2025-02-24
Genesis 3:6 NKJV
Emotions have a tone that we call “feeling.” And the tone of feeling is very strong. Most of us realize how we feel. We make decisions driven by feeling. Relationships are established or damaged because of feeling. Seeing what felt good, enjoyable, and to be desired is what led Eve to disobedience. The Bible does not say she was hungry; otherwise, she would have eaten of every other tree in the garden of Eden. Emotional drama in the first woman, opened the door to emotional drama in all of us. So, it’s genetic.
And emotions require satisfaction: anger, hurt, and love want to be satisfied. If we do not rule ourselves, we live in the drama of emotions gone bad. To be a born-again Christian whose emotions have not been touched by God is an insufficient lifestyle. God must do a work in us called “transformation” (See Romans 12:1-2). Emotions must be renewed so that hate turns into love, cursing to blessing, resentment to forgiveness, anger to peace, and heaviness to praise.
Transformed by God’s Word and His Spirit, we’re released from the drama and chaos our emotions can produce. When we’re driven by our emotions, we want a “feel-good” mentality. But Eve teaches us that the feel-good mentality is a terrible motivator and leads us into trouble. Our lives must be motivated by the Holy Spirit, and His motivation is not just to create good feelings; His aim is to produce obedience. Obedience will always surpass emotion, and obedience will always satisfy in ways that emotions will never be able to.
Soul food: Exo 7-9; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 58; Prov 6:12-15
Genesis 3:6 AFR83
Emosies word ook gevoelens genoem. Gevoelens kan baie sterk wees. Die meeste van ons besef hoe ons voel. Ons maak besluite wat deur ons gevoelens aangespoor word. Verhoudings word deur gevoelens gevestig en vernietig. Deur te sien wat goed, mooi en begeerlik voel, is wat Eva tot ongehoorsaamheid gelei het. Die Bybel sê nie dat sy honger was nie; anders sou sy van enige van die ander bome in die tuin van Eden geëet het. Emosionele drama in die eerste vrou het die deur vir emosionele drama in ons almal oopgemaak. Dis dus geneties.
Emosies verg ook bevrediging: woede, seer en liefde wil bevredig word. As ons nie onsself beheer nie, lewe ons in die drama van slegte emosies. Om ‘n wedergebore Christen te wees wie se emosies nie deur God aangeraak is nie, is ‘n onvoldoende lewe. God werk in ons om ons te transformeer (sien Romeine 12:1-2). Emosies moet vernuwe word, sodat haat in liefde, vloek in seën, wrokke in vergifnis, woede in vrede en swaarmoedigheid in lof verander.
Wanneer ons deur God se Woord en sy Gees getransformeer word, word ons van die drama en chaos wat ons emosies kan veroorsaak, vrygemaak. Wanneer ons deur ons emosies aangedryf word, wil ons ‘n ‘voel-goed’ mentaliteit hê. Eva leer ons egter dat ‘n voel-goed mentaliteit ‘n baie slegte motivering is wat ons in die moeilikheid bring. Ons lewe moet deur die Heilige Gees aangespoor word en sy motivering is nie net om goeie gevoelens te skep nie; sy doel is om gehoorsaamheid te produseer. Gehoorsaamheid sal altyd emosies oortref en sal jou altyd op ‘n manier wat emosies nie kan nie, bevredig.
Sielskos: Eks 7-9; Luk 12:1-12; Ps 58; Spr 6:12-15
2025-02-23
Galatians 6:9 NLT
In life, you’re going to have all kinds of problems. So, what should you do? Persevere! No matter what’s going on in your life, the victory is in refusing to quit. Keep in mind that in the heat of your struggles, the Holy Spirit is often doing His greatest work within you. Paul writes, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character” (Romans 5:3-4 NKJV). God is not moved by circumstances, and you must not be either.
He will lead you through anything if you will just hang in there and follow Him. This means being diligent in prayer, relentless in your resolve, unwavering in faith, and determined to stand firmly on God’s Word and His promises to you. Don’t be side-tracked by how slowly things seem to be going at the moment. When you’re in the “not much seems to be happening” phase, that’s often when God is laying a strong foundation in order to build something significant in you and through you. The Lord’s work in you is preparation for the work He wants to do through you.
When life seems hard, and progress seems too slow, ask God to help you remain steadfast. He will do it. Here are two Scriptures you can stand on today: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT).
Soul food: Exo 20:4; Isa 44:6-20; Rom 1:21-25
Galasiërs 6:9 NLV
Jy sal allerhande soorte probleme in die lewe hê. Wat moet jy dus doen? Volhard! Maak nie saak wat in jou lewe aangaan nie, die oorwinning lê daarin om te weier om tou op te gooi. Hou in gedagte dat tydens die hitte van jou stryd die Heilige Gees dikwels sy grootste werk in jou doen. Paulus skryf: ‘…ons jubel selfs in ons swaarkry, want ons besef dat die swaarkry ons leer om te volhard. Op sy beurt kweek volharding betroubaarheid van karakter…’ (Romeine 5:3-4 NLV).
God sal jou deur enigiets lei as jy net sal vasbyt en Hom volg. Dit beteken om ywerig in gebed, meedoënloos in jou vasberadenheid, onwrikbaar in geloof en vasbeslote om op God se Woord en sy beloftes aan jou vas te staan, te wees. Moenie dat jou aandag deur hoe stadig dinge op die oomblik lyk asof dit gebeur, afgetrek word nie. Wanneer jy in die ‘daar gaan nie veel aan nie’ fase is, is dit dikwels wanneer God ‘n sterk fondasie lê om iets betekenisvol in jou en deur jou te doen. Die Here se werk in jou is voorbereiding vir die werk wat Hy deur jou wil doen.
Wanneer die lewe moeilik en vordering te stadig lyk, moet jy God vra om jou te help om standvastig te wees. Hy sal dit doen. Hier is twee Skrifgedeeltes waarop jy vandag kan staan: ‘Moet dus nie moeg word om goed te doen nie, want as ons nie tou opgooi nie, sal ons op die regte tyd oes’ (Galasiërs 6:9 NLV). ‘Dus, my geliefde broers en susters, staan baie vas, onbeweeglik. Gee altyd julle allerbeste vir die Here se werk, want julle weet voor die Here is alles wat julle doen die moeite werd’ (1 Korintiërs 15:58 NLV).
Sielskos: Eks 20:4; Jes 44:6-20; Rom 1:21-25
2025-02-22
Nehemiah 2:4 NIV
The rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls began with two questions the king asked Nehemiah. The first question was “What is bothering you?” (See v. 2). The second question was “What is it you want?” (v. 4 NIV). Nehemiah replied, “Send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it” (v. 5 NIV). Nehemiah knew exactly what he wanted, because a passion for it had been conceived in his spirit. He had been thinking and praying about it for quite a few months when the king asked him what he wanted.
A pastor writes: “Few things are as miraculous as the moment of human conception. A sperm penetrates an egg, and all the genetic data that determine who you will become – everything from facial features to personality traits – is encoded within that single cell. And it begins a nine-month process of gestation. The mother’s body starts producing hormones before she even knows she is pregnant. The baby’s heart starts beating on day twenty-two. At four weeks, that single cell has grown ten thousand times larger. At around day forty-two, neurons start multiplying at the astounding rate of approximately ten thousand per second. Everything from the optic nerve to the auditory cortex to the respiratory system is being formed in the womb.”
And a God-given vision is conceived the same way. It begins small and keeps growing within you until the time of delivery. That’s why the Bible says, “The vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come” (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV). So, the word for you today is – want what God wants.
Soul food: Exo 4-6; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Prov 6:9-11
