2022-04-23
Isaiah 43:19 NCV
There are so many times in life when we need to let go of something we care about. We might have to leave a job we love. We could have been working on a project and now need to hand it over for someone else to take to the next level. Maybe we’ve been a mentor or advisor, but the person has reached the point where they don’t need us anymore. We might be teaching someone, but our knowledge has reached its limit and now they need to move on and learn from someone with greater skill. God might even tell us to let something go without us understanding why.
Letting go isn’t easy. It can make us feel unwanted or rejected, our pride can take a hit, or we might think we’re not good enough. Even if we’ve given up something we hate, it can leave a void in that makes us feel strangely empty. But there are things we can do to regain our joy and find reasons to celebrate.
We can: 1) Rejoice that we played a part in the development and growth of the person or project.
2) Be proud that we’ve made a difference.
3) Pray for the person, the project, those who were working with us, and those who are going to take things even further.
4) Trust God to place the person or project in the right hands.
5) Look forward to the next thing God has in mind for us. It can be helpful to remember these words: ‘Do not think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it?’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NCV). When we let go of one thing, God already has the next thing lined up.
1 Cor 15-16; Matt 1:1-17; Ps 103:13-22; Pro 10:14
Ephesians 5:31 NLT
When our children are young, we’re so busy providing them with things like love, protection, discipline, training, and authority that it feels like these responsibilities will go on forever. But they don’t. When our children reach their late teens and early twenties, we must open the door for them to the world outside.
If you’re going through this right now and feeling anxious, try to realize that you’re in one of the most challenging and difficult parts of parenting. Your tendency to hold tightly to the reins of control in order to keep your children from making mistakes is natural. But your children are more likely to make good choices if they aren’t compelled to rebel in order to achieve their freedom. The simple truth is that responsibility and maturity flourish best in an atmosphere of freedom. “As the Scriptures say, ‘A man leaves his father and mother.'”
The secret of success is in granting your child autonomy at the right time, in the right amount, and with the right attitude. Your goal should be to allow independence little by little through the years, as your children are able to manage new responsibility. The final release, then, should represent a small step in the direction of freedom instead of a tumble into anarchy.
In the final analysis, we all learn by trial and error. You did, and try as you may to avoid it, your children will, too. “So what should I do?” you ask. Pray for them daily, release them into God’s care, and let them know that you will always love them and be there for them.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Matt 1:1-17; Ps 103:13-22; Pro 10:14
2022-04-22
Jakobus 5:16 NLV
Terwyl hy op vakansie in Engeland was, het D.L. Moody ‘n kerk in Londen besoek wat geestelik dood was. Die pastoor het hom herken en gevra om die oggend- en aanddiens waar te neem. Teësinnig het Moody ingestem. Na die oggenddiens het hy vir ‘n vriend vertel dat die gemeente so stug was dat hy skaars sy preek kon klaarmaak. Hy het gewens dat hy nooit sy vakansieplanne onderbreek het nie en het die heel middag opgesien na die aand se preek.
Agter die skerms, het iets egter gebeur waarvan Moody niks geweet het nie. Na die oggenddiens het ‘n bejaarde dame haar invalide suster vir middagete ontmoet en haar van Moody se opkomende aanddiens vertel. Haar suster het uitgeroep: ‘Ek bid al lank dat God vir Moody Engeland toe moet stuur! Sit weg die middagete, Sus. Ons sal die middag daaraan bestee om vir vanaand se erediens te vas en te bid.’
Toe Moody die preekstoel daardie aand bestyg, het ‘n ‘elektriese’ gevoel van God se teenwoordigheid die kerkruim gevul. Moody se preek was begeesterd en toe hy ‘n uitnodiging uitstuur vir mense om Christus te volg, het vyfhonderd mense gereageer. Hy het gedink hulle het hom dalk misverstaan, dus het Moody hulle gevra om weer te sit terwyl hy weer die evangelie verduidelik het. Maar toe hy ‘n tweede uitnodiging rig, het dieselfde vyfhonderd opgestaan om Christus te ontvang.
Wat het daartoe bygedra? Twee bejaarde dames wat besef het dat hulle kerk die vuur van God se Gees desperaat nodig gehad het. Hulle het God se belofte geglo: ‘…Die gebed van iemand wie se saak met God reg is, het ‘n kragtige werking.’ Jou gebede kan die vuur van God aansteek en groot dinge laat gebeur.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 12-14; Luk 24:50-53; Ps 103:1-12; Spr 10:13
James 5:16 NCV
While vacationing in England, D.L. Moody visited a London church that was spiritually dead. The pastor recognized him and asked him to preach at the morning service. Reluctantly, Moody agreed. Afterward, he told a friend the congregation was so unresponsive it was all he could do to finish his sermon. Later, he remembered he had committed to preach there again that night. Wishing he had never interrupted his vacation plans, he spent the afternoon dreading what was ahead.
But behind the scenes, something was happening that Moody knew nothing about. After the morning service, an elderly lady met her invalid sister for lunch and told her about Moody’s upcoming visit. Her sister’s eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, “I’ve been praying God would send Moody to England! Put away the lunch, Sis. We’ll spend the afternoon fasting and praying for tonight’s service.”
When Moody took the pulpit that night, an “electric” sense of God’s presence filled the sanctuary. He preached like a man on fire, and when he issued an invitation for people to follow Christ, five hundred responded. Thinking they had misunderstood, Moody had them sit down while he re-explained the gospel call. But when he issued a second invitation, the same five hundred stood to receive Christ. That Sunday initiated one of the greatest revivals ever to sweep England.
What helped make it happen? Two elderly ladies who understood their church desperately needed the fire of God’s Spirit. They believed God’s promise, “When a believing person prays, great things happen.” Today, tap into the power of prayer. Your prayers can help ignite the fire of God and make great things happen.
Soul food: 1 Cor 12-14; Luke 24:50-53; Ps 103:1-12; Pro 10:13
Philippians 4:4 NCV
Paul wrote, ‘Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.’ Why did Paul repeat himself? Because joy is the fuel we run on, and unless we maintain it, we can run out. That means we need to regularly check our ‘fuel gauge’ to make sure we’re not being drawn into negativity and doubt. Jesus is a joy giver, and when we stay connected to Him, we can experience His joy regardless of our circumstances. In John 15:11, He said, ‘I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy’ (NCV).
When we really think about it, we have so many reasons for joy – God has forgiven our sins, He guides and protects us, He loves us more than we could imagine, we have a place in heaven… and so many more. In prison, Paul had so much joy that his jailers were won to Christ and a church sprang up in Caesar’s household (see Philippians 4:22).
People are always more influenced by our attitude than our theology. When they see us rejoicing in hard times, they’ll start to wonder what our secret is and think, ‘Whatever that person has, I need it’; they’ll become more open and receptive to the truth. The happiness the world offers us is only a reaction to our circumstances, whereas the joy that comes from living for Jesus lifts us above our circumstances. So let’s focus on His joy, draw on His joy, and demonstrate His joy to the world today.
1 Cor 12-14; Luke 24:50-53; Ps 103:1-12; Pro 10:13
