2026-07-24
John 14:26 NKJV
Jesus said: “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” When you need to make a critical decision, you need “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17 NKJV). When you’re in a difficult situation and unsure of what to say: “Just say whatever is given to you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11 NIV).
When you find it hard to show love? “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22 NIV). The same is true with every fruit of the Spirit. Do you need to overcome an addiction? “The fruit of the Spirit is… self-control” (v. 22-23 AMPC). Of course, that’s an oxymoron because it doesn’t come from you. It’s the Spirit who manufactures it, so it’s really Spirit-control. What you need more of is the Holy Spirit.
And for the record, the Spirit of God doesn’t just want to fill you; He also wants to stretch you and increase your capacity. If you feel like your life is in chaos today, the Spirit of God is hovering – just as He did at the dawn of creation when He brought light out of darkness, order out of chaos, and beauty out of nothingness (see Genesis 1:1-3). No matter what question you have, the Holy Spirit is the answer. No matter what problem you face, the Holy Spirit is the solution. You need as much of Him as you can get, so you need to yield as much of yourself to Him as you can.
Soul food: Ezra 3-5; Matt 28:1-10; Ps 42:1-5; Pro 19:12-14
2026-07-23
Joshua 1:9 NLT
When God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous,” the word be really means become. It’s not like a computer in which you enter a password and “hey, presto!” you’re courageous. Courage is a quality you grow into. Like filling bigger shoes, the more you walk in them, the more comfortable they become. Joshua had already been to the Promised Land. He knew there were seven nations to be conquered. He was well aware of the problems he’d have to face. So, God said:
(1) “Do not be afraid of those nations, for the Lord… is among you, and he is a great and awesome God” (Deuteronomy 7:21 NLT). The job you’re about to take on may look more like a battlefield than a bed of roses, but God will be with you. He will give you solutions for the problems and strength for the battles.
(2) “The Lord your God will drive those nations out ahead of you” (Deuteronomy 7:22 NLT). God will go ahead of you and arrange everything. He will help you make the right connections and provide you with the needed resources.
(3) “The Lord… will drive those nations out… little by little. You will not clear them away all at once” (v. 22 NLT). God works in us one area at a time. Life’s not one big battle; it’s a series of small daily struggles required to defeat the enemies that stand in your way.
Twenty-three chapters later, God was still telling Israel to be courageous. Courage is like oxygen; you can’t survive without it. It’s not the absence of fear; it’s the conquest of it. Courage means doing it afraid until you conquer your fear.
Soul food: Ezra 1-2; Matt 27:57-66; Ps 1; Pro 19: 9-11
Josua 1:9 NLV
Toe God vir Josua gesê het: ‘My opdrag aan jou is dat jy sterk en dapper moet wees…’ het die woord ‘wees’ eintlik beteken dat Josua dapper moet ‘word.’ Dapperheid is ‘n eienskap waaraan jy moet werk. Josua was reeds in die Beloofde Land. Hy het geweet dat daar sewe nasies was wat verower moes word. Hy was deeglik bewus van die probleme wat hy sou moes trotseer. Dus het God gesê:
1) ‘Nee, moenie vir daardie nasies bang wees nie, want die Here jou God is by jou en Hy is ‘n groot en ontsagwekkende God’ (Deuteronomium 7:21 NLV). Die taak wat jy op die punt staan om aan te pak, lyk dalk meer soos ‘n slagveld as ‘n piekniek, maar God sal by jou wees. Hy sal jou oplossings vir die probleme en krag vir die gevegte gee.
2) ‘Die Here jou God sal daardie nasies een vir een voor jou uit verdryf…’ (Deuteronomium 7:22 NLV). God sal voor jou uitgaan en alles reël. Hy sal jou help om die regte kontakte te maak en jou van die nodige hulpbronne voorsien.
3) ‘Die Here jou God sal daardie nasies een vir een voor jou uit verdryf. Jy sal hulle nie sommer almal eensklaps kan verdryf nie…’ (vers 22 NLV). God werk aan een area op ‘n slag in ons. Die lewe is nie een groot stryd nie; dis ‘n reeks klein, daaglikse gevegte wat nodig is om die vyande wat in jou pad staan, te verslaan.
