2022-10-06
Psalm 56:3 NKJV
Fear and faith are both powerful forces. And the one you surrender to will control you. So here are some Scriptures to fight your fears: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord…will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV). “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust” (Psalm 18:2 NKJV). “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Ps 56:11 NKJV). “He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7 NKJV). “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV). “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). “Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT).
Bottom line: Fight your fears with God’s Word!
Soul food: 1 Sam 14-15; John 1:14-28; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
2022-10-05
2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV
Here is what the Bible teaches about giving: (1) You always get back more than you give. “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will… increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness” (v. 10 NIV). When Paul talks here about “seed,” he’s talking about money. Notice, some of the money God gives you is to be used for your own needs, and some is to create “a harvest of righteousness.” What does that mean?
Paul explains: “They have… scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever” (v. 9 NIV). In other words, you must show compassion toward those who are hurting and give generously to those who are unable to provide for themselves. The Bible says that when you give to the poor, you actually lend to the Lord, and He will repay you (See Proverbs 19:17). Can you imagine the interest God pays?
Jesus said: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38 NIV).
(2) You should give, expecting to be blessed. You say, “If I get more, I’ll give more.” No, you have the cart before the horse. It’s the level of your giving that determines the level of your receiving, not vice versa. So break through your barrier of fear and put God to the test. He won’t disappoint you. Once you have experienced His blessing, you will never want to live any other way.
oul food: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
2 Korintiërs 9:10 NLV
Hier is wat die Bybel ons oor gee leer: 1) Jy kry altyd meer terug as wat jy gee. ‘God wat saad voorsien aan die saaier en brood om te eet, sal ook aan julle saad gee en dit laat toeneem en die vrugte van julle goedhartigheid lieflik laat groei.’ Wanneer Paulus hier oor saad praat, verwys hy na geld. Sommige van die geld wat God vir jou gee moet jy gebruik om aan jou eie behoeftes te voldoen, maar sommige daarvan is om die ‘vrugte van jou goedhartigheid,’ te laat groei. Wat beteken dit?
Paulus verduidelik: ‘…Hy het uitgedeel en gegee aan die armes; sy goedhartigheid bly vir altyd staan’ (vers 9 NLV). Met ander woorde, jy moet goedhartigheid teenoor diegene wat seer het bewys en vrygewig gee aan diegene wat nie in staat is om vir hulself te voorsien nie. Die Bybel sê waneer jy vir die armes gee, leen jy inderwaarheid aan die Here en Hy sal jou terugbetaal (sien Spreuke 19:17).
Kan jy jou indink die rente wat God betaal? Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle gee, sal julle ontvang. Julle gawe sal na julle toe terugkom in volle maat, ingestamp, geskud om plek vir meer te maak, tot oorlopens toe vol. Met watter maat julle ook al meet – klein of groot – dit sal gebruik word om te meet wat julle sal terugontvang’ (Lukas 6:38 NLV).
2) Jy moet gee, met die verwagting dat jy geseën sal word. Jy sê: ‘As ek meer ontvang, sal ek meer gee.’ Nee, jy span die wa voor die perd in. Dis hoeveel jy gee wat sal bepaal hoeveel jy ontvang. Breek dus deur jou hindernis van vrees en toets God. Hy sal jou nie teleurstel nie. Sodra jy sy seën ervaar het, sal jy op geen ander manier wil lewe nie.
Sielskos: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
2022-10-04
Psalm 77:13 NLV
Wat beteken die woord mediteer? Dit beteken dat jy jou gedagtes fokus op iets en daaroor peins. Dawid het gesê: ‘U dade bly in my gedagtes. Al u werke wil ek bepeins.’ Vraag: Totdat jy oor God se Woord gemediteer het, wat kan jy sê wat enige daadwerklike verskil sal maak? Al wat jy sal doen is om jou opinie te deel, wat net een opinie van baie is. Jy sal nie in staat wees om oortuigend te praat of ‘n ware verskil in die persoon met wie jy praat, se lewe te maak nie. Dis God se Woord wat mense se lewens verander, nie joune nie!
Hier is tien voordele daaraan verbonde om oor God se Woord te mediteer: 1) Dit kweek ‘n liefde vir God en sy Woord binne-in jou.
2) Dit gee jou nuwe insigte en geestelike begrip.
3) Dis ‘n bron van gerusstelling en krag.
4) Dit bemagtig jou om ‘n opregte getuie vir Jesus Christus te wees.
5) Dit vernuwe jou gedagtes.
6) Dit beskerm jou teen sonde.
7) Dit herstel jou siel en jou emosies.
8) Dit stel jou in staat om die Here met jou hele hart te vertrou.
9) Dit laat jou gees lewendig word.
10) Dit help jou om God, ander mense en jouself, beter te verstaan.
Daar is groot krag in God se Woord en wanneer jy oor die Bybel mediteer, kry jy toegang tot daardie krag. ‘Deurdat ons Hom regtig ken, het sy Goddelike krag ons alles laat kry wat ons nodig het om naby aan Hom te lewe. Hy het ons geroep om sy heerlikheid en goedheid te ontvang! Deur hierdie selfde krag het Hy sy kosbaarste en allergrootste beloftes vir ons laat waar word. Die gevolg hiervan is dat julle deel gekry het aan sy Goddelike natuur…’ (2 Petrus 1:3-4 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Sam 11-13; Joh 1:1-13; Ps 51; Spr 22:12-16
Psalm 77:12 NIV
What does the word meditate mean? “To engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one’s thoughts on.” David said, “I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds…” Question: Until you meditate on God’s Word, what can you say that will make any real difference? All you will be doing is sharing your opinion, which is just one of many. You will not be able to speak convincingly or make any real difference in the life of the person to whom you are speaking. It’s God’s Word that changes people’s lives, not yours!
Here are ten benefits of meditating on God’s Word: (1) It cultivates within you a love for God and His Word.
(2) It gives you new insights and spiritual understanding.
(3) It’s a source of reassurance and strength.
(4) It empowers you to be a genuine witness for Jesus Christ.
(5) It renews your mind.
(6) It protects you from sin.
(7) It restores your soul and your emotions.
(8) It enables you to trust in the Lord with all your heart.
(9) It causes your spirit to come alive.
(10) It assists you in understanding God, others, and yourself.
There is great power in God’s Word, and Bible meditation gives you access to that power. “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you – your tickets to participation in the life of God” (2 Peter 1:3-4 MSG).
Soul food: 1 Sam 11-13; John 1:1-13; Ps 51; Prov 22:12-16
