2024-10-09
Filippense 4:13 NLV
Selfhelp boeke beweer soms dat jy jou lewe in vyf of tien eenvoudige stappe kan verander. Dit verg egter meer as dit om wesenlike en blywende veranderinge in jou lewe te maak. Eerstens vind verandering plaas deur krag uit God se krag te put. Paulus skryf: ‘Ek weet wat dit is om boomskraap te lewe, en ek weet wat dit is om oorvloed te hê. Ek het lewenservaring opgedoen vir alle omstandighede, vir wanneer ek genoeg het om te eet én wanneer ek honger is, vir oorvloed én tekort. Ek kan onder alle omstandighede regkom deur Hom wat my krag gee’ (verse 12-13 NLV).
Tweedens vind verandering deur bestendige en vasberade harde werk en moeite plaas. ‘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). Die sleutel is om te verstaan dat een slegte dag jou nie ‘n mislukking maak nie; dit hou nie vir ewig aan nie, dis net ‘n slegte dag. Nadat jy so ‘n dag gehad het, moet jy net weer die volgende dag op koers begin. Moenie tou opgooi nie. Die lewe is ‘n opeenvolging van op en af, stop en begin. Môre is ‘n splinternuwe dag. Wat nou nodig is, is om jou belofte aan jouself te vernuwe om veranderinge in jou lewe te maak en weer by die plek waar jy opgehou het, te begin. Indien nodig, vra God se vergifnis, vergewe jouself en begin weer vorentoe stap. Fokus op jou doelwit, nie op die feit dat jy van die wa afgeval het nie. Moenie daarin vasgevang raak om ander mense of jouself te blameer nie. Laat dit gaan en beweeg aan. Besef dat jy met God se krag die volgende moeilike situasie beter sal hanteer.
Sielskos: Eks 13-15; Joh 1:43-51; Ps 131; Spr 26:7-9
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Self-help books sometimes claim you can change your life in five or ten simple steps. It takes a lot more than that to make substantial and lasting changes in your life. First, change comes by drawing on a power greater than your own – God’s power. Paul writes: “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (vv. 12-13 NKJV).
Second, change comes from steady and determined hard work and effort. “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9 NKJV). The key is to understand that a bad day does not make you a failure; it doesn’t last, it’s just a bad day. After you have had one, and all of us have, you just start back on track the following day. Don’t quit. Life is a sequence of ups and downs, stops and starts. Tomorrow is a brand-new day. What’s necessary now is to revive your promise to make changes in your life and start from the place you left off. If you need to, seek God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself, and begin walking forward again. Make your goal your focus, not the fact that you fell off the wagon. Don’t get caught up blaming others or yourself. Let it go and move on. Realize that the next time you come up against a difficult situation – and you will – in God’s strength, you will handle it better.
Soul food: Exo 13-15; John 1:43-51; Ps 131; Prov 26:7-9
2024-10-08
John 6:35 NKJV
After World War II, Europe was devastated with hungry, homeless children who had been orphaned by the battles. They were put in large camps where they were given food and care. Yet they didn’t sleep well at night; they were nervous, fearful, and fidgety. The caregivers were baffled until a psychologist taught them to offer each child a piece of bread every night, not to eat, but to hold in bed. The outcome was astonishing. The children slept through the night because they realized they wouldn’t go hungry the next day. Clutching the bread gave them a sense of protection (they were safe), importance (somebody cared about them), and happiness (there will be more bread tomorrow).
Those three things were what those children needed – and they are what you need too. And all three can be found in a relationship with Jesus. When He said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,” He was saying, “I am to your soul what food is to your body.” Bread is one thing most of us have in common. It doesn’t belong only to a particular region or nation. It’s available in all shapes and sizes. In the UK, it may be scones; in South America, tortillas; in New York, bagels; and in Ethiopia, injera. In a simple statement, Jesus reminds us that He is our nourishment, everywhere, every time. So, be sure to read your Bible every day; it’s your daily bread.
Soul food: Exo 10-12; John 1:29-42; Ps 29; Prov 26:4-6
Johannes 6:35 NLV
Na die Tweede Wêreldoorlog was Europa verwoes en orals was daar honger en hawelose kinders wat wees deur die gevegte gelaat is. Hulle is in groot kampe geplaas waar hulle kos en sorg ontvang het. Tog het hulle nie rustig in die aande geslaap nie; hulle was senuweeagtig, angsbevange en woelig. Die versorgers kon dit nie verstaan nie, totdat ‘n sielkundige voorgestel het om elke aand vir elke kind ‘n stukkie brood aan te bied, nie om te eet nie, maar om in die bed vas te hou. Die uitkoms was verstommend. Die kinders het deur die nag begin slaap, omdat hulle besef het dat hulle nie die volgende dag honger sou ly nie. Deur die brood vas te hou, het hulle ‘n gevoel van beskerming (hulle is veilig), belangrikheid (iemand gee vir hulle om), en geluk (daar sal môre meer brood wees), ervaar.
Die kinders het hierdie drie dinge nodig gehad – en jy het dit ook nodig. Al drie kan in ‘n verhouding met Jesus gevind word. Toe Hy gesê het: ‘…Ek is die brood wat lewe gee. Wie na My toe kom, sal nooit weer honger word nie…,’ het Hy bedoel: ‘Ek is vir jou siel wat kos vir jou liggaam is.’ Brood is een van die dinge wat die meeste van ons in gemeen het. Dit behoort nie net aan ‘n spesifieke streek of nasie nie. Dis in alle vorms en groottes beskikbaar. In Engeland mag dit dalk botterbroodjies wees; in Suid-Amerika, tortillas; in New York, bagels; en in Ethiopië, injera. Deur middel van ‘n eenvoudige stelling het Jesus ons daaraan herinner dat Hy ons voedingskrag orals en elke keer is. Maak dus seker om jou Bybel elke dag te lees; dis jou daaglikse brood.
Sielskos: Eks 10-12; Joh 1:29-42; Ps 29; Spr 26:4-6
2024-10-07
Proverbs 18:22 NKJV
Perhaps you have heard the joke about the lady who told her friend, “I didn’t know what real happiness was until I married my husband, and now it’s too late.” Seriously, that doesn’t have to be your story. Through God’s wisdom, love, and grace, you can rebuild your marriage. To do it, you will need to learn the art of openness and allow yourself to be vulnerable, transparent, and ready to trust again. The only path to truly connect with someone is to genuinely allow that person to fully know you – your worries, struggles, lack of confidence, hopes, and dreams.
It is natural, especially after you have experienced hurt or rejection, to want to shield yourself and your heart from more pain. Doing this makes complete sense in other parts of your life, but in marriage, shutting down your soul to your spouse will definitely result in further pain.
Like property increasing in value over time, your marriage builds equity over the years. Like methodical investments into a savings account, modest deposits add up. Your shared experiences, such as the day when your child drove off to college, the company the two of you sacrificed and saved to start, the death of your parent after a lengthy battle with cancer, the birth of your children, or a surprise weeklong trip to celebrate your birthday – it all counts. These experiences come together as a beautiful canvas of intimacy that portrays your lives together. They also bring God’s blessing. “He who finds a wife [or husband] finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the Lord.”
Soul food: Exo 7-9; John 1:14-28; Ps 92; Prov 26:1-3
