2025-10-19
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the nation. That was never part of God’s plan. In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are… burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NIV).
When oxen work side by side in the fields, they are yoked together and share the workload. That’s what Jesus wants you to do: work in harness with Him. Can you think of anyone better to share your load? It makes you wonder why we wait so long to take Him up on His offer!
He then goes on to say, “Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried… your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:29, 30-31 ESV). Jesus gives us the perfect perspective on life. You can’t add one day to your life span by worrying, but you can certainly shorten it through stress and anxiety.
Think about it: The birds don’t sit around in the trees and worry about what they will eat tomorrow. No, they sing without a care in the world. And the lilies don’t sweat about how they will grow or if they will get enough rain to survive. All of God’s creation except man does not have a care in the world. And since your heavenly Father cares even more for His people, you can be sure He will take care of you.
Soul food: Exo 20:1-17; Matt 5:1-12
2025-10-18
Philippians 4:6 AMPC
Anxiety is the curse of the modern era, but it’s not a new trend. Throughout Scripture, Jesus talked a lot about anxiety, stress, and fear. In fact, He mentioned them repeatedly in His teachings. In Matthew 6:25-27, He said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or… what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (NIV).
Now, Jesus didn’t say these words just to relieve our fears and worries. What He was doing was commanding us not to be anxious because it demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s faithfulness to us. Paul writes: “Do not fret or have anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition… with thanksgiving… make your wants known to God. And God’s peace… which transcends all understanding shall garrison… your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 AMPC).
Instead of letting fear and anxiety control you, you can have peace by bringing your worries to God in prayer, thanking Him by faith for the answer, and trusting Him to work things out as only He can. So, what are you going to do? Worry and fret, or pray and have peace? The choice is yours.
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 5:31-47; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
Filippense 4:6 NLV
Angs is die vloek van die moderne era, maar dis nie ‘n nuwe neiging nie. Jesus praat in die Skrif gereeld oor angs, stres en vrees. Hy sê in Matteus 6:25-27 (NVL): ‘…hou op om julle te bekommer oor julle daaglikse lewe – wat julle sal eet of drink; of oor julle liggame – wat julle sal aantrek. Is om te lewe nie baie kosbaarder as kos nie? En is ‘n mens se liggaam nie baie kosbaarder as klere nie? Hou die voëls in die lug dop. Hulle saai nie, hulle oes nie, en hulle maak nie in skure bymekaar nie… Besef julle dan nie dat julle vir God nog baie kosbaarder is as hulle nie? Kan al julle bekommernis julle lewe een sekonde langer rek? Vanselfsprekend nie!’
Jesus het nie hierdie woorde gesê net om ons vrese en bekommernisse te verlig nie. Hy het ons beveel om nie angstig te wees nie, want dit toon ‘n gebrek aan geloof in God se getrouheid aan ons. Paulus skryf: ‘Moet oor niks bekommerd wees nie, maar bid oor alles. Vra alles wat julle nodig het van God, terwyl julle Hom ook dank vir alles wat Hy doen. As julle so bid, sal julle God se vrede beleef. Hierdie vrede is wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit sal dink. Omdat julle aan Christus behoort, sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (Filippense 4:6-7 NLV).
In plaas daarvan om toe te laat dat vrees en angs jou beheer, kan jy vrede ontvang deur jou bekommernisse in gebed na God te bring, Hom deur geloof te dank vir die antwoord en Hom te vertrou om dinge uit te werk. Wat gaan jy dus doen? Jou bekommer en kwel, of bid en vrede ontvang? Die keuse is joune.
Sielskos: 1 Tim 4-6; Joh 5:31-47; Ps 126; Spr 24:10
2025-10-17
Jesaja 55:7 NLV
Die D575A is die grootste stootskraper in die wêreld. Dis 5 meter lank, 7,6 meter breed, 12,5 meter hoog en weeg meer as 100000 kilogram. Dit is een keer in ‘n land waar daar ‘n oormaat vullis was wat die omgewing besoedel het, gebruik. Die stootskraper is ingevoer om ‘n gat groot genoeg te grawe om al daardie vullis bymekaar te maak, dit te begrawe en uit die inwoners se lewens te verwyder.
God het by die kruis ‘n gat groot genoeg gegrawe om die sondes van die hele wêreld, in die verlede, hede en toekoms, bymekaar te maak en op sy Seun geplaas. Hy neem al sy Seun se sondelose volmaaktheid en geregtigheid en plaas dit op jou die oomblik wat jy jou vertroue in Hom plaas. ‘God het Hom wat nie sonde geken het nie, sonde gemaak ter wille van ons sodat ons, op grond van ons eenheid met Christus, deur God vrygespreek kan word’ (2 Korintiërs 5:21 NLV.
Jy sê: ‘Maar ek het so erg misluk.’ ‘n Vuil diamant is steeds ‘n diamant; dit moet net skoongemaak word. Dis wat die bloed van Jesus vir ons doen (sien 1 Johannes 1:7). Die wonderlike van ‘n elektroniese sakrekenaar is dat wanneer jy ‘n verkeerde knoppie druk, alles nie verlore is nie. Jy hoef nie die probleem te ontknoop of op te los nie. Deur eenvoudig op ‘clear’ te druk, kan jy die berekening weer begin.
‘Die goddelose mens moet sy verkeerde dinge los, en die bose mens sy slegte gedagtes. Hy moet terugdraai na die Here en Hy sal hom genadig wees. Ja, draai na God, want Hy sal altyd vergewe!’ (Jesaja 55:7 NLV). God staan gereed om jou te vergewe, jou te herstel en vir jou ‘n nuwe begin te gee.
Sielskos: 1 Tim 1-3; Joh 5:16-30; Ps 5; Spr 24:8-9
Isaiah 55:7 NKJV
The largest bulldozer in the world is the D575A. It’s 16 feet long, 25 feet wide, 41 feet high, and weighs 225,000 pounds. It was once used in a country where there was a surplus of garbage that was polluting the environment. The bulldozer was brought in to dig a hole big enough to gather all that garbage, bury it, and remove it from the lives of the residents.
At the cross, God dug a hole so big that He could gather the sins of the entire world, in the past, present, and future. He gathered and placed them upon His Son. Now He takes all of His Son’s sinless perfection and righteousness and places it on you the moment you put your trust in Him. “For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).
You say, “But I have failed so badly.” A dirty diamond is still a diamond; it just requires cleaning. And that’s what the blood of Jesus does for us (See 1 John 1:7). The wonderful thing about an electronic calculator is that if you press a wrong button, everything isn’t lost. You don’t have to untangle or figure out the problem. Simply pressing “clear” restarts the calculation.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJV). God is ready to pardon, restore, and give you a fresh start.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; John 5:16-30; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
