Ervaar God se teenwoordigheid en vreugde

2023-05-01
Psalm 16:11 NLV

As jy ongelukkig was voor jy Jesus ontmoet het, is dit maklik om die fout te maak deur te dink dat die enigste plek waar mens sy teenwoordigheid kan geniet, die kerk is. Nee, jy kan sy teenwoordigheid oral geniet. By die huis, by die werk, by die skool en selfs gedurende tye van lyding en teëspoed.

Broer Lawrence, ‘n Karmelitiese monnik in ‘n Franse klooster, het die topverkoper, The Practice of the Presence of God, geskryf. Hy het ‘n afkeer van sy daaglikse roetine in die kombuis gehad. Toe het God vir hom gewys dat alles wat hy elke dag doen, vir God en saam met God gedoen kan word. Hierdie waarheid het sy lewe getransformeer.

Jy kan jou gedagtes ontwikkel om meer produktief te wees en jy kan ook jou siel ontwikkel om meer sensitief vir God te wees. Jy kan die plek bereik waar jy sy teenwoordigheid en sy behaagdheid in alles wat jy doen, kan aanvoel. Om te glo dat God by jou teenwoordig is sal jou nie veel help as jy dink dat Hy altyd ontevrede met jou is nie. Wanneer jy jouself egter as aanvaarbaar in Christus sien, besef jy dat Hy nie net altyd by jou teenwoordig is nie, maar dat Hy tevrede is met jou (sien Efesiërs 1:6). Dit sal jou denke oor God radikaal verander.

Daar is dosyne dinge wat met die alledaagse lewe verband hou en jy kan dit alles geniet as jy net die besluit neem om dit te doen – aantrek, werk toe gaan, dinge organiseer, take verrig, inkopies doen, ens. Dis immers die dinge waaruit die lewe bestaan. Vreugde kom uit ‘n besluit om vir elke oomblik wat jy gegee word as ‘n seldsame en waardevolle geskenk van God, dankbaar te wees.

Sielskos: Jak 3-5; Matt 5:13-20; Ps 94:12-23; Spr 10:27

Experiencing God’s presence and pleasure


Psalm 16:11 NKJV

If you were miserable before you met Jesus, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that the only place His presence can be enjoyed is in church. No, you can enjoy His presence everywhere. At home, at work, at school, in business, and even in times of suffering and adversity.

Brother Lawrence, a Carmelite monk in a French monastery, wrote the best-selling book, The Practice of the Presence of God. He resented his daily routine in the kitchen. Then God showed him that everything he did each day could be done for God and with God. That truth transformed his life.

You can cultivate your mind to be more productive, and you can also cultivate your spirit to be more sensitive to God. You can reach the place where you sense His presence and His pleasure in all that you do. Believing God is present with you won’t help you much if you think He is always upset with you. But when you see yourself as accepted in Christ, you realize that He is not only present with you at all times but pleased with you (See Ephesians 1:6). That will radically change your thinking about God.

There are dozens of things pertaining to everyday life, and you can enjoy them all if you just make the decision to do it – getting dressed, going to work, organizing things, running errands, grocery shopping, etc. After all, these are the things life is made up of. Joy comes not merely from being entertained, but from a decision to be grateful for each moment you are given as a rare and valuable gift from God.

Soul food: Jam 3-5; Matt 5:13-20; Ps 94:12-23; Prov 10:27