2024-06-26
Psalm 80:3 KJV
When Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, he was considered a national hero and credited with discovering new lands. But do you think people changed their minds about the earth being flat? Not at all – they went right on believing the earth was flat. It was not until that generation passed on and the next one took their place that people realized the earth was round, just as Columbus had claimed. That’s how long it took for people to change their minds – an entire generation! We all resist change.
Dr. John Maxwell writes: “For many years, I thought leaders liked change and everyone else didn’t. As a visionary leader, I always felt that I was drawing reluctant followers into the future. But I finally realized that leaders don’t like change any more than followers do – unless, of course, it’s their idea!” Let’s be honest; change is hard for everyone. Novelist Mark Twain said, “The only person who likes change is a wet baby.”
Truly, change is one of the greatest obstacles you will ever face. Why is that? After all, doesn’t progress demand change? And doesn’t growth too? We can’t move forward and stay in the same place. So for the next few days, we’re going to talk about why we resist change so much. Acknowledging his own stubborn nature and his fear of change, on four different occasions David prayed, “Turn us again, O God.” That’s like praying, “Lord, I need to change, but I’m afraid to change, so make me willing to change.” And that’s a prayer God will answer for you, so start praying it today.
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Luke 2:21-33; Ps 8; Prov 16:8-11
Psalm 80:4 NLV
Toe Christopher Columbus na Spanje teruggekeer het, is hy as ‘n nasionale held geloof omdat hy nuwe lande ontdek het. Dink jy egter mense het van mening verander dat die aarde plat is? Glad nie – hulle het aanhou glo dat die aarde plat is. Eers die volgende generasie het begin aanvaar dat die aarde rond is, soos Columbus verklaar het. Dis hoe lank dit vir mense geneem het om van mening te verander – ‘n hele generasie! Ons almal staan verandering teë.
Dr John Maxwell skryf: ‘Vir baie jare het ek gedink dat leiers van verandering hou en ander mense nie. As ‘n visioenêre leier, het ek gevoel asof ek altyd onwillige volgelinge die toekoms intrek. Ek het egter uiteindelik besef dat leiers net so min soos volgelinge van veranderinge hou – tensy dit natuurlik hulle idee is!’ Verandering is vir almal moeilik. Mark Twain het gesê: ‘The only person who likes change is a wet baby.’
Verandering is waarlik een van die grootste struikelblokke waarvoor jy ooit te staan gaan kom. Hoekom? Vereis vordering, asook groei, nie immers verandering nie? Ons kan nie vorentoe beweeg en op dieselfde plek bly nie. Kom ons praat vir die volgende paar dae oor hoekom ons verandering so teenstaan. Dawid het sy eie hardkoppige aard en sy vrees vir verandering besef en op vier verskillende geleenthede gebid: ‘O God, herstel ons tog!…’ Dis ‘n gebed wat God vir jou sal beantwoord, begin dit dus vandag bid.
Sielskos: 2 Kor 11:16-13:14; Luk 2:21-33; Ps 8; Spr 16:8-11
2024-06-25
Matthew 25:21 NKJV
Your small deeds of kindness may go unnoticed by others, but God sees them. And they can reward you in ways you never dreamed possible. Take the case of Joseph. Betrayed by his brothers and lied about by his boss’s wife, he ends up sentenced to a thirteen-year prison term. If ever a person had reason to turn sour on life and God, it was him. But instead of giving in to self-pity, he focused on the needs of others.
Joseph had two prison mates: a butler and a baker who had worked in Pharaoh’s palace, fallen into disfavour, and landed in a cell next to Joseph. Note what the Bible says: “Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad” (Genesis 40:6 NKJV). Before God allowed Joseph to care for the nation of Egypt, He observed his care toward his fellow inmates. As a result, when one of them was restored to favour, he recommended Joseph to Pharaoh as a man qualified to meet his need. Compassion is important to God.
When you see a need, try to meet it. If you dream of doing big things, start by doing small things with a good attitude. Arrive on time. Complete your work early. Don’t grumble. When you’re given a task, take it on and God will reward you for it: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 2:8-20; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 16:4-7
Matteus 25:21 NLV
Jou klein dade van goedhartigheid mag dalk ongesiens deur mense verbygaan, maar God sien dit raak. Dink aan Josef. Hy is deur sy broers verraai, sy baas se vrou het oor hom gelieg en hy is tot dertien jaar tronkstraf gevonnis. As daar al ooit iemand met ‘n rede was om suur teenoor God en die lewe te wees, was dit Josef. In plaas daarvan om homself egter te bejammer, het hy daarop gefokus om aan ander mense se behoeftes te voldoen. Josef het twee vriende in die tronk gehad: ‘n skinker en ‘n bakker wat in farao se paleis gewerk het, in onguns verval en in ‘n sel langs Josef beland het. Let op wat die Bybel sê: ‘Die volgende oggend sien Josef dat die twee baie neerslagtig lyk’ (Genesis 40:6 NLV).
Voor God vir Josef toegelaat het om na die nasie van Egipte om te sien, het Hy eers gekyk hoe hy sy medegevangenes versorg. As gevolg hiervan, toe een van Josef se vriende in guns herstel is, het hy Josef by farao as ‘n man wat bekwaam was om in sy behoeftes te voorsien, aanbeveel.
Deernis is vir God belangrik. Wanneer jy ‘n behoefte waarneem, probeer om daaraan te voldoen. As jy daarvan droom om groot dinge te doen, begin om die klein dinge met die regte houding te doen. Daag betyds op. Maak jou werk vroeg klaar. Moenie kla nie. Wanneer jy ‘n taak kry om te doen en dit goed doen, sal God jou daarvoor beloon: “Die eienaar het hom geprys en gesê: ‘Uitstekend! Jy is ‘n voortreflike slaaf; een op wie ek kan staatmaak. In die kleine het jy jou betroubaar bewys. Daarom gaan ek nog baie groter verantwoordelikhede aan jou toevertrou. Kom vier saam met my fees!'” (Matteus 25:21 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kor 9:1-11:15; Luk 2:8-20; Ps 144:9-15; Spr 16:4-7
2024-06-24
Psalm 66:10 NIV
Have you tried to do right, yet things have gone wrong? When Joseph honored God by saying no to Potiphar’s wife, he landed in prison. While there he told a fellow prisoner, “I was kidnapped from my homeland… and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it” (Genesis 40:15 NLT). If that’s how you feel today, God has not turned His back on you. His plan for your life has not been derailed. “The Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind” (Jeremiah 30:24 AMPC).
You may be perplexed, but God is not. He is using every moment of this season and every element of this experience to prepare you. “They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (Psalm 105:18-19 NLT).
Do you remember how you felt about the tests you were given in school? At the time they felt like persecution but looking back you realize they were preparation. They revealed what you had learned. They qualified you to move to a higher grade. They equipped you for living in the real world. The psalmist wrote: “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:10-12 NIV). God will use people, pain, and problems to test you. Why? So that He can bring you to “a place of abundance.”
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 2:1-7; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 16:1-3
