2024-10-02
James 4:2 NIV
Many of our failures result from our failure to pray. As we examine our mistakes, we discover a forsaken prayer altar and an unopened Bible. James bottom-lines it: “You do not have because you do not ask God.” One Christian leader writes: “As a burned-out, frustrated young Christian, I realized one day that living in my own strength was useless. I needed to take my problems to God. In other words, I needed to pray more!” Found in Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us, “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you” (AMPC).
Sometimes it’s only when we reach the end of our rope that we turn to God in prayer. And even then, when our prayers are not instantly answered, we give up. Over and over in Scripture, we are told to “wait on God.” Why? Because while we’re waiting, God is working. Sometimes He is working on the thing we have asked Him for; other times He is working on us. In such times He may be correcting our desires and attitudes or directing us toward His will.
Don’t just pray; pray persistently. Don’t stress out trying to make things happen on your own. Give it all to God as you pray. Remember, He has promised that when you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him (See Jeremiah 29:13). So, put your heart into your praying, wait quietly in God’s presence, and let Him speak to you. You will be delightfully surprised at how He answers your prayers.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Luke 24:36-44; Ps 60; Prov 25:21-22
2024-10-01
2 Corinthians 10:5 AMPC
Your mind is the battlefield where victory or defeat is decided. That’s why Paul writes, “We lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.” You have a choice: Either you lead your thoughts, or your thoughts will lead you. Either you take your thoughts captive, or your thoughts will take you captive.
Where do thoughts come from? Everywhere. If you spend quality time with God each day in prayer and the Scriptures, your thoughts will be guided by God. If not, your thoughts will be guided by the world around you. You don’t have to accept every thought that comes into your head. Instead, you should measure each thought against the standard of Scripture, which calls for obedience to Christ.
Here is a practical example: If someone hurts your feelings, make a decision right then and there that you won’t be upset with them for days on end. That only gives Satan the opportunity to plant seeds of bitterness (See 2 Corinthians 2:11). Instead, you can reject negative thinking and refuse to let it drain you of your peace and joy. The same is true when you are tempted. The best way to conquer a wrong thought is to replace it with a right one.
As you renew your mind with God’s Word each day, your thinking will change and begin to line up with Scripture. Then, day by day, godly boundaries around your thoughts will be established and reinforced. These limits will not only keep you out of deception and defeat but help you to live a more enjoyable, godly life.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Luke 24:25-35; Ps 68:19-35; Prov 25:17-20
2 Korintiërs 10:5 NLV
Jou gedagtes is ‘n slagveld waar oorwinning of nederlaag bepaal word. Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘…Ons neem ook elke gedagte gevange om dit aan Christus gehoorsaam te maak.’ Jy het ‘n keuse: Óf jy lei jou gedagtes, óf jou gedagtes lei jou. Jy neem óf jou gedagtes gevange, óf jou gedagtes neem jou gevange
Waar kom gedagtes vandaan? Van oral rondom jou af. As jy elke dag kwaliteittyd in gebed en deur die Skrif met God bestee, sal jou gedagtes deur God gerig word. Indien nie, sal jou gedagtes deur die wêreld rondom jou gerig word. Jy hoef nie elke gedagte wat in jou kop opkom te aanvaar nie. Jy moet eerder elke gedagte teen die standaard van die Skrif meet, wat gehoorsaamheid aan Christus vra.
Hier is ‘n praktiese voorbeeld daarvan: As iemand jou gevoelens seermaak, maak daar en dan ‘n besluit dat jy nie vir dae aaneen oor daardie persoon ontsteld gaan wees nie. Dit gaan Satan net die geleentheid gee om sade van bitterheid te plant (sien 2 Korintiërs 2:11). Jy kan eerder negatiewe denke verwerp en weier om dit toe te laat om jou vreugde en vrede te steel. Dieselfde is waar wanneer jy versoek word. Die beste manier om ‘n verkeerde gedagte te oorwin, is om dit met ‘n regte gedagte te vervang.
