2026-05-24
Philippians 2:13 NIV
God is at work “in you.” What is He working on? Your “will.” What does He want you to do? “Act according to His good purpose.” How does He accomplish this? Through your mind: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). God can speak to you audibly, through circumstances, or through another person. But because God can give you His thoughts or guide your thoughts, your mind is the meeting room where He will most often communicate with you.
That’s why Satan will try to place evil thoughts in your mind. If he cannot succeed, he will try to fill your mind with fear and worry. If that doesn’t work, he’ll settle for having you watch hours of “worthless things” on television or the Internet. The Psalmist prayed: “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things” (Psalm 119:37 NKJV).
In order to hear from God and recognize what He’s saying to you, you must make your mind a protected environment. And one more thing: Your desire to hear from God must take precedence over every other desire you have. Social reformer Dorothy Day, who did much work on behalf of the poor in the twentieth century, spoke of what she called her “notions” – ideas that had the unmistakable stamp of God’s authorship in her mind. George Fox and the Quaker tradition called them “concerns.” Others speak of “promptings” or “leadings.”
The good news is if you truly want to hear from God, and you’re willing to prioritize your life accordingly, He’ll speak to you.
Soul food: Lev 23:15-22; John 14:15-18; Acts 2:1-18
2026-05-23
Jakobus 5:20 NLV
Ons God is die God van nuwe begin! Die Bybel sê: ‘weet dan dat hy wat ‘n sondaar op sy dwaalweg laat terugdraai, hom uit die dood red en maak dat ‘n klomp sondes bedek word.’ Dit is nooit te laat vir ‘n nuwe begin nie. Wat egter nog merkwaardiger is, is dat God mense soos ons gebruik om ander te help om ‘n nuwe begin te vind.
Die Bybel bevat baie verhale van mense wat ‘n tweede kans gekry het en deur God se genade hierdie kans goed benut het. Soos Petrus, wat Jesus verloën het, maar ‘n leier in die Nuwe Testamentiese kerk geword het. Of Dawid, wat egbreuk en moord gepleeg het, maar psalms geskryf het wat vandag nog wêreldwyd aangehaal word. Wat van Jona? Hy het ‘n tweede kans gekry! ‘Die Here het ‘n tweede keer met Jona gepraat’ (Jona 3:1 NLV).
Sonde kan harte, huise, planne en mense verwoes. Die goeie nuus van die evangelie is egter dat sonde God nooit kan keer om ons lief te hê of na ons uit te reik nie. Ons moet ook nooit ophou om ander mense lief te hê en na hulle uit te reik nie. ‘…wanneer iemand iets doen wat verkeerd is, moet julle wat deur die Gees gelei word, daardie persoon nederig reghelp…’ (Galasiërs 6:1 NLV).
Die Griekse woord vir vernuwe is ‘n mediese term wat beteken ‘om ‘n gebreekte been te genees.’ Wanneer ‘n dokter ‘n gebreekte been behandel, herstel hy die breuk en sit ‘n gipsverband aan wat vir ongeveer ses weke moet aanbly. Gedurende daardie tyd doen God die werklike genesing. Jou werk is om gebroke mense te vind wat ‘n tweede kans benodig en hulle help om te genees.
Sielskos: Rig 12-15; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 47; Spr 13:11-12
James 5:20 NIV
Our God is the God of new beginnings! The Bible says: “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” It is never too late for a new beginning. And what’s even more remarkable is that God uses people like us to help others find a new beginning.
The Bible contains many accounts of men and women who got a second chance and, by God’s grace, used it well. Like Peter, who denied Jesus but went on to become a leader in the New Testament church. Or David, who committed adultery and murder, yet his psalms are a major part of one of the most quoted books in the Bible. And what about Jonah? He got a do-over! “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time” (Jonah 3:1 NKJV).
Sin can wreck hearts, homes, plans, and people. But the good news of the gospel is that sin can never keep God from loving or reaching for us. And we should never stop loving and reaching for others. “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV).
The Greek word for restore is a medical term that means “to set a broken bone.” When a doctor resets a broken bone, he realigns it and then puts it in a cast for about six weeks. During that time, God does the actual healing. Your job is to find broken people who need a second chance and help to restore them.
Soul food: Judg 12-15; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 47; Prov 13:11-12
2026-05-22
1 Korintiërs 15:10 NLV
Wie is jy? Dit klink soos ‘n eenvoudige vraag, maar dis dikwels een van die uitdagendste vrae om te antwoord. Om te weet wie jy is en waarvoor jy staan, om bewus te wees van hoe jy deur ander beskou word en hoe jy jouself aan die wêreld voordoen, is een van die belangrikste aspekte van ‘n vervulde lewe.
Dit kan jou ‘persoonlike handelsmerk’ genoem word. Jou handelsmerk bestaan uit eienskappe wat by elke ontmoeting wat jy met werkskollegas, familie of vriende het, teenwoordig is. Dit is eienskappe wat jy na al jou sosiale en sake-interaksies bring. Jy mag dalk jou eienskappe as vanselfsprekend aanvaar, maar oorweeg dit om jou eie persoonlike missieverklaring neer te skryf. Wat is jou doel? Waarvoor staan jy? Wat is jou visie? Weerspieël jou lewe werklik dit wat vir jou belangrik is en hoe jy wil hê ander mense jou moet sien?
So dikwels leef ons ons lewens volgens dit wat diegene rondom ons dink ons moet wees of doen. Ons volg die pad wat ons ander sien loop, of ons streef na wat die media as sukses definieer. Uiteindelik, en soms verrassend, vind ons onsself waar ons gefrustreerd, kwaad en teleurgesteld deur die lewe beweeg.
Sommige sakelui kla dat hulle die bopunt van die korporatiewe leer bereik het, net om uit te vind dat die leer teen die verkeerde gebou leun. Hulle was so besig om tred te hou met wat hulle gedink het hulle veronderstel is om te doen, dat hulle nooit hulself af gevra het wat hulle eintlik wil doen nie. Wees soos Paulus: Weet wie jy is, eer jou persoonlike handelsmerk en sê: ‘Deur die genade van God is ek wie ek is.’
Sielskos: Rig 9:34-11:40; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 97; Spr 20:25
1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV
Who are you? It seems like a simple question but is often one of the most challenging to answer. To know who you are and what you stand for, to be aware of how you’re perceived by others and how you present yourself to the world, is one of the most important aspects of a well-lived life.
This could be called your “personal brand.” Your brand consists of attributes that are present for every encounter you have with work colleagues, family, or friends. You could call them “deliverables,” virtues you bring to all your social and business interactions. You may take your deliverables for granted but consider writing down your own personal mission statement. What is your purpose? What are you about? What is your vision? Does your life truly reflect what’s important to you and how you want others to see you?
So often, we live our lives based on what those around us think we should be or do. We follow the path we’ve seen others take, or we pursue what the media defines as success. Eventually, and sometimes surprisingly, we may find ourselves frustrated, angry, and disappointed in life.
Have you ever heard business professionals lament about climbing to the top of the corporate ladder, only to find that it was leaning against the wrong building? They were so busy keeping up with what they thought they were supposed to be doing that they never stopped to ask themselves what they actually wanted to do. Be like Paul: Know who you are, honour your personal brand, and say, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”
Soul food: Judg 9:34-11:40; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 97; Prov 20:25
