2026-02-17
Spreuke 14:30 NLV
Sommige mense is te onseker van hulself om die sukses of prestasies van iemand anders te vier, of dit nou ‘n kollega, verre familielid, broer of suster, eggenoot of selfs ‘n kind is. Hulle voel dat hulle soortgelyke sukses moet behaal sodat hulle nie minderwaardig sal voel nie. As hulle wel ‘n soortgelyke persoonlike prestasie behaal het, is hulle vinnig om dit te noem. Die waarheid is dat iemand altyd meer sukses en iemand altyd minder sukses as jy sal behaal.
Dit verg daaglikse, pligsgetroue inspanning om ontevredenheid te beveg en om die vlak van sukses wat God jou mee geseën het, te geniet. Advertensies, reklameborde en selfs welmenende familie en vriende stuur die boodskap uit: ‘Jy kort iets. Koop dit, koop dat!’ Salomo het gesê: ‘Dit is baie beter om min te hê en ook respek vir die Here, as om groot rykdom te besit met die onrus daarmee saam’ (Spreuke 15:16 NLV). Hebreërs 13:5 (NLV) sê: “Hou julle lewe vry van die honger na geld. Laat wat julle het, vir julle genoeg wees. Onthou dat God die versekering gegee het: ‘Ek sal jou nie los nie. Ek sal jou nie in die steek laat nie.'”
Indien jy die behoefte voel om mee te ding wanneer iemand anders gekomplimenteer word, moet jy onmiddellik die gees van onsekerheid wat jou probeer verstrik, herken en verwerp. Begin om hierdie soort gedrag te verwerp deur op die teenoorgestelde manier te reageer. Oefen om jou onsekerheid te laat vaar en iemand anders se prestasies te geniet.
Laat jou geloof jou gedrag bepaal. Wanneer jy die Gees gehoorsaam en Hom toelaat om jou optrede te bepaal, word die vlees swakker en word uiteindelik aan die Gees se beheer onderwerp.
Sielskos: Heb 9:1-11:16; Luk 10:13-24; Ps 28; Spr 5:3-6
Proverbs 14:30 NIV
Some folks are too insecure to applaud the success or achievements of another, be it a coworker, distant relative, sibling, spouse, or even a child. They feel that they must have comparable success, so they won’t feel inferior. If they can indeed claim a similar personal achievement, then they are quick to mention it. The truth is that someone will always have more success than you do, and someone will always have less.
It takes daily, conscientious effort to fight discontentment and to enjoy whatever level of success God has blessed you with. Television commercials and highway billboards and even well-meaning family and friends send the message: “You’re lacking something. Buy this, buy that!” Solomon said, “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16 NIV). Hebrews13:5 says, “Be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you'” (NIV).
If you find yourself feeling the need to compete when a compliment is given to another, immediately recognize and renounce the spirit of insecurity that’s trying to ensnare you. Begin to reject this kind of behavior by responding in the opposite manner. Practice being secure enough to enjoy someone else’s achievements. You will have to “practice” this, because there’s a good chance that you will not “feel” secure initially. Just do it.
Allow your faith to dictate your behavior. When you obey the Spirit and allow Him to determine your actions, the flesh grows weaker and must ultimately submit to the control of the Spirit.
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Luke 10:13-24; Ps 28; Prov 5:3-6
2026-02-16
Psalm 147:3 NLV
Daar is tye wat ons almal verwerping, verraad en teleurstelling ervaar. As ons egter aan hierdie ervarings vashou, kan ons in ‘n toestand van voortdurende seer leef. Wanneer ons weier om te vergewe en aan te beweeg, plaas ons ‘n wapen in Satan se hande wat hy by elke geleentheid teen ons sal gebruik. Dit is nie wat met ons gebeur het nie, maar hoe ons daarop reageer wat saak maak. As ons toelaat dat die seer beheer oor ons gedagtes kry, kan dit ons emosionele welstand ondermyn.
Jesus wil nie hê dat ons met wonde deur die lewe moet gaan nie; Hy wil ons genees. Dit is hoekom Hy ons die kosbare beloftes in sy Woord gegee het. Ongeag hoe erg ons seergekry het, God het altyd ons volledige herstel in gedagte. ‘Ek sal jou gesond maak en jou wonde genees, sê die Here…’ (Jeremia 30:17 NLV). As jy al jare lank met onopgeloste seer worstel, voorsien God vir jou ‘n uitweg. ‘Hy genees die gebroke hart, en verbind die wonde.’
Toe Jesus op aarde was, het Hy voortdurend mense se pyn genees en hulle in hulle hartseer vertroos. Toe Hy die aarde verlaat het, het Hy ons egter nie hoog en droog agtergelaat nie. Hy het die ewige bron van vertroosting gestuur om binne-in elkeen van ons te woon – die Heilige Gees, wat ons trooster, helper en vriend is (sien Johannes 14:16).
Die seer wat jy ervaar het is werklik, maar God wil nie hê dat dit jou grootste werklikheid moet wees nie. Sy Gees is altyd by jou en sal jou nooit verlaat nie (sien Hebreërs 13:5). Jy kan in elke pynlike omstandigheid by Hom krag kry en genesing vind wanneer jy seergekry het.
Sielskos: Heb 5-8; Luk 10:1-12; Ps 5; Spr 5:1-2
Psalm 147:3 NKJV
There are times when we all experience rejection, betrayal, and disappointment. But if we hold on to those experiences, we can remain in a state of perpetual hurt. Indeed, when we refuse to forgive and move on, we place a weapon into Satan’s hands that he will use against us at every opportunity. It’s not what has happened to us, but how we respond that matters. If we allow the hurt to gain control of our thoughts, it can undermine our emotional wellbeing.
Jesus doesn’t want us to go through life carrying old wounds; He wants to heal us. This is why He gave us the precious promises in His Word. Regardless of how badly we’ve been hurt, God always has our complete restoration in mind. “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV). If you have spent years wrestling with unresolved hurt, God has provided a way out. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
When He was on earth, Jesus was constantly healing people’s pain and comforting them in their sorrow. And when He left earth, He didn’t leave us high and dry. He sent the eternal source of comfort to live inside of each of us – the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, helper, and friend (see John 14:16).
The hurts you’ve experienced are real, but God doesn’t want them to be your greatest reality. His Spirit is always with you and will never leave you (see Hebrews 13:5). And you can draw from His strength through every painful circumstance and find healing when you’ve been hurt.
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Luke 10:1-12; Ps 5; Prov 5:1-2
2026-02-15
Isaiah 64:1 NKJV
Jesus told the disciples just before He left this earth to return to heaven: “I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 KJV). As a redeemed child of God the Holy Spirit lives in you (see Ro 8:9). But this promise indicates that you can also have the Holy Spirit resting upon you and empowering you. How did the disciples respond to this promise? “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14 ESV).
Author Larry Sparks says, “For too long, the Western church has tolerated a prayer culture defined by lack of results.” Then he gives us this strategy for a divine visitation: “Review God’s promises for a Holy Spirit outpouring. Become possessed by them. And ‘tarry’ in devoted, sustained, persevering prayer until revival promises become revival realities. That’s exactly what the disciples did.”
We make the mistake of assuming that outpourings of the Holy Spirit are sovereignly fixed dates in heaven’s calendar. One of the great promises God made to us is this: “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17 ESV). As long as “all flesh” has not experienced this outpouring of God’s Spirit, we must continue to pray, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens [and] come down!” You say, “What can I do?” Do what the disciples did: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.” Begin to pray each day for a divine visitation of God’s Spirit.
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; Deut 7:9; Prov 3:3-4; Luke 16:10-12
