2025-06-30
Philippians 2:14 KJV
Paul writes: “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (vv. 14-15). What was the attitude that Paul zeroed in on? Murmuring! What was the solution? He shared it with the Thessalonian believers: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). Instead of looking for things to gripe about, look for things to be grateful about because they’re all around you. If murmuring comes to you as easily as breathing, here are a few areas you need to pay attention to:
(1) Don’t take on more than you can handle. Say yes to requests for personal favours only when you want to or feel led by God. This will stop you from becoming overworked and resentful toward the responsibilities dumped on you by others.
(2) Limit your time around negative people. “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits'” (1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJV). Don’t get infected!
(3) Focus on other people’s needs. “With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord” (Ephesians 6:7-8 NKJV). What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.
In addition to these three strategies for overcoming grumpiness, pray: “Father, deliver me from grumpiness. Reveal the root cause of it and give me courage to take the actions necessary to keep it out of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Jer 36:27-40:16; Matt 5:21-37; Ps 102:12-17; Prov 15:3
Filippense 2:14 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Doen alles sonder kla of teëpraat. Dan sal julle as onberispelike kinders van God bo verdenking staan. Julle sal skoon lewe in ‘n wêreld vol oneerlike en perverse mense. Skyn in hierdie donker wêreld soos helder sterre’ (verse 14-15 NLV). Wat was die houding waarop Paulus gefokus het? Om te mor en te kla. Wat was die oplossing? Hy het dit met die gelowiges in Tessalonisense gedeel: ‘Wees in alle omstandighede dankbaar, want dit is wat God van julle as Christene verwag’ (1 Tessalonisense 5:18 NLV). In plaas daarvan om na dinge te soek om oor te kla, soek na dinge om oor dankbaar te wees, want dit is oral om jou. As murmurering so maklik soos asemhaal vir jou is, is hier ‘n paar areas waaraan jy moet aandag gee:
(1) Moenie meer aanpak as wat jy kan hanteer nie. Sê slegs vir versoeke vir persoonlike gunste ja wanneer jy wil of voel dat jy deur God gelei word. Dit sal keer dat jy oorwerk en gegrief word teenoor die verantwoordelikhede wat ander op jou lê.
2) Beperk jou tyd rondom negatiewe mense. ‘Moenie toelaat dat mense wat sulke dinge sê, julle vir die gek hou nie, want “slegte geselskap bederf goeie gewoontes”‘ (1 Korintiërs 15:33 NLV).
(3) Fokus op ander mense se behoeftes. ‘Doen julle werk entoesiasties, asof julle dit vir die Here doen en nie vir mense nie. Julle weet mos dat die Here elke mens wat sy werk goed doen, sal beloon…’ (Efesiërs 6:7-8 NLV). Wat jy vir ander mense laat gebeur, sal God vir jou laat gebeur.
Benewens hierdie drie strategieë om norsheid te oorkom, bid die volgende: ‘Vader, verlos my van norsheid. Openbaar die oorsaak daarvan en gee my die moed om dit uit my lewe te verwyder. In Jesus se naam. Amen.’
Sielskos: Jer 36:27-40:16; Matt 5:21-37; Ps 102:12-17; Spr 15:3
2025-06-29
1 Corinthians 10:10 KJV
If you don’t think God takes murmuring seriously, read this: “Don’t murmur against God and his dealings with you, as some of them did, for that is why God sent his Angel to destroy them. All these things happened to them as examples – as object lessons to us – to warn us against doing the same things” (vv. 10-11 TLB). Not only do murmuring and complaining hinder your prayers from being answered, but they also affect your health and the happiness of those around you. So:
(1) Pray before entering your day. Receive God’s help first thing. Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed with problems. Ask Him to permeate you with His peace and joy and enable you to respond His way during the entire day. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV).
(2) Get a good night’s sleep. Many metabolic and other restorative processes occur during the various stages of sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep for your system to be renewed, you will probably feel annoyed by the smallest things. David said, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:5 NKJV).