Soos jy elke dag jou gedagtes met God se Woord vernuwe, sal jou denke begin verander en in lyn met die Skrif begin beweeg. Dag na dag sal goddelikke grense dan rondom jou gedagtes gevestig en versterk word. Hierdie grense sal jou nie net van bedrog en nederlaag weerhou nie, maar jou help om ‘n aangenamer, godvrugtige lewe te lei.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 12-14; Luk 24:25-35; Ps 68:19-35; Spr 25:17-20
2024-09-30
2 Corinthians 3:5 NKJV
In the Bible, when God calls someone to do something, you will notice they don’t jump up and say, “No problem, I’m ready.” In story after story, they tell God why they can’t do it. Consider the following list of people. Moses: “I have never been eloquent… I am slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10 NIV). Gideon: “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (Judges 6:15 NIV). Abraham: “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? (Genesis 17:17 NIV). Jeremiah: “Alas, Sovereign Lord… I am too young” (Jeremiah 1:6 NIV). Isaiah: “Woe to me!… For I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5 NIV). Esther: “All… know that for any man or woman who approaches the king…without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death” (Esther 4:11 NIV). Rich young ruler: “He went away sad, because he had great wealth” (Matthew 19:22 NIV). Saul: “The Lord said, ‘See, he has hidden himself among the baggage'” (1 Samuel 10:22 NRSV). (This occurred when Samuel was proclaiming Saul as king, and the people couldn’t find him and asked the Lord where he was.)
What a list of excuses: too inarticulate, too weak, too old, too young, too sinful, too dangerous, too rich, too hesitant – yet God used every one of them to fulfill His purposes. And Paul tells us why: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.” Today, depend on God.
Soul food: 1 Cor 10-11; Luke 24:13-24; Ps 68:1-18; Prov 25:13-16
2 Korintiërs 3:5 NLV
Wanneer God iemand in die Bybel roep om iets te doen, sal jy oplet dat hulle nie opspring en sê: ‘Geen probleem, ek is gereed,’ nie. Keer op keer vertel hulle vir God hoekom hulle dit nie kan doen nie. Kyk na die volgende lys mense. Moses: ‘…Ek was nog nooit iemand wat goed kon praat nie. Selfs waar U nou hier met my praat, haak my tong vas’ (Eksodus 4:10 NLV). Gideon: ‘…hoe kan ek Israel red? My familie is een van die swakstes in Manasse. Ek is die onbelangrikste lid van my gesin’ (Rigters 6:15 NLV). Abraham: ‘…Hoe kan ek op 100 jaar pa word?..’ (Genesis 17:17 NLV). Jeremia: ‘…ek kan nie goed praat nie. Ek is ook te jonk!’ (Jeremia 1:6 NLV). Jesaja: ‘…Ellende het my getref! Want ek is ‘n sondige mens…’ (Jesaja 6:5 NLV). Ester: ‘[Almal]… weet dat enige man of vrou wat na die koning toe gaan as hulle nie ontbied is nie, net daar doodgemaak word…’ (Ester 4:11 NLV). Die ryk jong man: ‘…hy [het] geskok weggegaan, want hy het baie besittings gehad’ (Matteus 19:22 NLV). Saul: ‘…Toe antwoord die Here: ‘Hy kruip weg agter die mense se reisgoed” (1 Samuel 10:22 NLV). (Dit het gebeur toe Samuel vir Saul as koning aangewys het, maar die mense hom nie kon kry nie en vir die Here gevra het waar hy is.)
Wat ‘n groot lys verskonings: praat te sleg, te swak, te oud, te jonk, te sondig, te gevaarlik, te ryk, te huiwerig – tog het God elkeen van hulle gebruik om sy doelwitte te vervul. Paulus sê vir ons hoekom: ‘Nie dat ons op eie houtjie iets kan bedink asof dit ons eie breinkind is nie. Ons bekwaamheid kom van God’. Maak vandag op God staat.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 10-11; Luk 24:13-24; Ps 68:1-18; Spr 25:13-16
