2026-06-20
Habakkuk 3:2 NKJV
The Bible likens the Christian life to a marathon. The writer of the book of Hebrews said: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV). Paul wrote to the Philippian believers: “There is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called me” (Philippians 3:13-14 NCV).
Chances are you aren’t at the starting line, nor are you at the finishing tape. You’re somewhere in the middle. When running a race, the start is always filled with such enthusiasm and energy. And the finish holds such promise as we run the final stretch and reach our goal. But the middle of the race – when we are long past the start and not sure how far away the finish might be – is what often tests us.
That’s why the prophet Habakkuk wrote: “O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!” It’s in “the midst” or the middle of the race that we need encouragement, that we need our second wind, and that we need to refocus on the prize that awaits us. Those who have run before us have passed the baton through the centuries, from generation to generation – without dropping it. What are you to do? Take the baton, run, and keep running!
Soul food: Song of Sol 1-4; Matt 21:1-17; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 16:1-3
2026-06-19
Job 33:14-15 NLV
God is die gewer van drome. ‘Maar God praat op verskillende maniere… Hy praat deur drome en visioene, in die nag wanneer mense diep slaap’ (verse 14-15 NLV). Tensy jy die res van jou lewe onvervuld en ongeïnspireerd wil leef, moet jy jou droom uit die kas haal en die stof afblaas. Dis maklik om in die ‘moets’ van die lewe vasgevang te raak – werk; om na kinders, eggenote en bejaarde ouers om te sien; die huishouding te bestuur, ens.
Jy moet egter glo dat jy jou drome kan laat herleef en glo dat jy die vermoë het om die entoesiasme wat jy eens vir die lewe gevoel het, te ontsluit. Jy moet die moed hê om die teleurstellings van die verlede in die gesig te staar en uit te pluis hoekom jy laas van die pad afgewyk het. Dan moet jy die stem in jou kop stilmaak wat sê: ‘Wie is jy om meer uit die lewe te wil hê? Jy kan dit nie doen nie; dis te laat vir jou.’
Ons gee moed op met ons drome omdat ons dink dis wat grootmense veronderstel is om te doen. Soos ons egter volwasse word, besef ons dat dit die strewe na ons drome is wat ons lewendig laat voel. Die waarheid is dat jou droom, soos Lasarus, met liefde, gebed en groot aandag, opgewek kan word (sien Johannes 11:43).
Die geheim om drome te laat herleef is om die proses daarvan te geniet, eerder as om op die uitkoms daarvan te fokus. Prestasie gaan in hierdie geval nie oor posisie, roem of finansiële vergoeding nie, maar om dit te doen wat jy liefhet. Dit is wat Jesus belowe het: ‘…Ek het gekom sodat hulle lewe kan hê, ja, om dit oorvloedig te hê’ (Johannes 10:10 NLV).
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Matt 20:29-34; Ps 139:13-24; Spr 15:31-33
Job 33:14-15 NIV
God is the giver of dreams. “For God does speak… in a dream, in a vision… when deep sleep falls on people” (vv. 14-15 NIV). Unless you want to spend the rest of your life being unfulfilled and uninspired, take your dream out of the closet and blow the dust off. It’s easy to get caught up in the “have tos” of life – working; caring for children, spouses, and aging parents; taking care of homes, etc.
But you must believe that you can resurrect your life and your dreams and believe you have the ability to tap into the enthusiasm you once felt for life. You must have the courage to face the disappointments of the past, take a good look at how you got off the path, and see where you are headed. Then you have to silence the voice in your head that says: “This is all there is. Who are you to want more from life? You can’t do it; it’s too late for you.”
We give up on our dreams because we think that’s what grownups are supposed to do. But as we mature, we realize that reaching for our dreams is what makes us feel alive. The truth is that with love, prayer, and great attention, your dream, like Lazarus, can be resurrected (see John 11:43).
The secret of recapturing dreams is to enjoy the pursuit of the dream rather than focus on the outcome. Achievement in this case is not about position, fame, or financial compensation, but about doing what you love. That’s what Jesus promised: “I am come that they might have life, and… have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV).
Soul food: Eze 46-48; Matt 20:29-34; Ps 139:13-24; Prov 15:31-33
2026-06-18
Filippense 4:8 NLV
Marcial Losada is ‘n bedryfsielkundige wat die krag van positiwiteit bestudeer. Hy argumenteer dat ons negatiewe terugvoer nodig het om te oorleef. Sonder regstellings in die middel van die proses, maak ons gedagteloos aanhoudend dieselfde foute. As jy egter wil floreer, het mens ook positiewe terugvoer nodig. Sy studies het die sogenaamde Losada-verhouding opgelewer: dit is die verhouding van positiewe terugvoer tot negatiewe terugvoer in ‘n stelsel. Dit maak nie saak of daardie stelsel ‘n kerk, ‘n gesin of jou werkplek is nie, daar moet ten minste 2.9 positiewe terugvoer vir elke negatiewe terugvoer wees.
Wat is dus jou verhouding as eggenoot, ouer, werknemer, of vriend? Negatiewe terugvoer is geneig om meer gewig te dra en langer te hou, dus moet dit uitgebalanseer word. ‘n Goeie reël is om drie komplimente vir elke klagte te gee. In plaas daarvan om na foute te soek, moet jy oefen om mense te betrap waar hulle dinge reg doen. Hier is nog ‘n paar dinge wat jy kan doen om positief te bly:
1) Memoriseer en mediteer oor die beloftes van God se Woord en anker jouself daaraan.
2) Skryf in ‘n dankbaarheidsjoernaal. Dit sal jou laat besef hoe geseënd en welgesteld jy is.
3) Kweek die gewoonte aan om ‘n hartlike briefie aan mense wat jy waardeer, te stuur. Dit sal jou net twee minute neem, maar jy kan iemand se dag, of selfs iemand se jaar, maak!
4) Vind ‘n manier om ‘oorwinnings’ met jou familie en in jou werkplek te deel. Dit het die krag om die fokus te verskuif en die kultuur te verander. Dit sal jou ook op ‘n kragtige nuwe manier aan jou kinders en jou kollegas anker.
Sielskos: Eseg 43-45; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 139:7-12; Spr 15:28-30
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Marcial Losada is an organizational psychologist who studies the power of positivity. He argues that we need a negative feedback loop to survive. Without midcourse corrections, we mindlessly make the same mistakes. But if you want to thrive, you also need a positive feedback loop. His studies have produced what is known as the Losada ratio: it’s the ratio of positive feedback to negative feedback in a system. It doesn’t matter whether that system is a church, a family, or your workplace, there needs to be at least 2.9 positive feedback’s for every one negative.
So, what’s your ratio as a spouse, a parent, a worker, a friend? Part of the reason for the disparity is that negative feedback tends to carry more weight and last longer, so it has to be counterbalanced. A pretty good rule of thumb is this: dish out three compliments for every complaint. Instead of looking for faults, train yourself to catch people doing things right. And here are a few more things you can do to stay positive.
(1) Memorize and meditate on the promises of God’s Word and anchor yourself to them.
(2) Keep a gratitude journal. It will let you know how blessed and how well-off you are.
(3) Cultivate the habit of sending a heartfelt note to people you appreciate. It’ll only take you two minutes, but you can make someone’s day, or even someone’s year!
(4) Find a way to share “wins” with your family and in your workplace. It has the power to shift the focus and shift the culture. It’ll also anchor you to your kids and to your colleagues in a powerful new way.
Soul food: Eze 43-45; Matt 20:17-28; Ps 139:7-12; Prov 15:28-30
