2024-04-30
Psalm 118:24 NLV
God wil hê dat ons die seisoen waarin ons is, moet geniet; dat ons in die ‘hier en nou’ moet lewe. Sommige mense lewe net vir die toekoms. ‘Ek sal gelukkig wees wanneer…’ Ander mense leef net in die verlede. Salomo spreek hulle aan: ‘Moenie sê: ‘Waarom was die ou dae beter as die huidige?’ nie. Dit is nie uit wysheid dat jy daaroor vra nie’ (Prediker 7:10 NLV).
Die New Yorker tydskrif het een keer ‘n strokiesprent van twee monnike in togas met kaalgeskeerde koppe wat kruisbeen langs mekaar op die vloer sit, gedruk. Die jonger monnik, met ‘n vraende uitdrukking op sy gesig, luister na die ouer een wat sê: ‘Niks gebeur volgende nie. Hierdie is dit.’ Dis presies wat dit beteken om in die hier en nou te leef. Ons wag nie vir iets om te gebeur nie, ons aandag word nie deur iets rondom ons afgetrek nie, ons probeer nie in ons gedagtes na ‘n ander tyd ontsnap nie. Ons is ten volle lewendig omdat ons in die oomblik lewe! God mag dalk groot dinge vir jou in die verlede gedoen het en jy vertrou Hom om vir jou groot dinge in die toekoms te doen, maar sy teenwoordigheid, sy krag, sy goedheid, sy guns, sy seën en alles wat Hy is, kan net in die hier en nou ervaar word.
Vraag: Leef jy in ‘n dop om te keer dat jy lewendig deur die pyn van die lewe opgevreet word? Bewaak jy jouself deur dieper in jou dop terug te trek, net om beskikbaar te wees vir dit wat aangenaam, voorspelbaar en veilig is? ‘Dit is die dag wat die Here gemaak het. Laat ons daaroor juig en bly wees.’ Lewe in die ‘hier en nou.’
Sielskos: Hand 24-26; Mark 5:21-30; Ps 94:1-11; Spr 11:14-15
Psalm 118:24 NKJV
God wants us to appreciate the season we are in; to live in the “here and now.” Some people live only for the future. “I’ll be happy when…” Other people live in the past. Solomon addresses them: “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10 NKJV).
The New Yorker magazine once had a cartoon in which two monks in robes and shaved heads were sitting side by side, cross legged on the floor. The younger one, with a quizzical look on his face, is facing the older one, who is saying: “Nothing happens next. This is it.” That’s exactly what it means to live in the here and now. We aren’t waiting for something else to occur, we aren’t distracted by anything around us, we aren’t trying to escape mentally to another time. We are fully alive because we are living in the moment! God may have done great things for you in the past, and you’re trusting Him to do great things in the future, but His presence, His power, His goodness, His favour, His blessing, and all that He is, can only be experienced in the here and now.
Question: “Are you living in a shell to keep from being eaten alive by the pain of life? Do you guard yourself by retreating deeper into your shell, being available only to what is pleasant, predictable, and safe?” “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Live in the “here and now.”
Soul food: Acts 24-26; Mark 5:21-30; Ps 94:1-11; Prov 11:14-15
2024-04-29
Romans 8:29 NKJV
Since God is both our Creator and our Redeemer, we are called to be “conformed to His image” in both senses. So, to become more like the Creator is to become more creative. When we apply our sanctified imagination to serve His objectives, we are doing what God does best and loves most. And our heavenly Father takes deep pride and joy in it. Just as we celebrate creativity in our kids, so God celebrates creativity in us.
Have you ever noticed how often Psalms tells us to sing a new song? The creative command is repeated no fewer than a half dozen times. The more you discover about God, the more you love Him. And the more you love Him, the more you need new ways of expressing your love. Most of us don’t classify ourselves as creative, but that’s because we narrowly define creativity. We think of it like we do a work of art, a new invention, or an entrepreneurial conception. But that’s a meager slice.
Creativity isn’t merely for artists, inventors, or entrepreneurs; it’s vital in all aspects of life. In the fullest sense, creativity is any use of the imagination. Yes, in the past we may have used our imagination for the wrong purposes. But at the new birth, your imagination is redeemed so that it can be used to glorify God. If God is infinitely creative and we are not just created in His image but called to be conformed to His image, then creativity isn’t optional. It’s a dimension of spiritual maturity.
Soul food: Acts 22-23; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 11:12-13
Romeine 8:29 AFR83
Omdat God beide ons Skepper en Verlosser is, is ons geroepe om gelykvormig aan sy beeld in beide opsigte te wees. Om dus meer soos die Skepper te wees, moet jy meer kreatief word. Wanneer ons ons geheiligde verbeelding toepas om sy doelwitte te bereik, doen ons wat God die beste doen en die meeste liefhet. Ons hemelse Vader vind diepe vreugde en trots daarin. Net soos ons kreatiwiteit in ons kinders vier, so vier God kreatiwiteit in ons.
Het jy al ooit opgelet hoe dikwels die Psalms vir ons sê om ‘n nuwe lied te sing? Hierdie kreatiewe bevel word nie minder as ‘n halfdosyn keer herhaal nie. Hoe meer jy van God ontdek, hoe liewer raak jy vir Hom. Hoe liewer jy vir Hom raak, hoe meer het jy nuwe maniere nodig om jou liefde uit te druk. Die meeste van ons dink dat ons nie regtig kreatief is nie, omdat ons kreatiwiteit baie nou definieer. Ons dink daaraan as ‘n kunswerk, ‘n nuwe uitvinding of ‘n entrepreneuriese idee. Dis egter net ‘n klein deel van kreatiwiteit.
Kreatiwiteit is nie net vir kunstenaars, uitvinders en entrepreneurs nie; dis noodsaaklik in alle aspekte van die lewe. In die volste sin is kreatiwiteit enige gebruik van die verbeelding. Ja, in die verlede mag ons dalk ons verbeelding vir die verkeerde doelwitte gebruik het. Na ons wedergeboorte, word ons verbeelding egter verlos sodat dit gebruik kan word om God te verheerlik. As God oneindig kreatief is en ons nie net na sy beeld geskape is nie, maar geroep is om gelykvormig aan sy beeld te wees, dan is kreatiwiteit nie opsioneel nie. Dit is ‘n dimensie van geestelike volwassenheid.
Sielskos: Hand 22-23; Mark 5:11-20; Ps 144:9-15; Spr 11:12-13
2024-04-28
Psalm 37:34 NIV
When things don’t happen as quickly as we want them to, we can become anxious, frustrated, irritable, and negative. And if you’re a “make it happen” person, you can rush ahead of God and get into trouble. “The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take” (Psalm 37:23 TLB).
Think about it: If you’re following the Lord, you can’t go faster than the One who is leading. So, just take the next step and trust Him to work things out for you. God knows what you don’t know. At best, you are working with limited knowledge. Do you believe your steps are being “directed by the Lord?” Do you believe He has a plan for your life? Do you believe He cares for you and has your best interests at heart? If you do, then stand on this Scripture: “Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing” (Psalm 37:34 TLB). God knows what He is doing. He works according to His schedule, not ours. When will God “honor you with every blessing?” Answer: “in due season.”
Impatience is a sign of two things: (1) Immaturity. Babies cry until you pick them up, and children don’t want to wait for anything. But a wise parent knows that often the child is not ready to handle what they’re demanding. (2) Doubt and unbelief. “You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36 TLB).
Soul food: Gal 5:22; Luke 10:25-37; Eph 4:31-32; Gen 50:15-21
