2025-04-17
John 4:4 NKJV
The Bible says that Jesus “left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria” (vv. 3-4 NKJV). In case you may not be aware of it, Samaria was not on the way to Galilee. Actually, it was miles out of the way. Yet, the Bible says Jesus “needed to go.” Think about it: It was a long journey, and He was on foot. It was hot. As a Jew, He wouldn’t be welcomed there because of a long-standing animosity between Jews and Samaritans. As for the woman at the well that He went to meet, women in that culture were forbidden to talk to men outside of their own family. Furthermore, this woman was the talk of the town because she had been through five divorces.
So, why did Jesus feel like He “needed to go”? Because He saw this woman as a diamond in the rough. While those around her talked about her past and her problems, Jesus saw her potential for His kingdom. “Many of the Samaritans… believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified” (v. 39 NKJV).
To reach Galilee on God’s schedule, Jesus had to throw man’s schedule out the window. But the schedule didn’t control Him. What did? The will of God and the unmet needs of hurting people. And He was willing to go out of His way, turn tradition on its head, and break new ground in order to do it. How about you? Can God interrupt your plans? If He can, then He can use you. Pray, “Lord, show me what I must do today in order to please you.”
Soul food: Jam 3-5; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 7:10-17; Deut 21:22-23
2025-04-16
Jesaja 42:16 NLV
Soos die wet van vereiste verskeidenheid getuig, vereis die voortbestaan van enige sisteem die vermoë om verskeidenheid in sy interne strukture te kweek. In fisiese oefening, byvoorbeeld, word roetines uiteindelik nutteloos. As jy elke keer op dieselfde manier oefen, begin jou spiere aanpas en ophou ontwikkel. Jy moet jou roetine verander.
Dit is ook geestelik waar. Een skrywer merk op: ‘Nege uit die tien keer wanneer ek ‘n geestelike insinking beleef, het iets heiligs roetine geword. Ek is seker dit verskil volgens persoonlikheid, maar een van die maniere waarop ek uit ‘n geestelike insinking ontsnap, is deur my roetine te verander en met geestelike dissiplines te begin eksperimenteer. Soms is al wat nodig is ‘n klein verandering in roetine. Gaan wees ‘n vrywilliger by ‘n plaaslike hawelose skuiling. Begin om ‘n dankbaarheidsjoernaal te hou. Raak by ‘n selgroep of Bybelstudiegroep betrokke. Neem ‘n dag af en neem introspeksie. Of staan net ‘n bietjie vroeër in die oggend op en bestee ‘n bietjie ekstra tyd saam met God. Een van die klein veranderinge in roetine wat my gehelp het om my geestelike lewe te verryk, is om ‘n nuwe vertaling van die Skrif te begin lees. Nuwe woorde help my om nuwe gedagtes te dink.’
Om geestelik te groei, het jy konsekwentheid, struktuur en dissipline nodig. Wanneer jy egter deur ‘n geestelike droogte gaan, probeer om jou geestelike roetine te verander. In plaas daarvan om dinge te doen soos jy dit nog altyd gedoen het, probeer dinge anders doen. ‘…Ek lei hulle op paaie wat vir hulle onbekend is…’ God verander nie, maar Hy beweeg! Om te kom waarheen God jou wil neem, moet jy bereid wees om saam met Hom te beweeg.
Sielskos: Jak 1-2; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Spr 10:16
Isaiah 42:16 NKJV
As attested by the law of requisite variety, the continued existence of any system requires the ability to cultivate variety in its internal structures. In physical exercise, for example, routines eventually become useless. If you exercise the same way each time you work out, your muscles begin adapting and stop developing. You have to change your routine. You have to disorient them.
This is true spiritually. One author writes: “When I’m in a spiritual slump, nine times out of ten, something sacred has become routine. I’m sure it differs by personality, but one of the ways I snap out of a spiritual slump is by disturbing my routine and experimenting with spiritual disciplines. Sometimes all it takes is a small change in routine. Volunteer at a local homeless shelter. Start keeping a gratitude journal. Get plugged into a small group or Bible study. Take a day off and do a personal retreat. Or just get up a little earlier in the morning and spend a little extra time with God. One of the small changes in routine that has helped me rejuvenate my devotional times is picking up a new translation of Scripture. New words help me think new thoughts.”
In order to grow spiritually, you need consistency, structure, and discipline. But when you go through a spiritual dry spell, try changing your spiritual routine. Instead of doing things the way you have always done them, try doing things differently. “I will lead them in paths they have not known.” God doesn’t change, but He moves! And in order to get to where God wants to take you, you must be willing to move with Him.
Soul food: Jam 1-2; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 7:1-9; Prov 10:16
2025-04-15
Eksodus 14:15 AFR83
As jy wil groei, moet jy die vrees om foute te maak, oorkom. Soos die skrywer en professor Warren Bennis dit stel: “‘n Fout is eenvoudig ‘n ander manier om iets te doen.” Verwag dus om foute te maak en aanvaar dit as ‘n teken dat jy in die regte rigting beweeg. Met die Rietsee voor hulle en farao se oorlogswaens agter hulle, het die kinders van Israel begin paniekerig raak. “Toe het die Here vir Moses gesê: ‘Waarom roep julle so benoud na My? Sê vir die Israeliete hulle moet verder trek'” (vers 15 AFR83). Toe hulle dit doen, het die Rietsee ‘n pad na oorwinning en ‘n begraafplaas vir die vyand wat hulle gevrees het, geword.
As jy eers die ‘beste pad’ of die ‘perfekte pad’ wil vind, sal jy nooit êrens kom nie. Dis soos om op ‘n onbekende pad in die nag te bestuur. Die ideaal is dat jy jou hele roete sal wil sien voordat jy wegtrek. Jy sien dit egter net bietjie vir bietjie. Soos jy vorentoe beweeg, word meer van die pad aan jou geopenbaar. As jy dus meer van die pad wil sien, moet jy begin beweeg.
Maak ‘n verbintenis met jouself om met jou groeiplan te begin en vir ten minste twaalf maande daarby te hou. As jy dit doen, sal jy ‘n liefde vir die proses ontwikkel en aan die einde van die jaar sal jy kan sien hoe ver jy gevorder het. ‘Maak jou woning groter. Span jou tent wyer, en moenie huiwer nie. Maak die tentlyne langer en slaan die penne dieper in. Want jy sal na links en regs uitbrei…’ (Jesaja 54:2-3 NLV).
Sielskos: Dan 11-12; Luk 22:63-71; Ps 16; Spr 10:15
Exodus 14:15 NKJV
If you want to grow, you need to get over any fear you may have of making mistakes. As author and professor Warren Bennis states, “A mistake is simply another way of doing things.” So, expect to make mistakes along the way, and embrace them as a sign that you are going in the right direction. With the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s chariots behind them, the children of Israel panicked. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward'” (v. 15 NKJV). When they did, the Red Sea became a pathway to victory and a burial ground for the enemy they feared.
If you have to find “the best way” or “the perfect way,” you will never get anywhere. It’s like driving on an unknown road at night. Ideally, you would like to see your entire route before you start out. Instead, you see it little by little. As you keep going, a little more of the road is revealed to you. So, if you want to see more of the way, get moving.
Make a commitment to yourself to start on your growth plan and keep at it for at least twelve months. If you do, you will develop a love for the process, and at the end of the year, you will be able to see how far you have come. “Enlarge the place of your tent… stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left” (Isaiah 54:2-3 NKJV).
Soul food: Dan 11-12; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 16; Prov 10:15
