oorgegee nie’ (vers 18 NLV). Korrigeer God jou? Verbly jouself; sy korreksie is nie verwerping nie. Dis beskerming teen toekomstige foute.
6) ‘Dit is die dag wat die Here gemaak het. Laat ons daaroor juig en bly wees’ (vers 24 NLV). Of gister nou ‘n triomf of ‘n tragedie was, God gee vir jou ‘n nuwe dag. Gryp dit aan! Verbly jouself daarin!
7) ‘Wees dankbaar teenoor die Here, want Hy is goed! Sy goedheid duur vir altyd!’ (vers 29 NLV). Jy mag dae sonder genoeg geld ervaar, maar jy sal nooit ‘n dag sonder God se genade gaan nie.
Hierdie sewe Skrifgedeeltes is vir jou, staan dus vandag daarop.
Sielskos: Jos 5:1-8:29; Joh 14:1-14; Ps 2; Spr 28:25-28
