2024-04-13
Proverbs 14:12 NIV
You can be sincere in your intentions – but sincerely wrong. The Bible says the rain falls on “the just and the unjust alike” (Matthew 5:45 NLT). The law of cause and effect applies to everybody, and all your good intentions won’t bring you out at the right destination if you’re on the wrong road.
Think about it like this: Maybe you have considered investing in a particular company. You do the research, talk to the experts, and things look good. So, you proceed on the assumption that it’s a sound decision. Then the unexpected happens. A recession hits, and the market tanks. It’s not your fault; you were sincere in your decision to invest, but that doesn’t change the end result. You still lose. You can’t afford to put your trust in what “seems right to… man” (Proverbs 16:25 NKJV); you must pursue those things that are right in God’s eyes.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). That means unless you have committed your life to Christ, you’re already on the wrong road. Turn around and ask Him to forgive your sins and put you on the road to eternal life. And if you’re a believer seeking direction, pray, read your Bible, and listen for what God has to say. The disciples on the Emmaus road said, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he… opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32 KJV). Ask God to open His Word, give you “spiritual heartburn,” and point you in the right direction. He will!
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Mark 2:18-22; Ps 50:1-15; Prov 10:8-10
2024-04-12
Psalm 23:1 NKJV
It’s easy to say, “The Lord is my shepherd,” but how can you tell if it’s real for you or if you’re just saying the words? Here is a simple test: When you need help, who do you turn to first? Most folks go to God only after they have tried everything else. And when nothing else is working, then they try praying. Think about your last crisis. Whatever or whoever you turned to first for help, that’s your shepherd.
A man on a trip to the African rain forests was following a guide. As they pushed deeper into the jungle, the guide with his machete was whacking away at the thick growth that rose up like a wall before them. “How do you know where to go?” the man asked. “Where’s the path?” The guide replied, “I am the path.”
Life is like a jungle; you need a guide who knows where he is going and what he is doing. And here on earth, who qualifies for such a job? One person only – the Lord! There will never be a day when you don’t need His guidance, and you can have it if you really want it. The Bible says, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out… he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice” (John 10:3-4 NLT). What a promise! There are lots of different voices vying for your attention, including some who care about you and some who don’t. But Jesus your shepherd is the one voice you can always trust when it comes to guidance. That’s why it’s important to “know his voice.”
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Mark 2:13-17; Ps 25:16-22; Prov 10:4-7
Psalm 23:1 NLV
Dis maklik om te sê: ‘Die Here is my herder,’ maar hoe weet jy of dit waar is vir jou en of jy net die woorde sê? Hier is ‘n eenvoudige toets: Wanneer jy hulp nodig het, na wie toe draai jy eerste? Die meeste mense gaan eers na God toe nadat hulle reeds alles anders probeer het. Wanneer niks werk nie, probeer hulle om te bid. Dink aan jou laaste krisis. Die ding of persoon na wie jy eerste vir hulp gedraai het, is jou herder.
‘n Man op ‘n reis na die reënwoude in Afrika was besig om sy gids te volg. Soos hulle dieper in die woud inbeweeg het, het die gids met sy kapmes ‘n weg deur die plantegroei wat soos ‘n muur voor hulle gestaan het, gekap. ‘Hoe weet jy waarheen om te gaan?’ het die man gevra. ‘Waar is die pad?’ Die gids het geantwoord: ‘Ek is die pad.’ Die lewe is soos ‘n oerwoud; jy het ‘n gids nodig wat weet waarheen hy gaan en wat hy moet doen.
Is daar iemand hier op aarde wat gekwalifiseerd is daarvoor? Nee, net die Here is! Daar sal nooit ‘n dag verbygaan waar jy nie sy leiding nodig sal hê nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Hy roep sy skape op hulle name en lei hulle uit… die skape hou aan om hom te volg omdat hulle sy stem ken’ (Johannes 10:3-4 NLV). Wat ‘n belofte! Daar is altyd baie stemme wat op jou aandag aandring, insluitend sommiges wat nie regtig vir jou omgee nie. Jesus, jou herder, is egter die een stem wat jy altyd kan vertrou om jou op die regte pad te lei. Dis hoekom dit so belangrik is om sy stem te ken.
Sielskos: Jer 45-48; Mark 2:13-17; Ps 25:16-22; Spr 10:4-7
2024-04-11
Romans 8:26 MSG
Life can wear you down. You can get to the place where your anxiety runs so deep, or your stress levels increase so high that you can’t think clearly. The problem or pain you’re experiencing is so overwhelming that you can’t put it into words. Good news: That’s when the Holy Spirit living within you prays for you and through you.
As you bring your burden to the Lord and kneel in His presence, a wonderful thing happens. In The Message, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it this way: “God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us… If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves… That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good” (vv. 26-28 MSG). Because prayer is relational, the Holy Spirit will communicate your heart to God and His heart back to you.
When you don’t know how to pray – stay. Just remain in God’s presence with your heart open, and He will communicate with you. “You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (1 John 2:20 NKJV). Before God puts the answer in your head, He puts His peace in your heart. That’s why prayer cannot be rushed. It’s why taking the time to meditate and be still before God is so important. It allows the Holy Spirit to share God’s thoughts with you so that you begin thinking His way.
Soul food: Jer 41-44; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 25:8-15; Prov 10:1-3
Romeine 8:26 ABA
Die lewe kan jou aftrek. Jy kan by ‘n plek kom waar die angs so diep gesetel is of jou stresvlakke so hoog is dat jy nie helder kan dink nie. Die probleem of pyn wat jy ervaar is so oorweldigend dat jy dit nie in woorde kan stel nie. Goeie nuus: Dis dan wanneer die Heilige Gees wat in jou woon, vir jou en deur jou bid.
Soos jy jou laste na die Here toe bring en in sy teenwoordigheid kniel, gebeur daar ‘n wonderlike ding: ‘Die Heilige Gees help ons ook wanneer ons bid. Ons kan nie bid soos God wil hê ons moet bid nie, want ons is swak, maar wanneer die Gees by God kla en sug, dan sê Hy vir God dinge wat mense nie self kan sê nie. God weet alles wat mense dink en Hy weet ook wat die Heilige Gees dink. God weet die Gees doen wat God wil hê, en die Gees sê vir God wat die mense bid, die mense wat aan God behoort’ (verse 26-28 ABA).
Wanneer jy nie weet hoe om te bid nie – word net stil. Bly net met ‘n oop gemoed in God se teenwoordigheid en Hy sal met jou kommunikeer. ‘Julle almal weet egter waaroor dit gaan, want julle dra die salwing van die Heilige Gees’ (1 Johannes 2:20 NLV). Voor God ‘n antwoord in jou gedagtes plaas, plaas Hy sy vrede in jou hart. Dis hoekom gebed nie aangejaag kan word nie. Dis hoekom dit so belangrik is om tyd te neem om voor God te mediteer en stil te wees. Dit laat die Heilige Gees toe om God se gedagtes met jou te deel, sodat jy soos Hy kan begin dink.
Sielskos: Jer 41-44; Mark 2:1-12; Ps 25:8-15; Spr 10:1-3
