2026-07-08
Colossians 1:13 NLT
Jimmy Wayne never knew his father, and his mother spent more time in prison than out. When Jimmy was twelve, his mother was released from jail and took up with a troublemaker. They loaded him into the back seat of their car, and for a year that was his home. Then one day, they dumped him at a Pensacola, Florida, bus station and drove off. He had no home, no future, and no provision.
While wandering through a neighbourhood, he spotted an older man at work in a garage woodshop. He approached the elderly gentleman and asked if he had any work. Not only did he give Jimmy Wayne a job, but he also took him in to live with him and his wife. Having a home to live in was like heaven to Jimmy. Still, in spite of their kindness, he refused to unpack his bag. For four days, his plastic bag sat on the floor, full of clothes, ready if the husband and wife changed their minds. It took several days, a dozen or so meals, and more than one heart-to-heart conversation. But they finally persuaded Jimmy to trust them to care for him.
Perhaps you question your place in God’s family or His love for you. What if He changes His mind? God answered that question at the cross. When Jesus died, the heavenly vote was forever cast in your favour. “He has rescued [you] from the kingdom of darkness and transferred [you] into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” P.S.: What happened to Jimmy Wayne? He took his place in the family, got an education, and became a country music singer and songwriter.
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; Matt 25:14-30; Ps 137; Pro 17:22-23
2026-07-07
Psalm 56:10 NLV
Iemand het een keer gevra hoe hy George Washington onder diegene wat by die Kongres teenwoordig was, sou kon herken. Hy is meegedeel: ‘Jy kan hom maklik onderskei wanneer die Kongres bid. Washington is die enigste een wat kniel.’ Washington was bekend as ‘n man wat gebid het. Toe die lot van Amerika by Valley Forge in die weegskaal gehang het, het hy gereeld rus en verligting in gebed gevind.
Eendag het ‘n boer wat verby Washington se militêre kamp op pad was, ‘n ernstige stem gehoor. Toe hy nader kom, het hy Washington op sy knieë gesien, sy wange nat van die trane. Die boer het teruggekeer huis toe en vir sy vrou gesê: ‘George Washington sal die geveg wen en die Amerikaners se onafhanklikheid verseker.’ Sy vrou het gevra: ‘Isak, wat laat jou so dink?’ Hy het geantwoord: ‘Ek het hom vandag in die bos hoor bid en die Here sal sekerlik sy gebed verhoor. Hy sal, Hannah, wees verseker, Hy sal!’
Wanneer ons minder het, is ons meer bewus van ons behoefte en bid ons meer. Soos ons egter meer verkry en bereik, word ons meer selfonderhoudend en bid ons minder. Dis ‘n fout. Hoe meer God aan jou toevertrou, hoe meer het jy sy krag, sy wysheid, sy leiding en sy genade nodig. Dawid het op ‘n troon gesit en oor Israel geregeer. Was hy trots of arrogant? Nee. ‘Die dag dat ek U roep om hulp, val my vyande terug. Omdat God aan my kant is, weet ek dit beslis… in God stel ek my vertroue. Daarom sal ek nie bang wees nie!..’ (verse 10, 12 NLV).
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: meer verantwoordelikheid verg meer gebed.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 7:18-11:27; Matt 25:1-13; Ps 122; Spr 17:18-21
Psalm 56:9 NKJV
In the early days of America, a stranger asked how he might identify George Washington among those present at Congress. He was told, “You can easily distinguish him when Congress goes to prayer. Washington is the gentleman who kneels down.” Washington was known as a man who prayed. When the fate of the new nation hung in the balance at Valley Forge, he frequently found rest and relief in prayer.
One day, a farmer approaching Washington’s military camp heard an earnest voice. When he drew nearer, he saw Washington on his knees, his cheeks wet with tears. The farmer returned home and told his wife: “George Washington will succeed, and the Americans will secure their independence.” His wife said, “Isaac, what makes you think so?” He replied, “I heard him pray out in the woods today, and the Lord will surely hear his prayer. He will, Hannah, rest assured, He will!”
When we have less, we’re more aware of our need and pray more. But as we acquire and achieve more, we become more self-sufficient and pray less. That’s a mistake. The more God entrusts to you, the more you need His strength, His wisdom, His guidance, and His grace. David sat on a throne and ruled Israel. Was he proud or arrogant? No. “When I cry out to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me… In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid” (vv. 9, 11 NKJV).
So this is the word for you today: More responsibility calls for more prayer.
Soul food: 2 Sam 7:18-11:27; Matt 25:1-13; Ps 122; Pro 17:18-21
2026-07-06
Jakobus 4:2 NLV
Van die begin tot aan die einde van die Bybel vind ons klinkklare bewyse dat God gebede verhoor. Dinge wat ons dink onmoontlik is, doen God wanneer mense daarvoor bid! Wanneer ons bid, vereenselwig ons onsself met God se doeleindes en maak van die krag van die Almagtige gebruik. Omdat ons bid, werk God deur ons op maniere wat Hy andersins nie sou doen nie. God het sekere dinge van gebed afhanklik gemaak, dinge wat nooit sal plaasvind tensy ons bid nie. Kan God doen wat Hy wil, sonder dat ons daaroor bid? Natuurlik. God het egter bepaal dat Hy die gebede van sy mense sal gebruik om sy doeleindes te bereik.
Wanneer ons nie bid nie, beperk ons dit wat God in ons lewens sal doen. Dit mag dalk vreemd klink, maar as dit nie waar was nie, hoekom sou Jakobus dan geskryf het: ‘En eintlik is die rede hoekom julle nie het wat julle wil hê nie, die feit dat julle God nie daarvoor vra nie’? Waarom sou Paulus sy vriende vra: “…bid vir ons sodat die woord van die Here vinnig mag versprei en net soos by julle met eerbied ontvang word. Bid ook dat ons bewaar sal word van slegte en bose mense….’ (2 Tessalonisense 3:1-2 NLV), as hy nie geglo het dat gebede die krag het om sy omstandighede te verander nie?
Omdat beide Jakobus en Paulus al die seën wat vir hulle beskikbaar was wou hê, het hulle nie net self gebid nie, maar ook ander gelowiges gewerf om vir hulle te bid. Hulle wou nooit dit wat God in en deur hulle wil doen beperk deur nie te bid nie. Indien jy al die seën wat God beskikbaar stel wil hê, moet jy ook bid.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 110; Spr 17:15-17
James 4:2 NIV
From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion, we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray! When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways He wouldn’t otherwise. God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will never be done unless we pray. Could God do whatever He chooses without our prayer? Of course. But God has determined that He will use the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes.
When we do not pray, we limit what God will do in our lives. Some may not like the sound of this, but if it were not true, what could James mean when he writes: “You do not have because you do not ask?” Why would Paul ask some friends to, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured… that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NIV), if he did not believe their prayers had the power to change his circumstances?
Both James and Paul believed that God might well withhold His hand of blessing from them if they neglected to pray. Since they wanted all the blessing available to them, they not only prayed themselves, they recruited others to pray for them. They never wanted to limit what God might be pleased to do in and through them by failing to pray. And if you want all the blessing God has available, you too must pray.
Soul food: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 110; Pro 17:15-17
