2023-05-25
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
The secret of being able to do what you need to do is in realizing that you cannot do it alone; you can only do it through God’s empowering grace. God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you,” and the word “grace” includes “all of God you will ever need for whatever you face in life.” What a promise!
Sometimes we think we have to do it all. We forget that the power of Christ works through us, so we’re defeated before we even begin. “We are labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV). We can’t do God’s part, and He won’t do our part. He wants us to follow His leading, but He insists that we depend on Him every step of the way. This is hard on our ego which says, “I can do it myself!” Sometimes we have to be beaten into the ground before we let go of this kind of thinking.
Knowing that we have certain gifts and talents, we make the mistake of assuming we can use them to succeed in our own strength. No, unless God’s grace is operating through your gift, you won’t be adequate to the challenge. The Bible says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given… us” (Romans 12:6 NIV). Grace is like electricity; in order for it to function effectively, you must stay plugged in. Jesus said: “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me… apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 NIV). So, depend more on God.
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Matt 12:22-37; Ps 47; Prov 12:4-6
2023-05-24
Philippians 4:13 AMPC
Paul writes: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (v. 13 AMPC). Paul believed he could handle whatever life threw at him. Do you believe that too?
What are the things that trigger your fear and cause you to say, “I could never do that”? Suddenly losing a loved one? Facing an unexpected illness? Having your adult child with two toddlers move into your fastidiously clean and tranquil house after you have had an empty nest for years? Going on a stringent diet because your life depends on it? Putting yourself on a budget to prevent foreclosure of your home? Suddenly having to take care of a disabled, elderly parent?
Most people have some sort of situation that truly seems impossible to them, something they are unsure they can handle. The truth is, while some situations may be extremely undesirable or challenging for you, God says you can do whatever you need to do in life. He doesn’t say everything will be simple for you; He doesn’t promise you will enjoy every little thing you do, but that you can enjoy life in the middle of doing them. How?
Through the power of the One, “Who infuses inner strength into you.” When you need money, you make a withdrawal from your bank account. When your car is empty, you make a withdrawal from the gas pump. So when life gets overwhelming, pray and make a withdrawal on God’s grace, love, strength, power, and guidance.
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 97; Prov 12:1-3
Filippense 4:13 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Ek kan onder alle omstandighede regkom deur Hom wat my krag gee.’ Paulus het geglo dat hy enigiets wat die lewe sy kant toe sou gooi, kon hanteer. Glo jy dit ook? Wat is die dinge wat jou vrees aanwakker en jou laat sê: ‘Ek sal dit nie kan hanteer nie’? Om ‘n geliefde skielik te verloor? Om ‘n onverwagte siekte te kry? Om jou volwasse kind met twee kleuters in jou skoon en rustige huis nadat jy jare lank ‘n leë nes gehad het, te laat intrek? ‘n Streng dieet volg omdat jou lewe daarvan afhang? Om jouself op ‘n begroting te plaas sodat jy jou huis se paaiemente kan bybring? Om skielik na ‘n sieklike, bejaarde ouer te moet omsien?
Die meeste mense het een of ander soort situasie wat vir hulle onmoontlik lyk; iets wat hulle onseker is of hulle dit sal kan hanteer. Die waarheid is dat alhoewel sommige situasies vir jou uiters ongewens of uitdagend kan wees, God sê dat jy dit wat jy in die lewe moet doen, kan doen. Hy sê nie dat alles maklik sal wees nie; Hy belowe nie dat jy elke klein dingetjie wat jy doen gaan geniet nie, maar jy kan die lewe te midde daarvan, geniet.
Hoe doen jy dit? Deur die krag van Christus. Wanneer jy geld nodig het, onttrek jy geld uit jou bankrekening uit. Wanneer jou kar leeg is, maak jy ‘n onttrekking by die petrolstasie. Wanneer die lewe dus oorweldigend raak, bid en maak ‘n onttrekking uit God se genade, liefde, krag, mag en leiding.
Sielskos: Heb 9:1-11:16; Matt 12:15-21; Ps 97; Spr 12:1-3
2023-05-23
Song of Solomon 8:7 NLT
You must be open with one another. You must be transparent, sensitive, responsive, and willing to trust one another. Stop and think about how you feel when the doctor is about to give you a shot. Your first reaction is to tighten up, right? Similarly, our hearts naturally tighten up after the pain of rejection, or betrayal, or neglect. It’s a reflex mechanism in the soul; a way we protect ourselves subconsciously. And it’s a great attribute anywhere else, except in marriage.
If you don’t turn off this mechanism, you will close your soul. This is the state where you love the person and you still come home to them every night, but you are braced, apprehensive, and no longer present in the moment. You have closed yourself off, for fear of disappointment and hurt.
Marriage is an open covenant consummated by physical intimacy, which removes all barriers and celebrates the joy of having nothing between the two of you. And it’s difficult to attain and maintain such intimacy both emotionally and physically if you have experienced betrayal and disappointment.
But there is good news. The central theme of the Bible is resurrection; that which is dead can live again. So if you have lost the closeness, you can get it back if you are willing to relax your soul and open your heart toward the other person. Solomon writes, “Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it” (vv. 6-7 NLT). If you seek God’s help and you are willing to work at it, you can rekindle your love and rebuild your marriage.
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 93; Prov 11:30-31
Hooglied 8:7 NLV
Julle moet openhartig met mekaar wees. Julle moet deursigtig, sensitief, vatbaar en gewillig wees om mekaar te vertrou. Stop en dink hoe jy voel wanneer die dokter jou ‘n inspuiting moet gee. Jou eerste reaksie is om jou spiere saam te trek, nie waar nie? So trek ons harte ook na die pyn van verwerping, verraad, of verwaarlosing, saam. Dis ‘n refleksmeganisme van die siel; ‘n manier om onsself onbewustelik te beskerm. Dis ‘n goeie eienskap, behalwe in die huwelik.
As jy nie hierdie meganisme afskakel nie, sal jy jou siel toemaak. Dit is die toestand waar jy vir die persoon lief is en elke aand huis toe na hulle toe kom, maar jy is skrikkerig en nie meer in die oomblik teenwoordig nie. Jy het jouself afgesluit, uit vrees vir teleurstelling en seerkry.
Die huwelik is ‘n oop verbond wat deur fisiese intimiteit voltrek word, wat alle hindernisse verwyder en die vreugde dat daar niks tussen julle is nie, vier. Dis moeilik om sulke intimiteit emosioneel en fisies te bereik en te handhaaf, wanneer jy verraad en teleurstelling ervaar het.
Daar is egter goeie nuus. Die sentrale tema van die Bybel is opstanding; dat dit wat dood is weer kan lewe. Indien jy dus daardie nabyheid verloor het, kan jy dit terugkry as jy gewillig is om jou siel te ontspan en jou hart vir die ander persoon oop te maak. Salomo skryf: ‘…Liefde … brand soos ‘n vuurvlam wat alles verteer. ‘n Stroom water kan die liefde nie blus nie. Riviere kan dit nie wegspoel nie…’ (verse 6-7 NLV). As jy God se hulp vra en gewillig is om daaraan te werk, kan jy jou liefde weer laat opvlam en jou huwelik herbou.
Sielskos: Heb 5-8; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 93; Spr 11:30-31
