2024-08-25
Job 22:27 NKJV
When God makes a promise to us, we have every right to expect Him to keep it. And when we make God a promise, He has every right to expect us to keep it. “You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways” (vv. 27-28 NKJV). This Scripture could be your doorway to blessing and a key to the breakthrough you have been praying for.
Go back and revisit the promises you have made to God. Why? Because He wants you to feel confident toward Him. “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-22 NKJV). No more excuses. Accept responsibility for what you are and what you can become.
Dare to pray: “Disturb me, Lord, when my dreams come true, only because I dreamed too small. Disturb me when I arrive safely, only because I sailed too close to the shore. Disturb me when the things I have gained cause me to lose my thirst for more of you. Disturb me when I have acquired success, only to lose my desire for excellence. Disturb me when I give up too soon and settle too far short of the goals you have set for my life” (Author Unknown).
In order to go forward, you may have to go back and make things right between you and the Lord. If so, do it!
Soul food: John 10:1-18; Rev 7:13-17; Ps 23; Luke 15:1-7
Job 22:27 NLV
Wanneer God ‘n belofte aan ons maak, het ons alle reg om te verwag dat Hy sy belofte sal hou. Wanneer ons ‘n belofte aan God maak, het Hy ook alle reg om van ons te verwag om ons beloftes na te kom. ‘Jy sal tot Hom bid, en Hy sal jou hoor. Jy sal doen wat jy Hom belowe het. Wat jy besluit om te doen, sal gebeur. Dit sal lig wees op die pad voor jou’ (verse 27-28 NLV). Hierdie Skrifgedeelte kan jou deurgang tot seën en die sleutel tot die deurbraak waarvoor jy gebid het, wees.
Gaan terug en kyk weer na die beloftes wat jy aan God gemaak het. Hy wil hê dat jy selfvertroue voor Hom moet hê. ‘Geliefdes, as ons gewete ons nie veroordeel nie, het ons vrymoedigheid om na God toe te gaan. Wat ons ook al bid, kry ons van Hom omdat ons sy opdragte gehoorsaam en dié dinge in sy teenwoordigheid doen wat Hom bly maak’ (1 Johannes 3:21-22 NLV). Geen verskonings meer nie. Aanvaar verantwoordelikheid vir wie jy is en wat jy kan word.
Waag dit om die volgende te bid: ‘Verontrus my Here, wanneer my drome waar word, omdat ek te klein gedroom het. Verontrus my as ek veilig met my boot arriveer, omdat ek te na aan die kus gevaar het. Verontrus my wanneer die dinge wat ek gekry het, veroorsaak dat ek my dors na U verloor. Verontrus my wanneer ek sukses behaal, net om my begeerte na uitnemendheid te verloor. Verontrus my wanneer ek te gou tou opgooi en te ver te kort kom aan die doelwitte wat U vir my lewe gestel het’ (Skrywer Onbekend).
Om vorentoe te beweeg, sal jy dalk moet teruggaan om dinge tussen jou en die Here reg te maak. As dit die geval is, doen dit!
Sielskos: Joh 10:1-18; Op 7:13-17; Ps 23; Luk 15:1-7
2024-08-24
Isaiah 43:19 NKJV
Don’t allow the pain of your past to blur your vision and steal the blessing God has in store for you in the future. God says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing” (vv. 18-19 NKJV). If you have been wounded by old relationships, God has new ones waiting for you. “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons'” (1 Samuel 16:1 NKJV).
Grieving your losses is healthy. But when you get stuck in the past, it’s always at the expense of the future. There comes a time when you must stop talking about what cannot be changed. Plus, if you keep treating your friends to a history lesson, you will lose them, because your words are creating a climate that’s uncomfortable for them to be in. God’s solution to pain is purpose. God’s solution to old wounds is a commitment to walk in love.
C. M. Parkes said, “Grief is… the price we pay for love.” Those we love most can hurt us most. “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him… ‘seventy times seven'” (Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV). To recover your peace and joy, you must forgive and keep on forgiving until the past loses its hold on you. When that happens, it’s a new day for you!
Soul food: 2 Chr 19-21; Luke 16:19-31; Ps 119:113-120; Prov 22:1-3
Jesaja 43:19 NLV
Moenie toelaat dat die pyn van jou verlede jou visie vertroebel en die seën wat God vir jou in die toekoms het, steel nie. God sê: ‘Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het. Dis niks in vergelyking met wat Ek nog gaan doen nie. Ek gaan iets nuuts doen…’ (verse 18-19 NLV). As jy al ooit deur ou verhoudings seergemaak is, het God nuwes wat vir jou wag. ‘Die Here het weer met Samuel gepraat: ‘Jy het nou lank genoeg oor Saul getreur vandat Ek besluit het dat hy nie langer koning van Israel moet wees nie. Maak ‘n horing vol olie en gaan na Betlehem toe. Daar moet jy ‘n man met die naam Isai soek. Ek het besluit dat een van sy seuns die nuwe koning sal wees’ (1 Samuel 16:1 NLV).
Dis gesond om oor jou verliese te rou. Wanneer jy egter in die verlede vasgevang is, is dit altyd ten koste van die toekoms. Daar kom ‘n tyd wat jy moet ophou praat oor dit wat nie verander kan word nie. God se oplossing vir pyn is doelgerigtheid. God se oplossing vir ou wonde is ‘n verbintenis om in liefde te wandel.
C.M. Parkes het gesê: ‘Om te rou is die prys wat ons vir liefde betaal.’Diegene vir wie ons die liefste is, kan ons die seerste maak. ‘Daarop kom vra Petrus Hom: ‘Here, hoeveel maal moet ek ‘n medegelowige vergewe wat iets verkeerds teen my gedoen het? Selfs tot sewe maal toe?’ ‘Nee,’ verseker Jesus hom, ‘…tot sewentig maal sewe toe!’ (Matteus 18:21-22 NLV). Om jou vrede en vreugde terug te kry, moet jy vergewe en aanhou vergewe totdat die verlede sy houvas op jou verloor. Wanneer dit gebeur, is dit ‘n nuwe dag vir jou!
Sielskos: 2 Kro 19-21; Luk 16:19-31; Ps 119:113-120; Spr 22:1-3
2024-08-23
Acts 9:10 NIV
Why did God use Ananias to lead Saul of Tarsus to Christ? Because he was the right man, in the right place, at the right time, with the right message, and the right attitude. “In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered. The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying…Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul'” (vv. 10-11, 17 NIV).
So here is the question: If God needed you to do something for Him, would you be ready? Would you be willing? This was not an easy assignment because Saul was notorious for imprisoning Christians and putting them to death. But when God told Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles” (v. 15 NIV), he trusted God and went. Note the words “placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul.'”
Ananias had every right to fear Saul and even resent him. Yet he called him “brother.” Ananias acknowledged an old foe as now being part of God’s redeemed family. And you must learn to do that too. When God calls someone His child, you must love them, accept them, and treat them as your brother or sister in Christ. So, let’s go back to the question: If God needed you to do something for Him today, would you be ready? You can be. And you need to be.
Soul food: 2 Chr 16-18; Luke 16:1-18; Ps 119:105-112; Prov 21:28-31
