2024-03-28
Proverbs 5:18 NKJV
The more history you have with your spouse, the more joy and pain you have experienced. You’re closer at times than others as the circumstances of life rise and fall. Yet if you did due diligence at the onset of the relationship, were clear about what you desired in a partner, and honestly evaluated who that person is, what will keep your union going forward is remembering what brought the two of you together in the first place. What you initially enjoyed and esteemed about this person probably hasn’t changed.
But for your relationship to continue to develop, you must work on growing closer. All relationships have growth areas that require pruning and fertilizing. If you feel your relationship isn’t what it once was, it could be that it’s developing into something different. Or it could be that you need to renew your commitment to keeping it fresh and moving forward. It may be that you must work on creating the intimacy that’s missing or enjoying the love you once had.
The fundamentals of your mate, if they were really there in the first place, aren’t likely to change. The basis of your relationship is what’s important. Focusing on that makes it much easier to go with the flow of the unavoidable ups and downs of daily living. So, do you need more time together? When you’re too busy to listen, really listen, your mate thinks you don’t care about them or you don’t value the relationship sufficiently. Think: What would you do if your car broke down? You would take the time and pay the price to fix it!
Soul food: Jer 7-9; Matt 27:20-31; Ps 38:1-12; Prov 8:22-23
2024-03-27
Matteus 6:6 NLV
Jesus het gesê: Wanneer jy bid, gaan na die stilste vertrek in die huis en maak die deur agter jou toe sodat jy daar in jou alleenheid tot jou Vader kan bid. En jou Vader wat alles weet, sal jou beloon’ (vers 6 NLV). Die Christelike lewe kan met die tabernakel in die Ou Testament, wat in drie kompartemente verdeel was, vergelyk word. Daar was die voorhof waartoe almal toegang gehad het. Jy het ook ‘n voorhof; die plek waar jy werk, inkopies doen en speel. Dit verteenwoordig jou uitwaardse voorkoms of publieke persona; die deel van jou wat almal sien.
Die tabernakel het ook ‘n innerlike kamer genaamd die Heiligdom gehad, waar meeste mense nie toegelaat is nie. Jy het ook ‘n Heiligdom wat aangewese persone soos nabye familie en vriende mag binnegaan. Jy besluit wie mag ingaan en wie nie en niemand kan hulle weg inforseer nie. Sekere mense mag beroepsgewys of finansieel gesag oor jou hê, maar dit laat hulle nie outomaties toegang toe nie. Wanneer dit by daardie binnekamer kom, besluit jy wie kom en gaan.
Die derde kompartement in die Ou Testamentiese tabernakel was die Allerheiligste, ‘n klein, versigtig bewaakte plek diep aan die binnekant. Dit kon net deur die Hoëpriester binnegegaan word en daar was net plek vir een persoon en vir God. Jy het ook so ‘n plek binne-in jou. Ons verwys soms daarna as die ‘geheime plek,’ omdat net God daar toegelaat word. Hier is ‘n waarheid wat jy moet weet: Jou vlak van vrede, vreugde, tevredenheid, leiding en oorwinning word deur die hoeveelheid tyd wat jy met God in jou geheime plek bestee, gereguleer. Prioritiseer dit, beskerm dit en bring elke dag tyd daar deur.
Sielskos: Jer 4-6; Matt 27:11-19; Ps 55:12-23; Spr 8:19-21
Matthew 6:6 NIV
Jesus said, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (v. 6 NIV). The Christian life could be compared to the Old Testament tabernacle, which was divided into three compartments. There was an outer court to which everyone had access. And you too have an outer court; the place you go to work, shop, and play. It represents your outward appearance or public persona, the part of you everyone sees.
The tabernacle also had an inner chamber called the Holy Place, where most people weren’t permitted to go. You also have a Holy Place where designated people like close friends or family can enter. You decide who comes in and who doesn’t, and no one can force their way. Certain people may have authority over you vocationally or financially, but that doesn’t automatically allow them entrance. When it comes to that inner chamber, you get to decide who comes and goes.