Drie-en-twintig hoofstukke later sê God steeds vir Israel om dapper te wees. Dapperheid is soos suurstof; jy kan nie daarsonder oorleef nie. Dis nie die afwesigheid van vrees nie; dis die oorwinning daarvan. Dapperheid beteken om in vrees op te tree, totdat jy jou vrees oorwin.
Sielskos: Esra 1-2; Matt 27:57-66; Ps 1; Spr 19:9-11
2026-07-22
1 Johannes 4:18 NLV
Navorsing toon dat denke wat op liefde gefokus is die norm is, terwyl denke wat op vrees gefokus is aangeleer word. Dit is egter nie nuus as jy na die Skrif kyk nie: ‘Ware liefde het nie plek vir vrees nie; volwasse liefde dryf die vrees uit…’
Die afgelope paar dekades het wetenskaplikes die anatomie en fisiologie van liefde en vrees nagevors. Dit is twee verskillende stelsels en op enige bewuste oomblik sal ons of in die een, of in die ander funksioneer. Wetenskap wys dat wanneer ons in liefde begin funksioneer, ons negatiewe, toksiese gedagtes begin afleer. Ons kan negatiewe vrees afleer – dit is nie deel van ons aangebore natuurlike funksionering nie.
Onlangse neurowetenskaplike navorsing toon dat sommige van die chemikalieë wat die brein vrystel wanneer ons in liefde funksioneer oksitosien insluit, wat letterlik die negatiewe toksiese gedagtes laat wegsmelt sodat herbedrading van nuwe, nie-toksiese stroombane kan plaasvind. Hierdie chemikalieë word ook afgeskei wanneer ons ander vertrou, met hulle verbindings aanknoop en na hulle uitreik. Dus, om te kies om in liefde te funksioneer kan letterlik die vrees uitdryf.
Navorsing toon ook dat wanneer ons goeie dinge doen en in liefde uitreik, endorfiene en serotonien vrygestel word. Dit ontgif ons breine en verhoog ons motivering en wysheid, wat ons help om die lewe meer suksesvol te hanteer. Ons sien die diepgaande gevolge van die keuse tussen liefde en vrees in die Skrif: ‘Vandag gee ek aan jou die keuse tussen lewe en dood, tussen seën en vloek… Mag jy die lewe kies…’ (Deuteronomium 30:19 NLV). Prediker 7:29 (NLV) sê: ‘…God het die mense goed en opreg gemaak, maar hulle het allerlei slimmighede gesoek.’
Die keuse is joune: wandel in vrees, of wandel in liefde.
Sielskos: Sef 1-3; Matt 27:45-56; Ps 65; Spr 19:5-8
1 John 4:18 NIV
Research showing that love mindsets are the norm while fear mindsets are learned is revolutionary for scientists. But it’s not new if you look at Scripture: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
Over the past several decades, scientists have researched the anatomy and physiology of love and fear. These are two different systems, and at any one conscious moment, we will be operating in one or the other. Science is showing us that there is a massive “unlearning” of negative toxic thoughts when we operate in love. We can unlearn negative fear – it is not part of our innate natural functioning.
Recent neuroscientific research demonstrates that some of the chemicals the brain releases when we are operating in love include oxytocin, which literally melts away the negative toxic thought clusters so that rewiring of new, non-toxic circuits can happen. This chemical also flows when we trust, bond, and reach out to others. So, choosing to operate in love can literally “drive out fear.”
Research also shows that when we do good things and reach out in love, endorphins and serotonin are also released. These detoxify our brains and increase our motivation and wisdom, helping us handle life more successfully. We see the profound consequences of choosing between love and fear in Scripture: “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NIV). In Ecclesiastes 7:29 (NLT) we are told, “God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.” The choice is yours: walk in fear or walk in love.
Soul food: Zeph 1-3; Matt 27:45-56; Ps 65; Pro 19:5-8
