2025-03-28
Psalm 44:8 NKJV
After sharing great truths and insights with us, the psalmist often uses the word “Selah.” It means “pause and reflect.” For years people have said that experience is the best teacher. But the truth is, evaluated experience is the best teacher! Stopping to reflect is one of the most important activities you can do in order to grow. It provides a superior value than motivation or encouragement because it lets you make sure you’re going down the right road. After all, if you’re on the wrong track, you don’t need motivation to move faster. You need to pause, reflect, and change course.
In describing the end times, the Bible says, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4 NKJV). You will note that it says “knowledge” will increase, which is information, facts, and data, but it doesn’t say understanding will increase. With a sharp intellect and a good memory, you can retain lots of knowledge. But in order to have understanding, you must take the time to drill down and understand what you’re seeing and hearing. Galileo said, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered. The point is to discover them. That takes investigation.”
By pausing and reflecting, you can sort through the experiences you have, put them into perspective, and glean from them the wisdom required to have a better future. These are often referred to as “aha” moments, when you experience sudden understanding or insight. It’s when the proverbial light bulb switches on. Only a few things in life are better than moments like that. But these moments only come to those who take the time and effort to pause and reflect.
Soul food: Lev 1-4; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 31; Prov 8:34-36
2025-03-27
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
In 1982, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to take the life of President Ronald Reagan by shooting him with a handgun. Reagan’s daughter, Patti, later recounted what she learned from her father when he was in hospital: “My father said he knew his physical healing was directly dependent on his ability to forgive John Hinckley… It showed me that forgiveness is the key to everything… He gave me an example of Christ-like thinking.”
Sometimes the wounds that others inflict on us are unintentional, and other times they are deliberate. But in both cases the Scriptures give us a clear standard concerning the wrongs we experience. You are to forgive those who hurt you, “even as God in Christ forgave you.” That’s a high standard, but it’s one that brings healing for our deepest wounds.
Sometimes we dispense forgiveness like a soft drink from a vending machine – mechanically, and with no feelings attached. But the Bible says two attitudes should accompany forgiveness: kindness, which is expressed in our actions, and tenderheartedness, which is expressed in our attitudes. Why? Because that’s the way God forgives us. Throughout Scripture we find emotions such as kindness, gentleness, compassion, and tenderness – in word or by action – ascribed to God. We also find examples of it in the lives of those God used to fulfill His plans and purposes. Joseph was one of them, when he forgave his brothers who betrayed him. And He calls on us to do the same. This kind of forgiveness is as much an act of the heart as it is an act of the will.
Soul food: 2 Thes 1-3; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 18:30-50; Prov 8:32-33
Efesiërs 4:32 NLV
In 1982 het John Hinckley Jnr die lewe van president Ronald Reagan probeer neem deur hom met ‘n geweer te skiet. Reagan se dogter, Patti, het later vertel wat sy by haar pa geleer het terwyl hy in die hospitaal was: ‘My pa het gesê hy weet dat sy fisiese genesing direk afhanklik is van sy vermoë om John Hinckley te vergewe. Dit het my gewys dat vergifnis die sleutel tot alles is. Hy het my ‘n voorbeeld van hoe om soos Christus te dink, gegee.’
Soms is die wonde wat ander ons toedien onbedoeld en ander kere is dit doelbewus. In beide gevalle gee die Skrif ons egter ‘n duidelike standaard oor hoe ons moet reageer. Jy moet diegene wat jou seermaak vergewe, ‘soos God julle vergewe het op grond van wat Christus gedoen het.’ Dis ‘n hoë standaard, maar dis een wat genesing vir ons diepste wonde bring.
