2026-01-17
Mark 3:25 NLT
“Lord, your Word says, ‘A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.’ Satan is attacking my family, and I’m turning to you for help. Your Word says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will [be my defence and] lift up a standard against him’ (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). Touch the hearts and minds of every member of this family, and draw them closer to you.
You said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God’ (Matthew 5:9 KJV). I commit myself to be a peacemaker in this situation, and ask you for the wisdom to know what to say and do. Deliver my family from selfishness, pride, and bitterness. Give us the sort of love that covers all sins and weaknesses (See Proverbs 10:12).
Help us to know when a disagreement is about to open a floodgate, and give us the grace to drop the matter before the clash gets out of control (See Proverbs 17:14). Your Word says that avoiding a fight is a mark of honour, and that only fools demand to quarrel (See Proverbs 20:3). Lord, put an end to the strife that is wreaking havoc in our family. I take authority over every contentious spirit.
I ask you to help my family start to pursue things that produce peace and the things we can use to edify and build one another up (See Romans 14:19). Your Word says that there is nothing too hard for you (See Jeremiah 32:17). So, I’m praying and believing for healing and restoration in my family. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Dan 3-4; Luke 3:21-38; Ps 84; Prov 2:16-19
2026-01-16
Genesis 2:22 NLV
‘Vader, toe Adam eensaam was, het U Eva gemaak en haar na hom toe gebring. Ek sukkel met eensaamheid en net soos U geweet het wat Adam nodig gehad het, so weet U ook wat ek nodig het. U het in u Woord gesê: ‘…Ek sal jou nie los nie. Ek sal jou nie in die steek laat nie’ (Hebreërs 13:5 NLV). Daar is ‘n deel van my wat nooit deur enige verhouding behalwe deur een met U, bevredig of vervul kan word nie. U het my egter ook geskep om sosiaal te wees en interaksie met ander mense nodig te hê.
Help my om enige negatiewe gedrag van my kant af te erken en gedrag wat kan veroorsaak dat mense my nie geniet en aanvaar nie, soos om krities, afgunstig, humeurig, veroordelend of onvergewensgesind wees, te stop. Gee my asseblief wysheid sodat ek sal weet hoe om gepaste woorde op die regte tyd te gebruik. Maak asseblief my ore oop om met ware begrip na hulle te luister (sien Jesaja 50:4). Help my om skaamte en die vrees vir verwerping te oorkom en om na ander uit te reik in die geloof dat U tot hulle hart kan spreek en hulle oop en ontvanklik kan maak.
Leer my hoe om hulle liefde, hulp en vrygewigheid te aanvaar. Help my om te verstaan dat ek na my verhoudings moet omsien en nie net aandag aan vriende moet gee wanneer dit vir my gerieflik is nie. Help my om ‘n betroubare vriend te wees (sien Spreuke 18:24 NLV). U weet wat ek in ‘n verhouding nodig het. U het Dawid en Jonatan, en Rut en Naomi bymekaar gebring. Daarom vra ek U om my by die regte persoon of persone te voeg. In Jesus se naam. Amen.’
Sielskos: Dan 1-2; Luk 3:11-20; Ps 81; Spr 2:11-15
Genesis 2:22 NKJV
“Father, when Adam was lonely, you made Eve and brought her to him. And just as you knew what Adam needed, I’m struggling with loneliness, and you know what I need too. You said in your Word, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). There is a part of me that can never be satisfied or fulfilled by any relationship other than you. But you also created me to be sociable and need interaction with other people.
Help me to admit and stop any negative behaviour on my part that may cause people not to enjoy and to accept me, such as being critical, envious, hot-tempered, judgmental, or unforgiving. Please give me the tongue of the learned so that I will know how to speak appropriate words in season to others. Please open my ears to listen to them with real understanding (See Isaiah 50:4). Help me to overcome shyness and the fear of rejection and to reach out to others believing that you can speak to their heart and cause them to be open and accepting.