The third compartment in the Old Testament tabernacle was the holy of holies, a very small, carefully guarded place, deep inside. It was accessed only by the chief priest, and there was room for only one person and God. You have one of those places inside you as well. We sometimes refer to it as “the secret place” because only God is allowed in. And here is a truth you need to know: Your level of peace, joy, contentment, guidance, and victory is regulated by the amount of time you spend with God in your secret place. Prioritize it, protect it, and spend time there each day.
Soul food: Jer 4-6; Matt 27:11-19; Ps 55:12-23; Prov 8:19-21
2024-03-26
Genesis 5:24 KJV
Did the people in Scripture who “walked with God” ever stumble? They did. Did they get off track sometimes? Yes. But when their feet hit the floor every morning, their commitment was to walk with God throughout the day. They drew on His strength, endeavored to do His will, and aimed toward the goal that He had set for them.
Paul writes, “I… beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV). That means you must know the direction God is leading you in and stay in step with Him. When He acts – you act. When He pauses – you pause.
As a believer, your life shouldn’t be compartmentalized into what’s sacred and what’s secular. The Bible says, “In him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28 KJV). You can’t say, “In this situation, I’m operating under my own steam, but in that situation, I’m operating according to the Holy Spirit within me.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t come and go from your life; He is always with you!
Here is a Scripture you need to think about: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). What an awesome thought: You were created to bring pleasure to God! So, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself – and frequently – is, “Lord, are my ways pleasing to you right now?” (See Proverbs 13:5-6). When they are, you will discover that the direction He takes you in is always the right direction; His timing is always the right timing, and the results you get are always the right results.
Soul food: Jer 1-3; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 55:1-11; Prov 8:17-18
Genesis 5:24 NLV
Het die mense in die Skrif wat naby aan God geleef het, ooit gestruikel? Hulle het. Het hulle ooit die pad byster geraak? Ja. Wanneer hulle voete egter elke oggend die grond getref het, was hulle toegewyd daaraan om dwarsdeur die dag saam met God te stap. Hulle het krag uit sy krag geput, daarna gestrewe om sy wil te doen en die doelwit probeer bereik wat Hy vir hulle gestel het.
Paulus skryf: ‘…Laat julle roeping julle leefstyl bepaal’ (Efesiërs 4:1 NLV). Dit beteken dat jy moet weet in watter rigting God jou lei en in pas met Hom moet bly. Wanneer Hy optree, moet jy optree. Wanneer Hy stilstaan, moet jy stilstaan. As gelowige moet jou lewe nie in dit wat heilig en dit wat sekulêr is, gedeel wees nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Dis tog juis deur Hóm dat ons leef, beweeg en bestaan…’ (Handelinge 17:28 NLV). Jy kan nie sê: ‘In hierdie situasie beweeg ek op my eie stoom, maar in daardie situasie beweeg ek volgens die Heilige Gees binne-in my,’ nie. Die Heilige Gees kom en gaan nie in jou lewe nie; Hy is altyd by jou!
Hier is ‘n Skrifgedeelte waaroor jy moet dink: ‘U is waardig, Here ons God, om die hemelse heerlikheid en die eer en die mag te ontvang omdat U alle dinge geskape het; deur u wil is alles wat bestaan, geskape’ (Openbaring 4:11 NLV). Wat ‘n wonderlike gedagte: Jy is geskape om God te behaag! Een van die belangrikste vrae wat jy dus – gereeld – vir jouself kan afvra is: ‘Here, behaag my doen en late U?’ (sien Spreuke 13:5-6). Wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy ontdek dat die rigting waarin Hy jou neem altyd die regte rigting is; sy tydsberekening is altyd die regte tydsberekening en die resultate wat jy kry, is altyd die regte resultate.
Sielskos: Jer 1-3; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 55:1-11; Spr 8:17-18
