2023-07-20
Exodus 18:17-18 NAS
Do you feel like there isn’t enough of you to go around? Like you’re on the cliff’s edge and about to go over? Perhaps because you’re doing much more than God intended you to do. You see, when God reveals His purpose for your life, He also gives you His power to carry it out. Usually it’s simple and remarkably sane. One of the surest ways to know you are walking in God’s will is that you will feel led, not driven.
Are you resting less and working more? Are you praying and reading your Bible less and worrying more? Maybe, like Moses, you’re dashing from one appointment to another: eating on the run, meeting deadlines, and trying to solve everybody’s problems while your own pile up.
Others may have been impressed, but Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, wasn’t. “What is this thing… you are doing…?” he asked (v. 14 NAS). Not surprisingly, Moses became defensive. Too-busy people usually are. He attempted to justify his schedule, but Jethro didn’t buy it. Instead, he told Moses, “The thing… you are doing is not good. You will surely wear out.” And what did he tell Moses to do? Shift gears and start sharing the load! (See vv. 22-23.) Then he bottom-lined it: “That will make your load lighter… you will be able to stand the strain” (vv. 22-23 NIV).
Since when did a bleeding ulcer become a sign of spirituality, or a seventy-hour workweek the mark of efficiency? Be honest: Are you too stubborn to slow down, too insecure to say no, or too proud to ask for help? If so, talk to God about it.
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 140; Prov 16:3
2023-07-19
1 Korintiërs 10:12 NLV
Die tyd om versigtig te wees is nadat jy jou doelwitte bereik het en jy besig is om jou oorwinnings te vier. Daar is drie deurslaggewende punte in elke stryd en glo dit of nie, die maklikste een is soms die geveg self. Die moeilikste punt is die tydperk van besluiteloosheid reg voor die konflik – om te bly staan en te veg of weg te hardloop – die stryd tussen geloof en vrees. Die gevaarlikste tyd is egter by verre die nasleep. Wanneer jou hulpbronne op is en jy gerus begin raak, moet jy op die uitkyk vir dinge soos oormoed, dowwe reaksies en foutiewe oordeel wees.
Onthou jy koning Dawid se verhaal? ‘Die volgende lente, die tyd dat konings gaan veg, het Dawid… in Jerusalem agtergebly. Laat een namiddag… het Dawid… ‘n besonder mooi vrou wat besig was om te bad [gesien]… Dawid het haar laat haal…’ (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4 NLV). Dawid het gekies om tuis te bly eerder as om te gaan veg. Wie weet hoekom hy so besluit het? Miskien het sy indrukwekkende oorwinnings hom sag gemaak, of hy het agtelosig geraak, of hy het arrogant geraak. Dit was slegs ‘n kortstondige verhouding, maar dit het alles verander. Sy vrede het verdwyn, sy karakter was verwoes en sy familielewe was vernietig.
Moenie die gevaar loop om as gevolg van jou vorige oorwinnings jou skanse te laat sak nie. Om op jou louere te rus is sinoniem daarmee om met rampspoed te flankeer. Moeilikheid wag op die man of vrou wat in die gemaklike land van vervulde drome woon. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: ‘Daarom – as julle dink julle staan sterk, moet julle oppas dat julle nie ook tot ‘n val kom nie.’
Sielskos: Hand 6-7; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 133; Spr 16:2
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
The time to be careful is after you have reached your goals and you’re celebrating your victories. There are three crucial points in every battle, and believe it or not, the easiest one is sometimes the fight itself. The most difficult point is the period of indecision right before the conflict – whether to stand and fight or run away – the battle between faith and fear. But by far the most dangerous period is the aftermath. With your resources spent and your guard down, you need to watch for things like overconfidence, dulled reactions, and faulty judgment.
Remember King David’s story? “In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle… David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened… he saw a woman bathing… Then David sent messengers, and took her” (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4 NKJV). Pay particular attention to the phrase, “Then it happened.” David chose to stay home rather than go to battle. Who knows why? Maybe his impressive record of successes made him soft, or he got careless, or arrogant? It was only a brief affair, but it changed everything. His peace vanished, his character was ruined, and his family life destroyed.
Don’t fall prey to the perils of past victories! Remember your H.A.L.T. sign. When you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, you’re in a vulnerable place and need to be extra careful. Resting on your laurels is synonymous with flirting with disaster. Trouble awaits the man or woman who dwells in the comfortable land of accomplished dreams. So, the word for you today is – “If you think you’re standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
2023-07-18
Galatians 1:15 NLT
In Scripture you will notice that God usually called busy people. Moses the shepherd was busy tending his flock. Gideon the farmer was busy harvesting his crop. Peter and John the fishermen were busy mending their nets. But there was something inside each of them that responded to God’s call. With God, availability matters more than ability. Imagine for a moment a ranch hand named Saul out looking for his father’s lost mules, and returning home anointed to be Israel’s first king (See 1 Samuel 9-10).
There is no telling what God will do with you! So, be faithful and nurture the dream He put in your heart, and when the time is right, He will set everything in place. The psalmist said, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Don’t be impatient. If God put the desire into your heart, He will provide everything needed to bring it to pass. Jesus said, “Human effort accomplishes nothing… the… words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 NLT).
So, water your vision with God’s Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. And if anyone tries to come between you and what God has called you to do, tell them, “Sorry, I have to go. I’m already spoken for. My destiny is too important to miss.” Don’t waste another day struggling with God’s call on your life; just surrender to Him! He didn’t call you because of your great track record, great intellect, or great gift. The Bible says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV). You’re “called… by his marvelous grace.”
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
Galasiërs 1:15 NLV
Jy sal agterkom in die Skrif dat God gewoonlik besige mense roep. Moses die skaapwagter was besig om na sy trop om te sien. Gideon die boer was besig om sy landerye te oes. Petrus en Johannes die vissermanne was besig om hulle nette reg te maak. Daar was egter iets binne-in elkeen van hulle wat op God se roeping gereageer het.
Beskikbaarheid beteken vir God meer as vaardigheid. Wees dus getrou en koester die droom wat Hy in jou hart geplaas het en wanneer die tyd reg is, sal Hy alles in plek sit. Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘Wees bly in die Here, en Hy sal jou hartsbegeertes aan jou gee’ (Psalm 37:4 NLV). Moenie ongeduldig wees nie. As God die begeerte in jou hart geplaas het, sal Hy alles voorsien wat jy nodig het om dit te vervul.
Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit is die Gees wat lewend maak, die liggaam baat jou niks. Die woorde wat Ek aan julle gerig het, is Gees en lewe’ (Johannes 6:63 NLV). Gebruik dus God se Woord en bestee tyd in gebed saam met Hom om jou visie tot vervulling te bring. As enigiemand tussen jou en God se roeping vir jou probeer kom, sê vir hulle: ‘Jammer, ek moet gaan. My lotsbestemming is te belangrik om mis te loop.’
Moenie nog ‘n dag mors om met God se roeping vir jou lewe te worstel nie; gee jouself net aan Hom oor! Hy het jou nie weens jou groot prestasies, groot intellek of groot gawes geroep nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Maar hoe meer die sonde geword het, hoe oorvloediger het God se genade geword’ (Romeine 5:20 NLV). Jy is deur ‘sy onverdiende goedheid geroep.’
Sielskos: Hand 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Spr 16:1
