2026-05-25
Mark 6:31 NIV
One of Satan’s tactics is to take us from one extreme to the other – from laziness to workaholism. Understanding the difference between being a hard worker versus a workaholic is key. Hard workers have the wisdom to set limits on how much they will do in the course of a day.
In her book 30 Days to a Stronger, More Confident You, Deborah Smith Pegues wrote: “I was in denial about my propensity toward workaholism until I realized that I had too many of the telltale symptoms: I worked late the majority of the time. Most of my conversations revolved around the issues at the office. I rarely took lunch breaks. I was always multitasking; I rarely performed any task single-mindedly. If I talked on the phone, I would also use the time to tidy the house. If I watched television, I also organized papers, and on and on it went.
When I tried relaxing, I would think of all the things I should be doing. My to-do list had more items on it than I could possibly achieve during a single day. I was a slave to my overcommitted calendar; I left little or no downtime. Everybody seemed to move too slowly. I was always rushing to the next appointment. I looked forward to the accolades I received for performing well. I found little time to nurture my friendships… Today, I try to engage only in those activities I feel are part of God’s plan for my life.”
What great advice! Jesus said to His hard-working disciples: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Is the Lord saying the same thing to you?
Soul food: Judg 16:1-19:15; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 45; Prov 13:13-16
2026-05-24
Filippense 2:13 AFR53
God werk in jou. Waaraan werk Hy? Jou wil. Wat wil Hy hê moet jy doen? Om na sy welbehae te werk. Hoe doen Hy dit? Deur jou gedagtes: ‘Julle gesindheid moet soos Jesus Christus s’n wees’ (Filippense 2:5 NLV). God kan hoorbaar deur omstandighede of deur ‘n ander persoon met jou praat. Omdat God egter vir jou sy gedagtes kan gee of jou gedagtes kan lei, is jou gedagtes die vergaderkamer waar Hy meestal met jou sal kommunikeer.
Daarom sal Satan probeer om bose idees in jou gedagtes te plaas. As hy nie daarin slaag nie, sal hy probeer om jou gedagtes met vrees en bekommernis te vul. As dit ook nie werk nie, sal hy tevrede daarmee wees om jou ure lank na ‘waardelose dinge’ op televisie of die internet te laat kyk. Die Psalmdigter het gebid: ‘Weerhou my van waardelose dinge…’ (Psalm 119:37 NLV).
Om van God te kan hoor en te verstaan wat Hy vir jou sê, moet jy jou gedagtes ‘n beskermde omgewing maak. Jou begeerte om van God te hoor moet voorrang bo elke ander begeerte wat jy het, geniet. Die sosiale hervormer Dorothy Day, wat baie werk namens die armes in die twintigste eeu gedoen het, het gepraat van wat sy haar ‘nosies’ genoem het – idees wat die onmiskenbare stempel van God se outeurskap in haar gedagtes gehad het. George Fox en die Kwaker-tradisie het dit ‘besorgdhede’ genoem. Ander praat van ‘aansporings’ of ‘leidings.’
Die goeie nuus is dat indien jy werklik van God wil hoor en jy bereid is om jou lewe dienooreenkomstig te prioritiseer, sal Hy met jou praat.
Sielskos: Lev 23:15-22; Joh 14:15-18; Hand 2:1-18
Philippians 2:13 NIV
God is at work “in you.” What is He working on? Your “will.” What does He want you to do? “Act according to His good purpose.” How does He accomplish this? Through your mind: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 NKJV). God can speak to you audibly, through circumstances, or through another person. But because God can give you His thoughts or guide your thoughts, your mind is the meeting room where He will most often communicate with you.
That’s why Satan will try to place evil thoughts in your mind. If he cannot succeed, he will try to fill your mind with fear and worry. If that doesn’t work, he’ll settle for having you watch hours of “worthless things” on television or the Internet. The Psalmist prayed: “Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things” (Psalm 119:37 NKJV).
In order to hear from God and recognize what He’s saying to you, you must make your mind a protected environment. And one more thing: Your desire to hear from God must take precedence over every other desire you have. Social reformer Dorothy Day, who did much work on behalf of the poor in the twentieth century, spoke of what she called her “notions” – ideas that had the unmistakable stamp of God’s authorship in her mind. George Fox and the Quaker tradition called them “concerns.” Others speak of “promptings” or “leadings.”
The good news is if you truly want to hear from God, and you’re willing to prioritize your life accordingly, He’ll speak to you.
Soul food: Lev 23:15-22; John 14:15-18; Acts 2:1-18
2026-05-23
Jakobus 5:20 NLV
Ons God is die God van nuwe begin! Die Bybel sê: ‘weet dan dat hy wat ‘n sondaar op sy dwaalweg laat terugdraai, hom uit die dood red en maak dat ‘n klomp sondes bedek word.’ Dit is nooit te laat vir ‘n nuwe begin nie. Wat egter nog merkwaardiger is, is dat God mense soos ons gebruik om ander te help om ‘n nuwe begin te vind.
Die Bybel bevat baie verhale van mense wat ‘n tweede kans gekry het en deur God se genade hierdie kans goed benut het. Soos Petrus, wat Jesus verloën het, maar ‘n leier in die Nuwe Testamentiese kerk geword het. Of Dawid, wat egbreuk en moord gepleeg het, maar psalms geskryf het wat vandag nog wêreldwyd aangehaal word. Wat van Jona? Hy het ‘n tweede kans gekry! ‘Die Here het ‘n tweede keer met Jona gepraat’ (Jona 3:1 NLV).
Sonde kan harte, huise, planne en mense verwoes. Die goeie nuus van die evangelie is egter dat sonde God nooit kan keer om ons lief te hê of na ons uit te reik nie. Ons moet ook nooit ophou om ander mense lief te hê en na hulle uit te reik nie. ‘…wanneer iemand iets doen wat verkeerd is, moet julle wat deur die Gees gelei word, daardie persoon nederig reghelp…’ (Galasiërs 6:1 NLV).
Die Griekse woord vir vernuwe is ‘n mediese term wat beteken ‘om ‘n gebreekte been te genees.’ Wanneer ‘n dokter ‘n gebreekte been behandel, herstel hy die breuk en sit ‘n gipsverband aan wat vir ongeveer ses weke moet aanbly. Gedurende daardie tyd doen God die werklike genesing. Jou werk is om gebroke mense te vind wat ‘n tweede kans benodig en hulle help om te genees.
Sielskos: Rig 12-15; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 47; Spr 13:11-12
James 5:20 NIV
Our God is the God of new beginnings! The Bible says: “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” It is never too late for a new beginning. And what’s even more remarkable is that God uses people like us to help others find a new beginning.
The Bible contains many accounts of men and women who got a second chance and, by God’s grace, used it well. Like Peter, who denied Jesus but went on to become a leader in the New Testament church. Or David, who committed adultery and murder, yet his psalms are a major part of one of the most quoted books in the Bible. And what about Jonah? He got a do-over! “The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time” (Jonah 3:1 NKJV).
Sin can wreck hearts, homes, plans, and people. But the good news of the gospel is that sin can never keep God from loving or reaching for us. And we should never stop loving and reaching for others. “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1 NKJV).
The Greek word for restore is a medical term that means “to set a broken bone.” When a doctor resets a broken bone, he realigns it and then puts it in a cast for about six weeks. During that time, God does the actual healing. Your job is to find broken people who need a second chance and help to restore them.
Soul food: Judg 12-15; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 47; Prov 13:11-12
