2026-09-30
James 5:16 KJV
It seems that everywhere you turn today, somebody is making an excuse for his or her poor choices, performance, or behaviour, or failing to admit a weakness or shortcoming. Yet we all make mistakes. One of the best examples of admitting a mistake is found in the account of David being unjustly pursued by King Saul. David became a fugitive, and in the process unknowingly jeopardized the lives of certain priests when he asked for their help.
Ahimelech the priest gave him food and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf. Doeg, King Saul’s chief herdsman, witnessed the whole thing and squealed on the priest. Saul confronted Ahimelech, accused him of conspiring with David, and ordered Doeg to kill him and eighty-five other priests and their entire families.
“Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord, David exclaimed, ‘I knew it! When I saw Doeg… there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family'” (1 Samuel 22:20-22 NLT).
What an admission! No excuses, just an acknowledgement that he had made a terrible mistake in seeking their help. His next statement shows his commitment to not repeat the mistake and to making amends whenever possible: “Stay here with me… I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both” (1 Samuel 22:23 NLT). Humans make mistakes. They have blind spots. God is present to support our every weakness. Peace comes when we admit our shortcomings to one another.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Mark 16:1-8; Ps 68:1-18; Pro 25:13-16
2026-09-29
1 Samuel 17:30 NIV
The first person who tried to discourage David from fighting Goliath was his own brother. “Eliab… burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are… You came down only to watch the battle.’ ‘Now what have I done?’ said David. ‘Can’t I even speak?’ He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter” (1 Samuel 17:28-30 NIV).
Don’t fall into the trap of giving too much thought and consideration to a discourager. Spend your time with those who add to you, not detract from you. Even King Saul told David, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth” (v. 33 NIV). But David wasn’t concerned about how much experience Goliath had, because he knew that his God was all-powerful.
How tragic it is when we limit our faith only to what we can see. To think we are inadequate for a task is to engage in self-centeredness and focus on our own capabilities apart from God. This independent mindset shuts God out of the equation and ignores that fact that He has declared that His strength is made perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).
The name “Eliab,” David’s older brother, means “God is my father.” How ironic, because he had no confidence in God at all. So in order to experience victory, you may first have to overcome the doubts and unbelief of those closest to you.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 91; Pro 25:9-12
1 Samuel 17:30 NLV
Die eerste persoon wat Dawid probeer ontmoedig het om teen Goliat te veg, was sy eie broer. ‘Maar Dawid se oudste broer het gehoor hoe hy met die manskappe praat en het kwaad geword. ‘Hoekom het jy hierheen gekom?’ vra hy. ‘En by wie het jy daardie klompie vee in die wildernis gelos? Ek ken jou domastrantheid en vermetelheid. Jy wil net die geveg sien!’ ‘Wat het ek dan nou gedoen?’ antwoord Dawid. ‘Ek het maar net ‘n vraag gevra!’ Hy gaan toe na iemand anders toe en vra dieselfde vraag en kry dieselfde antwoord’ (1 Samuel 17:28-30 NLV).
Moenie in die strik trap om te veel aandag aan ‘n ontmoediger te gee nie. Bring jou tyd met diegene wat jou aanmoedig, nie afbreek nie, deur. Selfs koning Saul het vir Dawid gesê: ‘…Jy kan tog nie teen die Filistyn veg nie, want jy is nog maar ‘n seun, terwyl hy van jongs af ‘n vegter is!’ (vers 33 NLV). Dawid was egter nie bekommerd oor hoeveel ondervinding Goliat gehad het nie, want hy het geweet dat sy God almagtig is.
Hoe tragies is dit wanneer ons ons geloof tot slegs dit wat ons kan sien, beperk. Deur te dink dat ons onvoldoende vir ‘n taak is, raak ons selfgesentreerd en fokus ons op ons eie vermoëns, eerder as op God. Hierdie onafhanklike ingesteldheid sluit God uit en ignoreer die feit dat Hy verklaar het dat sy krag in ons swakheid tot volle verwesenliking kom (sien 2 Korintiërs 12:9-10 NLV).
Dawid se oudste broer se naam was ‘Eliab,’ wat ‘God is my vader,’ beteken. Hoe ironies, want hy het glad nie vertroue in God gehad nie. Om dus oorwinning te ervaar, moet jy dalk eers die twyfel en ongeloof van diegene naaste aan jou oorkom.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15-16; Mark 15:33-47; Ps 91; Spr 25:9-12
2026-09-28
Romans 8:28 NCV
The Bible begins with these words: “In the beginning God created the sky and the earth. The earth was empty and had no form. Darkness covered the ocean, and God’s Spirit was moving over the water. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:1-4 NCV).
Even when your life seems like a jumbled mess, you can trust the God who brought order out of chaos and light out of darkness to help your life make sense. When you believe that “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28 NKJV), it redefines the bad things that happen. The worst day of your life can turn into the best day. There’s a silver lining to every cloud, and every downside has a potential upside. When you interpret life through this prism, it gives you confidence that everything is going to be alright. It reassures you that the best is yet to come because God said, “For I know the plans I have for you… they are plans for good” (See Jeremiah 29:11 NLT).
But sometimes you have a part to play. God is setting up divine appointments, but you must keep them. God is a gift-giver, but you must fan your gift into flame. God is calling, but you must answer (See Isaiah 6:8). God is ordering your footsteps, but you must keep in step with the Spirit. If you faithfully do your part, you can count on God to do His part – which is to work on your behalf.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 13; Pro 25:4-8
Romeine 8:28 NLV
Die Bybel begin met die volgende woorde: ‘In die begin het God die ganse heelal gemaak, die hemel daarbo en die aarde hieronder. Maar die aarde was n vormlose, onbewoonbare massa, en die diep waters was toegevou in duisternis. Tog het die kragtige, skeppende Gees van God oor die oppervlakte van die water gesweef. Toe beveel God: ‘Laat daar lig wees!’ en dit was so. Die lig was vir God goed…’ (Genesis 1:1-4 NLV).
Selfs wanneer jou lewe soos ‘n deurmekaar gemors lyk, kan jy die God wat orde uit chaos en lig uit duisternis gebring het, vertrou om jou lewe weer sin te laat maak. Wanneer jy glo dat ‘…God alles ten goede laat saamwerk…’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV), herdefinieer dit die slegte dinge wat in jou lewe gebeur. Die slegste dag van jou lewe kan in die beste dag verander. Daar is ‘n silwer randjie om elke donker wolk, en elke nadeel het ‘n potensiële positiewe kant. Wanneer jy die lewe deur hierdie prisma interpreteer, gee dit jou vertroue dat alles goed gaan uitdraai. Dit verseker jou dat die beste nog voorlê, want God het gesê: ‘Ek weet wat ek vir julle beplan het… Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie…’ (Jeremia 29:11 NLV).
Jy het egter soms ‘n rol om te speel. God maak goddelike afsprake, maar jy moet hulle nakom. God gee gawes, maar jy moet jou gawe aanwakker. God roep, maar jy moet antwoord (sien Jesaja 6:8). God rig jou voetstappe, maar jy moet met die Gees tred hou. As jy getrou jou deel doen, kan jy op God staatmaak om sy deel te doen – om namens jou te werk.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 12-14; Mark 15:21-32; Ps 13; Spr 25:4-8