(3) Talk to your doctor. When the people and situations around you constantly feel like “a pain in the neck” to you, it may be due to a literal pain in your neck or some other part of your body. Chemical imbalances can cause clinical depression, but the right medical help can restore your perspective. And watch your diet. Too much caffeine and sugar will adversely alter your mood and cause a spike in your insulin. Bottom line: The physical affects the mental, emotional, and spiritual!
Soul food: Ps 23; John 10:7-18
1 Korintiërs 10:10 NLV
As jy dink dat God murmurering nie ernstig opneem nie, lees die volgende: ‘En moenie mor soos sommige van hulle nie, want dit is die rede waarom God die doodsengel gestuur het om hulle dood te maak. Al hierdie dinge het met hulle gebeur as ‘n voorbeeld vir ons, en is neergeskryf om ons te waarsku…’ (verse 10-11 NLV). ‘n Gemor en gekla verhinder nie net dat jou gebede beantwoord word nie, maar dit beïnvloed ook jou gesondheid en diegene rondom jou se geluk. Dus:
(1) Bid voor jy met jou dag begin. Ontvang God se hulp heel eerste. Moenie wag tot jy met probleme oorweldig word nie. Vra Hom om jou met sy vrede en vreugde te deurdring en jou in staat te stel om die hele dag op sy manier te reageer. ‘…die blydskap wat die Here gee, sal julle krag wees!’ (Nehemia 8:10 NLV)
(2) Kry ‘n goeie nagrus. Baie metaboliese en ander herstellende prosesse vind tydens die verskillende stadiums van slaap plaas. As jy nie genoeg slaap kry om jou stelsel te hernu nie, sal jy waarskynlik deur die kleinste dingetjies geïrriteerd voel. Dawid het gesê: ‘Ek het gaan lê en slaap en weer wakker geword, want die Here het oor my waggehou’ (Psalm 3:6 NLV).
(3) Praat met jou dokter. Wanneer die mense en situasies rondom jou gedurig vir jou soos “‘n pyn in die nek” voel, kan dit as gevolg van ‘n letterlike pyn in jou nek of ‘n ander deel van jou liggaam veroorsaak word. Chemiese wanbalanse kan kliniese depressie veroorsaak, maar die regte mediese hulp kan jou perspektief herstel. Let ook op jou dieet. Te veel kafeïen en suiker sal jou bui nadelig beïnvloed en ‘n styging in jou insulienvlakke veroorsaak. Die fisiese beïnvloed die verstandelike, emosionele en geestelike!
Sielskos: Ps 23; Joh 10:7-18
2025-06-28
Luke 8:18 NIV
Some people seem to go through life with a “closed” sign on their foreheads. Whether through fearfulness, selfishness, callousness, or busyness, they’re not open to the thoughts of others. And it can cost you dearly. Take a moment and ponder these Scriptures: “He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding” (Proverbs 15:32 NKJV). “When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction” (Proverbs 24:32 NKJV). “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9 NKJV). People who are receptive and approachable generally display three qualities.
(1) They show sensitivity toward people’s feelings. And here is something interesting: Although they themselves are emotionally steady, that doesn’t mean they expect others to always be that way. They recognize that good people sometimes have bad days, so they attune their approach to the feelings of others and adjust how they relate to them.
(2) They understand other people’s weaknesses because they’re aware of their own. Novelist Edgar Howe said, “Express a mean opinion of yourself occasionally; it will show your friends that you know how to tell the truth.” Open and receptive people are honest about their abilities – and their shortcomings.
(3) They have the ability to forgive others and to ask for forgiveness. That takes humility. Author David Augsburger wrote: “Since nothing we intend is ever faultless, nothing we attempt ever without error, and nothing we achieve without some measure of finitude and fallibility we call humanness; we are saved by forgiveness.”
So, the word for you today is – stay open and approachable.
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Matt 5:1-20; Ps 102:1-11; Prov 15:1-2