Teach me how to accept their love, help, and generosity. Help me to understand the importance of caring for my relationships and not just paying attention to friends when it’s convenient for me. Help me to be a reliable friend (See Proverbs 18:24 NIV). You know what I need in a relationship. You put David and Jonathan together, and Ruth and Naomi together. So, I ask you to put me together with the right person or persons. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Soul food: Dan 1-2; Luke 3:11-20; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
2026-01-15
Efesiërs 6:4 AFR20
Teenoorgestelde mense trek mekaar dikwels aan, trou en moet dan hul verskille hanteer – veral wanneer hul kinders tieners word en grense begin uitdaag. Grensgeskille toets die ouers se vermoë om oor verskille te onderhandel en te besluit wat reg of verkeerd vir hul kind is. Jy laat haar doen wat sy wil… Jy dryf hom weg met jou strengheid… Sy het meer dissipline nodig… Hy het ruimte nodig om ‘n kind te wees. Beide ouers is lief vir hul kinders en wil net die beste vir hulle hê, maar hulle stem nie saam oor hoe om dit te bereik nie. In sy boek, Boundaries with Teens, gee dr John Townsend ‘n paar nuttige en praktiese voorstelle.
1) Stem saam dat jou tiener eerste kom. Bespreek julle verskille kalm, eerlik en onselfsugtig met mekaar. Die wenner moet altyd jou kind wees! Stem saam en gaan selfs kompromieë aan oor die grense wat jou tiener beskerm en sy of haar beste belange bevorder.
2) Gee aandag aan mekaar se sterkpunte. Die ouer wat byvoorbeeld beter is om te organiseer, objektief in hittige oomblikke te luister, of ‘n gekwelde tiener te kalmeer, behoort die ander een met hierdie kwessies te help.
3) Moenie van jou tiener ‘n pion maak nie. Dit is maklik om jou kind tydens konflik aan jou kant te probeer kry. Tipies reageer die ander ouer dan deur die kind met geskenke, voorregte en vryhede te bederf om hul goedkeuring terug te kry. Hierdie strategie waarborg dat almal verloor! Besluit om julle verskille uit te sorteer. As julle dit nie kan doen nie, vra hulp van ‘n wyse vriend, pastoor of berader. Jou kind se lewe en toekoms is wat saak maak – nie watter een van julle die gewildheidskompetisie wen nie!
Sielskos: Fil 1-4; Luk 3:1-10; Ps 79; Spr 2:9-10
Ephesians 6:4 CEV
Opposites often attract, marry, and then have to deal with their differences – especially when their children become teens and they run up against boundary issues. Boundary disputes test the parents’ capacity to negotiate differences in deciding what’s right or wrong for their child. You let her do whatever she wants… You’re driving him away with your strictness… She needs more discipline… He needs space to be a kid. Both parents love their children and want only the best for them, but they disagree on how to accomplish it. In his book Boundaries with Teens, Dr. John Townsend gives some helpful and practical suggestions.
(1) Agree that your teen comes first. Calmly, honestly, and selflessly discuss your differences together. The winner should always be your child! Agree, even compromise, on setting limits that protect your teen and promote his or her best interests.
(2) Defer to one another’s strengths. Each of you has areas you’re better equipped to handle. For example, whichever one is better at organizing, listening objectively in heated moments, or calming a troubled teen should help the other one with these issues.
(3) Don’t triangulate your teen. It’s easy to pull your child into conflict on your side. Typically the other parent then responds by pampering the child with gifts, privileges, and liberties in order to regain their approval. That strategy guarantees everybody loses! Agree to sort out your differences. And if you can’t, seek the help of a wise friend, pastor, or counsellor. Your child’s life and future are what matter – not which one of you wins the popularity contest!
Soul food: Phil 1-4; Luke 3:1-10; Ps 79; Prov 2:9-10
