2023-08-29
Psalm 37:3 AMPC
Sometimes when we have problems, we withdraw from normal life and spend all our time obsessing and trying to solve them. We talk about them to anyone who will listen. All this is unproductive activity which prevents us from doing what we should be doing, which is “doing good.” If you want to experience the benefits of God’s faithfulness, you must do two things: (1) “Trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) in the Lord.” (2) “And do good.”
When we have problems, it feels counterintuitive to focus on blessing others. But it’s not; it’s actually a very powerful thing to do. It takes your mind off you and your problem. Plus, you’re sowing good seed that ultimately brings your good harvest. Falling into self-pity, fretting, and talking negatively prevent God from helping you. But trusting Him and persisting in doing good for others release Him to work on your behalf.
We may know it’s wrong to worry and yet continue worrying. We must realize that none of God’s promises work for us until we actually obey His Word. Knowledge alone won’t solve your problems; you must take action and be obedient no matter how you feel. You might not feel like keeping a commitment or doing something to help someone else, but when you do it, God goes to work on your behalf. So, one of the keys to overcoming fear and worry is doing what God has told you to do regardless of how you feel.
Soul food: Gal 4-6; Mark 9:1-13; Ps 119:161-168; Prov 19:3-8
2023-08-28
Jeremiah 31:18 KJV
When we have been hurt, our first instinct is to retaliate. We know it’s wrong because the Bible says we must forgive in order to be forgiven (See Mark 11:25). We also know that bitterness can hurt us physically and emotionally. But sometimes we can’t bring ourselves to forgive, so we keep wrestling with it in our mind. Stop and think what happens in a wrestling match. You focus on your opponent, clinging to them and trying to control them. Your aim is to put them on the mat and bring them into submission, and it requires all your energy. Plus, you risk getting hurt in the process.
The only real power you have over someone who hurts you is the power of forgiveness. So for your own sake, forgive them and move on! Even though you don’t feel like forgiving, pray, “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.” In other words, “Lord, make me willing to forgive.” The old saying, “To err is human, to forgive is divine,” is the truth.
Now, small offenses can be forgiven quickly, but big ones require divine assistance. And you can have it: “God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). Yes, you may want your offender to suffer, but when your greatest desire is to please the Lord, He will give you the grace to forgive. When you realize the blessings God has in store for you in the future, you will refuse to spend another moment stuck in the past.
Soul food: Gal 1-3; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 119:145-160; Prov 19:1-2
Jeremia 31:18 AFR53
Wanneer iemand mens seermaak, is ons eerste instink om terug te slaan. Ons weet dis verkeerd, omdat die Bybel sê dat ons moet vergewe om sodoende vergewe te word (sien Markus 11:25). Ons weet ook dat bitterheid ons fisies en emosioneel skade kan doen. Soms kan ons onsself egter net nie sover kry om te vergewe nie, dus hou ons aan om daarmee in ons gedagtes te stoei.
Stop en dink wat in ‘n stoeigeveg gebeur. Jy fokus op jou opponent, klou aan hulle vas en probeer hulle beheer. Jou doel is om hulle op die mat neer te pen en hulle te onderwerp, wat al jou energie verg. Jy neem ook die risiko om self in die proses seer te kry. Die enigste ware mag wat jy oor iemand wat jou seermaak het, is die mag van vergifnis. Vergewe hulle dus ter wille van jouself en beweeg aan! Selfs al is jy nie lus om te vergewe nie, bid: ‘…Bekeer my, dan sal ek my bekeer, want U is die Here my God.’ Met ander woorde: ‘Here, maak my gewillig om te vergewe.’
Klein oortredings kan vinnig vergewe word, maar grotes benodig goddelike bystand. Jy kan dit ontvang: ‘Dis mos God wat julle gewillig maak om te doen waarvan Hy hou, en Hy gee julle ook die vermoë om dit te kán doen!’ (Filippense 2:13 NLV). Ja, jy wil dalk hê dat jou oortreder moet swaarkry, maar as jou grootste begeerte is om die Here te behaag, sal Hy jou die genade gee om te vergewe. Wanneer jy die seëninge wat God in die toekoms vir jou in gedagte het besef, sal jy weier om nog een oomblik in die verlede vasgevang te bly.
Sielskos: Gal 1-3; Mark 8:27-38; Ps 119:145-160; Spr 19:1-2
2023-08-27
1 John 3:21 NLT
When you knowingly sin, it puts your body under stress. There is actually no such thing as a “lie detector test.” The fact is, the test cannot determine if someone is lying. It simply measures how a person’s response to certain questions impacts their nervous system. God designed our system to glorify Him (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). So when you sin, it negatively impacts your body. Even if you have never taken a polygraph exam, you can agree that when you have lied, you probably experienced an increase in your heart rate. So when God tells you not to sin, He is not trying to steal your joy but preserve it. Sin robs you of three things:
(1) Comfort. “‘There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 48:22 NLT). When you knowingly violate your values, you become uneasy in your own skin.
(2) Character. Your reputation is how others see you, but your character is what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror each day. Your thoughts determine your deeds, your deeds determine your habits, your habits determine your character, and your character determines your destiny.
(3) Confidence. Nothing in life is more important than to be able to approach God with confidence. “If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him” (1 John 3:21-22 NLT).
So the next time Satan tempts you to sin, stop and do the math. By looking at the bottom-line result, you will be able to make the right choice every time.
Soul food: 1 Sam 25:2-42; 1 Peter 3:1-7
1 Johannes 3:21 NLV
Wanneer jy bewustelik sondig, plaas dit jou liggaam onder stres. Daar is nie eintlik so iets soos ‘n ‘leuenverklikkertoets’ nie. Die toets kan nie bepaal of iemand lieg nie. Dit meet bloot hoe ‘n persoon se reaksie op sekere vrae hul senuweestelsel beïnvloed. God het ons liggame ontwerp om Hom te verheerlik (sien 1 Korintiërs 6:19-20). Wanneer jy dus sondig, beïnvloed dit jou liggaam negatief. Selfs al het jy nog nooit ‘n leuenverklikkertoets ondergaan nie, kan jy saamstem dat wanneer jy gelieg het, jy waarskynlik ‘n toename in jou hartklop ervaar het. Wanneer God dus vir jou sê om nie te sondig nie, probeer Hy nie jou vreugde steel nie, maar dit bewaar.
Sonde steel drie dinge by jou: 1) Gemak. “‘Vir bose mense,’ sê die Here, ‘is daar geen vrede nie” (Jesaja 48:22 NLV). Wanneer jy bewustelik jou waardes skend, raak jy onrustig in jou eie vel.
2) Karakter. Jou reputasie is hoe ander mense jou sien, maar jou karakter is wat jy sien wanneer jy elke dag na jouself in die spieël kyk. Jou gedagtes bepaal jou dade, jou dade bepaal jou gewoontes, jou gewoontes bepaal jou karakter en jou karakter bepaal jou lotsbestemming.
3) Selfvertroue. Niks in die lewe is belangriker as om met vrymoedigheid na God te kan gaan nie. ‘Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God toe te gaan. Wat ons ook al bid, kry ons van Hom omdat ons sy opdragte gehoorsaam en dié dinge in sy teenwoordigheid doen wat Hom bly maak’ (1 Johannes 3:21-22 NLV).
Die volgende keer wat Satan jou dus versoek om sonde te doen, stop en maak die somme. Wanneer jy na die antwoord kyk, sal jy in staat wees om elke keer die regte keuse te maak.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 25:2-42; 1 Pet 3:1-7
