2026-10-21
2 Samuel 7:28 NLV
Ons streef elke dag daarna om te ‘…leef deur te glo en nie deur te sien nie’ (2 Korintiërs 5:7 NLV). Dit is egter nie maklik nie. Dit verg gedagtes wat deur die Skrif deurdrenk is om ‘n geloofskeuse te maak wanneer jy ‘n situasie in die gesig staar wat onmoontlik lyk. Hoe ontwikkel jy daardie soort geloof? Vir ‘n verhouding om te floreer, moet beide partye tyd en energie belê om mekaar te leer ken. Blywende verbintenisse word op vertroue en ‘n intieme kennis van die ander persoon se gewoontes en karakter, gebaseer.
Dit is ook dieselfde met God. Met verloop van tyd, soos jy sy getrouheid ervaar, word dit makliker om jou vrees te laat vaar en dit met vertroue te vervang. Een outeur skryf: ‘Om God te leer ken, beteken om saam met Hom te wandel, tyd met sy Woord deur te bring en om sy vlekkelose karakter en die tallose voorbeelde van sy onfeilbare liefde, te leer ken. Dit beteken om te bid, te praat en al die besonderhede van jou lewe en die innerlike werking van jou hart te deel. Hy weet dit alles reeds, maar Hy geniet die intimiteit van die gesprek.
Soos enige gebalanseerde verhouding, kan ons egter nie altyd die een wees wat praat nie. Ons moet tyd maak om te luister, om voor die Here te kniel en stil te word en die geraas van ons gedagtes en die gejaag van ons emosies stil te maak.’
Onthou, die enigste plek waar vrees kan werk is in die leë ruimte waar jou geloof moet wees. Vrees word op die dinge wat jy sien en hoor gebaseer. Geloof word op die wete dat God se Woord betroubaar is en dat Hy ‘goeie dinge’ belowe aan diegene wat Hom daarvoor glo, gebaseer!
Sielskos: Jes 1-3; Joh 6:1-15; Ps 5; Spr 27:13-16
2 Samuel 7:28 NIV
We strive each day to ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). But it doesn’t come easily. It takes a mind saturated in scripture to make a faith choice when you’re staring down the barrel of a situation that seems impossible. So how do you develop that kind of faith? For a relationship to thrive, both parties must invest time and energy into getting to know one other. Lasting connections are based on trust, and an intimate knowledge of the other person’s habits and character.
And it’s the same with God. Over time, as you prove His faithfulness it becomes easier to let go of your fear and replace it with trust. One author writes: ‘Getting to know God means walking with Him, spending time in His Word, getting to know His spotless character and the countless examples of His unfailing love illustrated in His ironclad promises. It means praying, talking, sharing all the details of your life and the inner workings of your heart. He knows it all already, but He enjoys the intimacy of the conversation.
And like any balanced relationship, we can’t always be the one talking. We have to make time to listen, to come before the Lord and get quiet, by silencing the noise of our thoughts and the rush of our emotions.’
Remember, the only place fear has to work is in the empty space where your faith should be. Fear is based on what you see and hear. Faith is based on knowing that God’s Word is reliable, and that He has promised ‘good things’ to those who believe Him for them!
Soul food: Isa 1-3; John 6:1-15; Ps 5; Pro 27:13-16
2026-10-20
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races, Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr Jim Loehr, who helped him find a new balance between sport and the rest of his life and to pay more attention to the mental aspects of skating. Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that he described as ‘the toughest I’ve ever known’.
By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a 500-metre world record just two months previously, so that race seemed to be all his! Then the unimaginable happened, and he fell during the 500-metre race. Dr Loehr advised him, ‘Start preparing for the 1000-metre race. Put the 500-metre race behind you immediately. Stop reliving it. Think 1000!’
For years Jansen didn’t believe he could win that distance, as he had always considered it his weaker event. Now it was his last chance at an Olympic medal. As the race began, Jansen said, ‘I just seemed to be sailing along,’ and then he slipped and came within an inch of stepping on a lane marker. Still, he didn’t panic; he raced on and recorded a world-record time that won him the gold medal.
There’s an important lesson here for you. Put the past behind and believe that God has greater days in store for you – because He does. So the word for today is this: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’
Soul food: Exo 39-40; John 5:31-47; Ps 15; Pro 27:10-12
Jesaja 43:18-19 NLV
Nadat hy twee keer tydens die Olimpiese spoedskaatswedlope van 1988 geval het, het Dan Jansen die sportsielkundige, dr Jim Loehr, begin spreek, wat hom gehelp het om ‘n nuwe balans tussen sport en die res van sy lewe te vind en om meer aandag aan die geestelike aspekte van skaats te gee. Peter Mueller het Dan se afrigter geword en hom deur oefensessies gelei wat hy as ‘die moeilikste wat ek nog ooit moes deurmaak,’ beskryf het.
Teen die tyd dat die Olimpiese Spele van 1994 aangebreek het, het Jansen meer selfvertroue as ooit gehad. Hy het net twee maande tevore ‘n wêreldrekord oor die 500 meter opgestel, dus het almal voorspel dat hy goud in daardie wedloop sou wen. Toe gebeur die ondenkbare – hy val tydens die 500 meter-wedloop. Dr Loehr het hom aangeraai: ‘Begin nou voorberei vir die 1000 meter-wedloop. Trek onmiddellik ‘n streep deur die 500 meter-wedloop. Hou op om dit te herleef. Dink aan die 1000!’
Jare lank het Jansen nie geglo dat hy daardie afstand kon wen nie, aangesien hy dit nog altyd as sy swakker item beskou het. Nou was dit sy laaste kans op ‘n Olimpiese medalje. Toe die wedren begin, het Jansen gesê: ‘Dit het gevoel of ek goed aan die gang is, toe het ek gegly en amper uit die baan getree.’ Tog het hy nie paniekerig geraak nie; hy het aangehou en ‘n wêreldrekordtyd aangeteken wat hom die goue medalje besorg het.
Daar is ‘n belangrike les hieruit te leer. Laat die verlede met rus en glo dat God beter dae vir jou in gedagte het – want Hy het. Die woord vir vandag is dus: ‘Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het… Ek gaan iets nuuts doen. Dit het alreeds begin gebeur!’
Sielskos: Eks 39-40; Joh 5:31-47; Ps 15; Spr 27:10-12
2026-10-19
Joshua 24:15 NKJV
Joe was a carpenter who worked for a building contractor. One day, the contractor said to him, ‘Joe, I’m putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order the materials and oversee the job.’ Joe accepted the assignment with great enthusiasm. He studied the blueprints and checked every measurement and specification. Then he had a thought: ‘If I’m really in charge, why couldn’t I cut a few corners, use less expensive materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who will know? Once the house is painted, it will look great.’ So Joe ordered second-grade lumber and inexpensive concrete, put in cheap wiring, and cut every corner he could.
When the home was finished, the contractor came to see it. ‘What a fine job you have done!’ he said. ‘You have been faithful to me all these years, and I have decided to show you my gratitude by giving you this house that you just built as a gift.’ Night after night, as Joe lay in bed listening to the roof leaking and the floor creaking, the message came through loud and clear: The house you built is the house you will live in!
Are you short-changing your spouse and your family in love, time, example, and instruction? Count on it: there will come a time when you will regret what you have done and have left undone. And depending on time and opportunity, you may or may not have a chance to undo it. So make this your prayer: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’
Soul food: Exo 36-38; John 5:16-30; Ps 41; Pro 27:7-9
