2023-05-26
Psalm 3:2 NKJV
Maybe you have repeatedly heard the words “You can’t” throughout your life. Many people like to tell others what they cannot do. Even people you wouldn’t automatically consider to be against you – teachers, coaches, parents, family members, friends, and leaders of church groups or social events, who often fail to realize the power of their words over young lives. Many of us grew up thinking, “I can’t,” when that wasn’t true at all! No matter how often you have heard someone say, “You can’t,” stand on God’s Word and say, “Yes, I can!”
Miracles come in “cans” – our belief that we can do everything we need to do through Christ who is our strength (See Philippians 4:13). God believes in you, and now is the time for you to believe in yourself. This is a new day! Put the past and all its disheartening remarks behind you. Words that speak of failure come from the Enemy, not God, so determine right now not to allow the power of “you can’t” to affect you any longer.
In contrast to the Enemy, God’s Spirit encourages you and will do everything to urge you forward toward success in all areas of life. Facing the challenges of the promised land, God told Joshua three times, “Be… of good courage” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV). Always remember that if you feel “dis-couraged,” it’s from the Devil. And that if you feel “en-couraged,” it’s from God. Decide to agree with God and say to yourself, “I can!” Today let the power of God’s Word dominate the power of every negative word that has ever been spoken to you or about you.
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 45; Prov 12:7-9
Psalm 3:3 NLV
Miskien het jy herhaaldelik die woorde: ‘Jy kan nie’ deur jou lewe gehoor. Baie mense hou daarvan om vir ander te vertel wat hulle nie kan doen nie. Dis selfs mense wat jy nie dink teen jou sal wees nie – onderwysers, afrigters, ouers, familielede, vriende en leiers van kerkgroepe – wat dikwels nie die krag van hul woorde oor jong lewens besef nie. Baie van ons het grootgeword met die idee dat ons nie kan nie, wat glad nie waar is nie!
Maak nie saak hoeveel keer iemand al vir jou gesê het: ‘Jy kan nie,’ staan op God se Woord en sê: ‘Ja, ek kan!’ Wonderwerke vind plaas wanneer ons glo dat ons alles deur Christus wat ons krag is, kan doen (sien Filippense 4:13). God glo in jou, nou is die tyd om in jouself te glo. Dis ‘n nuwe dag! Sit die verlede en al sy ontmoedigende opmerkings agter jou.
Woorde wat tot mislukking spreek kom van die Vyand, nie van God af nie, dus moet jy besluit om nie toe te laat dat die krag van: ‘Jy kan nie,’ jou langer affekteer nie. God se Gees, in kontras met die Vyand, moedig jou aan en sal enigiets doen om jou tot sukses in alle areas van jou lewe aan te spoor. God het vir Josua, wat voor die uitdagings van die Beloofde Land te staan gekom het, drie maal gesê: ‘Wees sterk en dapper…’ (Josua 1:6 NLV). Ontmoediging kom van die Vyand, bemoediging kom van God af.
Besluit om saam met God te stem en vir jouself te sê: ‘Ek kan!’ Laat die krag van God se Woord vandag elke negatiewe woord wat al ooit teenoor jou of oor jou gespreek is, domineer.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 1-2; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 45; Spr 12:7-9
2023-05-25
2 Korintiërs 12:9 NLV
Die geheim om te kan doen wat jy moet doen, is om te besef dat jy dit nie alleen kan doen nie; jy kan dit net deur God se bemagtigende genade doen. God het vir Paulus gesê: ‘…My genade is genoeg vir jou…’ en die woord ‘genade’ sluit alles in wat jy nodig het om enigiets in die lewe te hanteer. Wat ‘n belofte!
Soms dink ons dat ons alles moet doen. Ons vergeet dat die krag van Christus deur ons werk, dus verloor ons nog voor ons begin het. ‘Ons is Gód se werkspan…’ (1 Korintiërs 3:9 NLV). Ons kan nie God se deel doen nie en Hy sal nie ons deel doen nie. Hy wil hê dat ons sy leiding moet volg, maar Hy dring daarop aan dat ons elke tree van die pad van Hom afhanklik moet wees. Dis nogal hard op ons ego wat sê: ‘Ek kan dit self doen!’
Soms moet ons heeltemal verslaan word voor ons hierdie tipe denke laat vaar. Met die wete dat ons sekere gawes en talente het, maak ons die fout deur aan te neem dat ons deur ons eie krag sukses kan behaal. Nee, tensy God se genade deur jou gawe werk, sal dit nie voldoende vir die uitdaging wees nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Ons het gawes wat van mekaar verskil volgens die genade wat God aan elkeen van ons gegee het…’ (Romeine 12:6 NLV).
Genade is soos elektrisiteit; om effektief te funksioneer, moet dit ingeprop bly. Jesus het gesê: ‘Ek is die druiwestok, julle is die lote. Wie aan My verbonde bly en Ek aan hulle, dra baie vrugte, want sonder My kan julle niks doen nie’ (Johannes 15:5 NLV). Wees dus meer afhanklik van God.
Sielskos: Heb 11:17-13:25; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 47; Spr 12:4-6
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
The secret of being able to do what you need to do is in realizing that you cannot do it alone; you can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you,” and the word “grace” includes “all of God you will ever need for whatever you face in life.” What a promise!
Sometimes we think we have to do it all. We forget that the power of Christ works through us, so we’re defeated before we even begin. “We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV). We can’t do God’s part, and He won’t do our part. He wants us to follow His leading, but He insists that we depend on Him every step of the way. This is hard on our ego which says, “I can do it myself!” Sometimes we have to be beaten into the ground before we let go of this kind of thinking.
Knowing that we have certain gifts and talents, we make the mistake of assuming we can use them to succeed in our own strength. No, unless God’s grace is operating through your gift, you won’t be adequate to the challenge. The Bible says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given… us” (Romans 12:6 NIV). Grace is like electricity; in order for it to function effectively, you must stay plugged in. Jesus said: “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 NIV). So, depend more on God.
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 47; Prov 12:4-6
2023-05-24
Philippians 4:13 AMPC
Paul writes: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (v. 13 AMPC). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do you believe that too?
What are the things that trigger your fear and cause you to say, “I could never do that”? Suddenly losing a loved one? Facing an unexpected illness? Having your adult child with two toddlers move into your fastidiously clean and tranquil house after you have had an empty nest for years? Going on a stringent diet because your life depends on it? Putting yourself on a budget to prevent foreclosure of your home? Suddenly having to take care of a disabled, elderly parent?
Most people have some sort of situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they are unsure they can handle. The truth is, while some situations may be extremely undesirable or challenging for you, God says you can do whatever you need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be simple for you; He doesn’t promise you will enjoy every little thing you do, but that you can enjoy life in the middle of doing them. How?
Through the power of the One, “Who infuses inner strength into you.” When you need money, you make a withdrawal from your bank account. When your car is empty, you make a withdrawal from the gas pump. So when life gets overwhelming, pray and make a withdrawal on God’s grace, love, strength, power, and guidance.
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 97; Prov 12:1-3