Soms deel ons vergifnis soos ‘n outomaat uit – meganies en sonder enige gevoelens. Die Bybel sê egter dat twee dinge met ons vergifnis moet gepaardgaan: vriendelikheid, wat deur ons aksies uitgedruk word en omgee, wat deur ons houding uitgedruk word. Hoekom? Omdat dit die manier is hoe God ons vergewe. Deur die Skrif vind ons dat emosies soos vriendelikheid, sagmoedigheid, medelye en deernis – in woorde of deur aksie – aan God toegeskryf word. Ons vind ook voorbeelde daarvan in die lewe van die mense wat God gebruik om sy planne en doelwitte te vervul. Josef was een van hulle, toe hy sy broers wat hom verraai het vergewe het. God roep ons om dieselfde te doen. Hierdie tipe vergifnis is net soveel ‘n daad van die hart as wat dit ‘n daad van die wil is.
Sielskos: 2 Tess 1-3; Luk 20:9-19; Ps 18:30-50; Spr 8:32-33
2025-03-26
Proverbs 19:2 NLT
If you are impulsive, you tend to lack discipline. You can be thoughtless, or insensitive to others, or driven by appetite. You may have a hard time with delayed gratification. You have a low frustration tolerance. You get bored easily. You can fly off the handle. If this describes you, here are six principles you should try to incorporate into your life:
(1) Ask counsel from wise friends before plunging forward with an idea. “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15 NKJV).
(2) Cultivate friendships with people who are not only wise but strong enough to hold you accountable. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed” (James 5:16 KJV).
(3) Spend time praying about a potential open door before assuming that your intuition is a divine command. “He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way” (Psalm 25:8-9 NLT).
(4) Study and read about an area of need before you commit yourself to action. “Only simpletons believe everything they’re told! The prudent carefully consider their steps” (Proverbs 14:15 NLT).
(5) When you come to the end of a season of activity, spend some time in reflection so that you can become a wiser person before you go on to the next thing. “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT).
(6) Make a commitment and stick with it, even when the next impulse, which looks so much more fun, comes along.
Soul food: Est 5-10; Luke 20:1-8; Ps 18:1-29; Prov 26:24-27
Spreuke 19:2 NLV
As jy impulsief is, neig jy om ‘n tekort aan dissipline te hê. Jy kan onnadenkend of onsensitief teenoor ander wees. Jy mag dit dalk moeilik vind wanneer jy nie onmiddellike bevrediging kry nie. Jy het ‘n lae verdraagsaamheid teenoor frustrasie. Jy raak maklik verveeld. Jy kan vinnig op jou perdjie spring. Indien dit jou beskryf, is hier ses beginsels wat jy in jou lewe moet probeer inkorporeer:
1) Vra raad by wyse vriende voor jy met ‘n idee voortgaan. “‘n Mens met insig kry steeds meer kennis. Wyse mense hou altyd hulle ore oop vir nog meer kennis” (Spreuke 18:15 NLV).
2) Bou vriendskappe met mense wat nie net wys is nie, maar ook sterk genoeg is om jou verantwoordbaar te hou. ‘Daarom moet julle julle sondes teenoor mekaar bely en vir mekaar bid sodat julle gesond kan word…’ (Jakobus 5:16 NLV).
3) Neem tyd om oor ‘n potensiële oop deur te bid, moenie aanneem dat jou intuïsie ‘n goddelike opdrag is nie. ‘…Hy wys vir sondaars die regte pad. Hy lei die nederiges op die regte weg, en vir dié wat beskeie is, leer Hy sy pad’ (Psalm 25:8-9 NLV).
4) Bestudeer en lees op oor ‘n area voordat jy tot aksie oorgaan. “‘n Dwaas glo alles wat hy hoor. ‘n Verstandige mens oorweeg elke tree wat hy gee” (Spreuke 14:15 NLV).
5) Wanneer jy aan die einde van ‘n seisoen van aktiwiteit kom, neem tyd om daaroor te reflekteer, sodat jy ‘n wyser persoon kan word voor jy na die volgende ding aanbeweeg. ‘Getroue werk lewer wins op. Afskeepwerk lei tot gebrek’ (Spreuke 21:5 NLV).
6) Wy jouself aan iets toe en hou daarby, selfs wanneer die volgende impuls, wat soveel lekkerder lyk, verbykom.
Sielskos: Est 5-10; Luk 20:1-8; Ps 18:1-29; Spr 26:24-27
