2023-05-12
Joel 2:28 NKJV
When you ask a little boy what he wants to be when he grows up, he is apt to say a fireman or a doctor. When you ask a little girl that question, she is apt to say a movie star or a fairy princess. The ability to dream is a gift that God has placed within each of us. If you want to achieve great things in life, you need a vision. Joseph’s vision didn’t come to pass until he was thirty, but he received it from God when he was a teenager. And God will give you one too: “Your young men [and women] shall see visions.”
Right now you may be considering different options for your life, and even experimenting with some. That’s okay, you’re still getting to know yourself; your strengths and weaknesses, what you’re drawn to, and what you have no interest in at all. If you focus your thinking on only one thing and your aspirations change, then you have wasted your best mental energy. But as you grow and mature, you need to zero in and become selective. The Chinese say, “A man who chases two rabbits catches neither.”
And when you receive a God-given vision, it has staying power. It’s like a fire burning within you. It may be a full-time vocation or a part-time avocation, but it’s the thing you will find the most fulfillment in doing. Paul wrote, “This one thing I do” (Philippians 3:13 KJV). As a result, he changed history, and today, churches and cathedrals are named after him. Here is a prayer God will answer: “Lord, give me a vision for my life!”
Soul food: Num 22-24; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 44:17-26; Prov 11:12-13
Joël 2:28 NLV
Wanneer jy ‘n klein seuntjie vra wat hy wil wees wanneer hy groot is, mag hy dalk ‘n brandweerman of ‘n dokter sê. Wanneer jy ‘n klein dogtertjie dieselfde vraag vra, sal sy dalk antwoord dat sy ‘n filmster of ‘n feetjieprinses wil wees. Die vermoë om te droom is ‘n gawe wat God binne elkeen van ons geplaas het. As jy groot dinge in die lewe wil bereik, het jy ‘n visie nodig. Josef se visie het eers waar geword toe hy dertig was, maar hy het dit al in sy tienerjare van God af ontvang. God sal vir jou ook een gee: ‘…Jongmense sal visioene sien.’
Op die oomblik mag jy dalk verskillende opsies vir jou lewe oorweeg en selfs met sommige eksperimenteer. Dis in die haak, jy leer nog jouself; jou sterk- en swakpunte, wat jou aandag trek en waarin jy geen belangstelling het nie, ken. As jy jou denke net op een ding fokus en jou ambisie verander dan, sal jy jou beste denke daarop gemors het. Soos jy egter groei en volwasse word, moet jy selektief begin word. Daar is ‘n Chinese gesegde wat lui: “‘n Man wat twee hase jaag, vang geen.”
Wanneer jy ‘n Godgegewe visie ontvang, het dit blywende krag. Dis soos ‘n vuur wat in jou brand. Dit mag dalk ‘n voltydse beroep of ‘n deeltydse werk wees, maar dis die ding waaruit jy die meeste vervulling sal kry. Paulus het ‘n visie gehad en gevolglik het hy die geskiedenis verander en is daar kerke en katedrale wat na hom vernoem is. Hier is ‘n gebed wat God sal antwoord: ‘Here, gee my ‘n visie vir my lewe!’
Sielskos: Num 22-24; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 44:17-26; Spr 11:12-13
2023-05-11
Johannes 17:4 NLV
As dit die begeerte van jou hart is om God te behaag en sy wil vir jou lewe te vervul, is hier ‘n gebed vir jou: ‘Here, ek dank U dat U my steeds liefhet, selfs al weet U alles van my. U ken my gedagtes, my foute, my sondes en tog noem U my u kind. U genade teenoor my gaan alle verstand te bowe. Meer as enigiets anders, wil ek U intiem ken en u teenwoordigheid daagliks in my lewe aanvoel. As daar enige deel van my is wat ek van U weerhou, wys dit uit vir my sodat ek U kan uitnooi om daar te heers. Gaan my binne, Heilige Gees, en verkwik my siel met riviere van lewende water. Vloei dan uit my uit na ‘n droë en dors wêreld (sien Johannes 7:38-39).
Help my om my oë op U, in plaas van ander, gerig te hou (sien Hebreërs 12:1-2). Here, wees altyd my rykste skat. Help my om nooit ‘n afgod van enigiets of enigiemand anders te maak nie of om toe te laat dat besittings of afleidings van hierdie wêreld op enige manier voor U te staan kom nie. U is my geneser, my hoop en my krag.
Wanneer ek vryheid nodig het, is U my Redder. U is my skild teen die Vyand, my berader wanneer ek leiding nodig het en my skuilplek in dae van teëspoed (sien Psalm 32:7). U is waarlik die God van wonderwerke. Doen u wonderwerke van genade in my lewe en hou aan om my dag vir dag te verander om meer soos U te wees (sien 2 Korintiërs 3:18). In Jesus se Naam bid ek dit. Amen.’
Sielskos: Num 19-21; Matt 8:18-34; Ps 44:9-16; Spr 11:10-11
John 17:4 NKJV
If the desire of your heart is to please God and fulfill His will for your life, here is a prayer for you:
“Lord, I thank you that even though you know everything about me, you still love me. You know my thoughts, my mistakes, my sins, and yet you still call me your child. Your grace toward me is beyond comprehension. More than anything else, I want to know you intimately and sense your presence in my life each day. If there is any part of me that I have kept from you, show me so that I can invite you to rule and reign there. Come into me, Holy Spirit, and revive my soul with rivers of living water. Then flow out through me into a dry and thirsty world (See John 7:38-39). Help me to keep my eyes fixed on you instead of others (See Hebrews 12:1-2).
Lord, be my richest treasure always. Help me never to make an idol out of anyone or anything or allow possessions or the distractions of this world to get in front of you in any way. You are my healer, my hope, and my strength. When I need freedom, you are my deliverer. You are my shield from the Enemy, my counselor when I need guidance, and my stronghold in the day of trouble (See Psalm 32:7). Truly, you are the God of miracles. Work your miracles of grace in my life and keep changing me from day to day into your likeness (See 2 Corinthians 3:18). In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
Soul food: Num 19-21; Matt 8:18-34; Ps 44:9-16; Prov 11:10-11
2023-05-10
1 Timothy 6:6 NLT
The Bible says: “True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” (vv. 6-10 NLT).
Here is a prayer for financial contentment: “Lord, heal me from the stress of worrying about my perception among my peers. Give me the gift of satisfaction with what you want me to have. Thank you for teaching me to walk beside you, not in front of you. I repent of the times I got ahead of you. I also regret the times you were trying to bless me, and I was somewhere behind you, grappling with old issues. From this day forward, I will walk with you in peace and prosperity, knowing who I am, and whose I am. I’m preparing to be blessed with the practical steps I’m learning. But my focus is on you, and my relationship with you. Your Word says when I put you first, other things will happen as I prepare myself for what you have for me (See Matthew 6:33). Thank you for maturity coming to me spiritually, financially, and emotionally. My family will be blessed by what you’re teaching me. Amen.”
Soul food: Num 16-18; Matt 8:1-17; Ps 44:1-8; Prov 11:9
