2026-04-25
Isaiah 48:15 NKJV
As a leader, you must understand what you do well and know where you need assistance. Your strengths and weaknesses don’t make you wrong or right; they just make you who you are. If you’ve ever heard the saying, “No man is an island,” it was probably said about a great leader. Few people achieve success on their own. Consider an actor in a play. He may be the one out front in the spotlight; with perfect hair, makeup, and costume; reciting poignant lines and getting all the applause. But he didn’t do it alone. He had to rely on the costume designer for the outfit he wore, the hair and makeup artists who made him look flawless, the playwright who wrote the words, and the lighting and sound crews who set the stage, etc. Good leaders are wise enough to surround themselves with people who have strengths that complement theirs. They are still in charge, but they have teams that help them achieve their vision.
You are a leader in some area of your life – home, family, work, church – and you know leadership has its challenges. While there are certainly many benefits, a leader has to deal with conflict, controversy, and naysayers who think they know better. This comes with the territory. But you can’t let others keep you from achieving your goals. Not everyone will be your cheerleader. That’s just a fact of life. If you are going to be an effective leader, hold fast to your vision, build a great team to help you, and stand on God’s promise: “I have called [you]… and [your] way will prosper.”
Soul food: Acts 20-21; Matt 5:6-12; Ps 144:9-15; Prov 11:12-13
2026-04-24
Job 22:21 NKJV
Within a matter of seconds, Vicky’s life was shattered. A trapeze artist, she lost control of the fly bar and landed head-first in the net. She broke her neck between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and became paralyzed, a quadriplegic. Three years after the accident, she had fallen into deep despair and self-pity, determined to take her life. Her attempt failed, and she ended up in a psychiatric hospital. On the fourth anniversary of her fall, she and her husband separated, and bitterness set in.
One day, a home-health aide was assigned to help Vicky. Her name was Mae Lynne, a strong Christian who introduced Vicky to Jesus Christ and the Bible. Vicky began to learn how to stand firm in her faith and walk in obedience to God. In addition, a pastor faithfully taught her God’s Word for two years.
Then Vicky began a ministry of encouragement by writing letters each week to prison inmates and others with disabilities. The more joy she brought to them, the more she experienced herself. She jokes, “Quadriplegics aren’t supposed to have this much joy, are they?” Vicky still uses a wheelchair, becomes dizzy at times, and has occasional respiratory problems. But she has a deep inner peace and strength because of her relationship with Jesus.
And you can have it too. Job said: “Acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up” (Job 22:21-23 NKJV).
Soul food: Acts 18-19; Matt 5:1-5; Ps 144:1-8; Prov 11:10-11
Job 22:21 NLV
Binne sekondes was Vicky se lewe aan skerwe. As sweefkunstenaar het sy beheer verloor en kop eerste in die veiligheidsnet beland. Sy het haar nek tussen die vyfde en sesde nekwerwels gebreek en was verlam, ‘n kwadrupleeg. Drie jaar na die ongeluk het sy in diepe wanhoop en selfbejammering verval, vasbeslote om haar lewe te neem. Haar poging het misluk en sy het in ‘n psigiatriese hospitaal beland. Op die vierde herdenking van haar ongeluk het sy en haar man geskei en bitterheid het by haar ingetree.
Eendag is ‘n assistent aangestel om Vicky te help en te versorg. Haar naam was Mae Lynne, ‘n ware Christen wat Vicky aan Jesus Christus en die Bybel bekendgestel het. Vicky het begin leer hoe om in haar geloof vas te staan en in gehoorsaamheid aan God te wandel. Daarbenewens het ‘n pastoor haar twee jaar lank getrou van God se Woord geleer.
Vicky het toe ‘n bediening van bemoediging begin deur elke week briewe aan gevangenes en ander mense met gestremdhede, te skryf. Hoe meer vreugde sy vir hulle gebring het, hoe meer vreugde het sy self ervaar. Sy skerts: ‘Kwadrupleë is nie veronderstel om soveel vreugde te hê nie, nè?’ Vicky gebruik steeds ‘n rolstoel, word soms duiselig en het af en toe asemhalingsprobleme. Sy het egter ook ‘n diep innerlike vrede en krag as gevolg van haar verhouding met Jesus.
Jy kan dit ook hê. Job het gesê: ‘Onderwerp jou aan God, dan sal jy vrede hê en sal alles met jou goed gaan. Luister na sy voorskrifte en bêre hulle in jou hart. As jy terugkeer na die Almagtige en jou lewe skoonmaak, sal jy herstel word’ (Job 22:21-23 NLV).
Sielskos: Hand 18-19; Matt 5:1-5; Ps 144:1-8; Spr 11:10-11
2026-04-23
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Paul wrote: “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” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT). Jesus said: “Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). Instead of meditating on our problems, we need to meditate on how good and loving our God really is.
When we keep our minds on our problems, we create anxiety. But when we keep our minds on the promises of God, we get infused with His peace. So, allow the promises of God to heal your soul of worry and stress by focusing on His goodness and willingness to show Himself strong on your behalf. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT).
Our heavenly Father loves us dearly and already knows everything we need. When we take hold of that truth, fear and doubt fall by the wayside. Confession: “I don’t give in to needless worry. I pray about problems rather than complain about them. God hears my prayers, and I thank Him for all He has provided for me. I experience God’s peace because I know He hears me and has already answered my prayers in Christ.”
Soul food: Acts 16-17; Matt 4:18-25; Ps 7:10-17; Prov 11:7-9
1 Petrus 5:7 NLV
Paulus het geskryf: ‘Moet oor niks bekommerd wees nie, maar bid oor alles. Vra alles wat julle nodig het van God, terwyl julle Hom ook dank vir alles wat Hy doen. As julle so bid, sal julle God se vrede beleef. Hierdie vrede is wonderliker as wat ‘n mens ooit kan dink…’ (Filippense 4:6-7 NLV). Jesus het gesê: ‘Moet julle dus nie bekommer en vra: ‘Wat sal ons tog eet?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons drink?’ of: ‘Wat sal ons aantrek?’ nie. Dit is die ongelowiges wat oor hierdie soort dinge begaan is. Julle hemelse Vader weet tog dat julle dit alles nodig het. Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle heel eerste prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:31-33 NLV).
Wanneer ons ons gedagtes op ons probleme fokus, ervaar ons angs. Wanneer ons egter ons gedagtes op die beloftes van God fokus, word ons met sy vrede deurdrenk. Laat dus die beloftes van God jou siel van bekommernis en stres genees deur op sy goedheid en bereidwilligheid om namens jou sterk te wees, te fokus. ‘Die Here kyk oor die hele aarde om hulle te help wat met hulle hele hart op Hom vertrou…’ (2 Kronieke 16:9 NLV).
Ons hemelse Vader het ons innig lief en weet reeds alles wat ons nodig het. Bely die volgende: ‘Ek gee nie aan onnodige bekommernis toe nie. Ek bid oor probleme eerder as om daaroor te kla. God verhoor my gebede en ek dank Hom vir alles wat Hy vir my voorsien het. Ek ervaar God se vrede omdat ek weet dat Hy my hoor en reeds my gebede in Christus geantwoord het.’
Sielskos: Hand 16-17; Matt 4:18-25; Ps 7:10-17; Spr 11:7-9
