2023-05-17
Psalm 51:12 NKJV
A broken heart can’t be healed by working sixteen hours a day, sweating it out in a gym, or using mood-altering substances like alcohol and drugs. Those things may bring a temporary fix but don’t bring a lasting cure. After falling into sin and shame, David prayed, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” Good news: God can restore what you have lost and teach you things about yourself you didn’t know that make you a better person.
And one of the first lessons He teaches us is about forgiveness. You can’t hold the club of unforgiveness over somebody else’s head and expect to find healing yourself. Forgiveness is just a word until you extend it. Your peace of mind and confidence before God depend on your willingness to extend grace to others (See Mark 11:25).
The second lesson He teaches us is about relationships. And some of those relationships will bring you more pain than pleasure. Judas’ betrayal, painful as it was, was instrumental in bringing about history’s greatest event – the cross. Does that mean anybody and everybody can walk into your life and do what they want? No; their access to you is limited by the shield of God’s purpose. Some people bring comfort while others build character, and you need both.
The third lesson He teaches us is about “the yes zone.” “What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open” (Revelation 3:7 NIV). So whether God opens the door or shuts it, trust Him, follow Him, and say, “Yes, Lord,” because He loves you and has only the best in mind for you.
Soul food: Num 32:25-33:56; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 72:1-11; Prov 11:19-21
Psalm 51:14 NLV
‘n Gebroke hart kan nie genees word deur sestien uur ‘n dag te werk, dit in die gym uit te sweet of middels wat jou gemoed verander, soos alkohol en dwelms, te gebruik nie. Hierdie dinge kan ‘n tydelike oplossing bring, maar bring nie ‘n blywende genesing mee nie. Nadat hy in sonde en skaamte verval het, het Dawid gebid: ‘Gee my tog weer die vreugde van u redding…’ Goeie nuus: God kan dit wat jy verloor het herstel en jou dinge oor jouself leer wat jy nie geweet het nie, om jou sodoende ‘n beter persoon te maak.
Een van die eerste lesse wat Hy ons leer gaan oor vergifnis. Jy kan nie die swaard van onvergifnis oor iemand anders se kop hou en verwag om self genesing te kry nie. Jou vrede en selfvertroue voor God hang van jou gewilligheid om genade aan ander te bewys, af (sien Markus 11:25).
Die tweede les wat Hy ons leer, gaan oor verhoudings. Sommige verhoudings sal vir jou meer pyn as plesier gee. Judas se verraad, so pynlik soos wat dit was, was instrumenteel om die geskiedenis se grootste gebeurtenis – die kruis – te weeg te bring. Beteken dit dat enigiemand en almal in jou lewe kan instap en doen wat hulle wil? Nee; hulle toegang tot jou word deur die skild van God se doel vir jou, beperk. Sommige mense bring vertroosting terwyl ander karakter bou en jy het beide nodig.
Die derde les wat Hy ons leer gaan oor wanneer om ‘ja’ te sê. ‘…Hy sluit en niemand kan dit weer oopmaak nie’ (Openbaring 3:7 NLV). Of God dus die deur oopmaak of dit sluit, vertrou Hom, volg Hom en sê: ‘Ja, Here,’ want Hy is lief vir jou en het net die beste vir jou in gedagte.
Sielskos: Num 32:25-33:56; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 72:1-11; Spr 11:19-21
2023-05-16
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
When you’re about to do something and you’re not sure if you should, ask yourself, “Will doing this glorify God?” If you follow that rule, you won’t go wrong in life. Let’s get specific. If you earn your money honestly, then it’s yours to spend as you wish. Once you give God His portion, which begins at 10 percent, you get to choose what you will do with the rest.
However, your financial decisions have consequences that affect not only you but your family. When you go into debt you can’t repay, they suffer with you. So does your reputation with others. The question is not even can you afford it, but will it bring glory to God? Will He be pleased?
And how about your relationships? You’re single, lonely, and longing for companionship. So, you find someone you really like. Today when unchecked passion leads to sex before marriage, society doesn’t blink at it. But as a redeemed child of God, you are different. Jesus said we are in the world, but not of it. That means we live by a different set of rules: scriptural ones. Perhaps your partner will see your refusal of sexual intimacy as rejection. And they may even decide to leave you. What should you do? Ask yourself, “Will this glorify God? Will He be pleased?”
You say, “Pleasing God isn’t easy.” It never has been. And the Bible doesn’t say it will be. But if you want to live with joy, self-respect, confidence, and integrity, you have to choose the right path. And that’s the path which always brings glory to God.
Soul food: Num 30:1-32:24; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 67; Prov 11:16-18
1 Korintiërs 10:31 NLV
Wanneer jy op die punt staan om iets te doen waaroor jy nie seker is nie, vra jouself af: ‘Sal dit God verheerlik as ek dit doen?’ As jy hierdie reël volg, sal jy nie verkeerd gaan in die lewe nie. Kom ons wees meer spesifiek. Wanneer jy jou geld op ‘n eerlike manier verdien, is dit joune om te spandeer soos jy wil. Nadat jy God sy deel, wat by 10 persent begin, gegee het, kan jy kies wat om met die res te doen.
Jou finansiële besluite het egter nagevolge wat nie net jou nie, maar ook jou familie affekteer. Wanneer jy skuld aangaan wat jy nie kan terugbetaal nie, ly hulle saam met jou. Jou reputasie ly ook daaronder. Die vraag is nie of jy dit kan bekostig nie, maar of God daardeur verheerlik sal word? Sal Hy tevrede wees?
Wat van jou verhoudings? Jy is enkellopend, eensaam en smag na geselskap. Jy ontmoet iemand waarvan jy regtig hou. Wanneer ongekontroleerde passie deesdae tot seks voor die huwelik lei, knip die samelewing nie eers ‘n oog nie. As verloste kind van God is jy egter anders. Jesus sê dat ons in die wêreld, maar nie van die wêreld is nie. Dit beteken dat ons volgens ‘n ander stel reëls leef: Skriftuurlike reëls. Miskien sal jou maat jou weiering van seksuele intimiteit as verwerping sien en mag dalk selfs besluit om jou te verlaat. Wat staan jou te doen?
Vra jouself af: ‘Word God hierdeur verheerlik? Sal Hy tevrede wees?’ Jy sê: ‘Dis nie maklik om God tevrede te stel nie.’ Dit was nog nooit nie. As jy egter met vreugde, selfrespek, selfvertroue en integriteit wil lewe, moet jy die regte pad kies. Dis die pad wat God altyd verheerlik.
Sielskos: Num 30:1-32:24; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 67; Spr 11:16-18
2023-05-15
Proverbs 1:5 NLT
The book of Proverbs begins: “These are the proverbs of Solomon… Their purpose is to teach people wisdom… to help them understand the insights of the wise… to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance” (Proverbs 1:1-5 NLT).
Creative thinking is simply disciplined thinking. If you think you know all there is to know, then you already know everything you’re ever going to know. In order to break out of the box, you must begin by asking the right questions. Sir Antony Jay said, “The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a creative mind to spot wrong questions.” Wrong questions halt the process of creative thinking. They send you down the same old path.
In order to change your life, you must change your thinking. That means you must be willing to ask these two questions: “Why must it always be done this way? Is there a better way?” Whether your goal is to build a better life, or a better family, or a better business, or a better church, or a better career, or a better “anything,” all change and progress must begin by honestly asking those two questions. The saying is true: “If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.” So, do you want to succeed? You must be willing to change your thinking in order to accomplish it.
Soul food: Num 27-29; Matt 9:27-38; Ps 62; Prov 11:15
