2026-04-01
Job 32:8 NIV
Elihu suddenly spoke up in Job chapter thirty-two. It’s apparent he had been present all along, but he held his peace because he believed Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were older and wiser than he was. “I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know” (Job 32:6 NIV).
After hearing the long and meaningless discourses of Job’s three older friends, Elihu suddenly felt emboldened to speak: “It is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. It is not only the old who are wise… Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know” (Job 32:8-10 NIV). Then he spoke nonstop for the next six chapters. He no longer saw himself as a loser in the game of comparison.
Feelings of inferiority are generated by comparing yourself with others. Or you go to the other extreme and finish up with a sense of superiority. That’s why you should never play the comparison game.
Question: Can you recall a time when you felt so inadequate that you kept quiet and refused to speak up, even though you had a worthwhile thought or idea? You must realize that it is not your ability that determines your success, but “the breath of the Almighty, that gives [you] understanding.” The secret of success is drawing daily on God’s enabling power. When you become persuaded of this truth, you will be able to take on new levels of risk and responsibility without fear of failure.
Soul food: Deut 16:1-8; Luke 22:39-71; Matt 26:17-28
2026-03-31
Matteus 6:10 NLV
Elke keer wanneer jy konflik met iemand het, maar na hulle toe gaan en versoening en vergifnis vra – breek God se koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wanneer jy geld aan iemand wat honger of haweloos of arm is gee – breek die koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wat iemand ‘n verslawing met God se hulp probeer oorkom en bereid is om hulp by ‘n liefdevolle gemeenskap te kry – breek die koninkryk in hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer as ‘n ouer wat aan sy of haar werk verslaaf is besluit om op te hou om hul werk te verafgod, hul lewe te herrangskik en die gesin wat aan hulle toevertrou is, te begin liefhê en versorg – breek die koninkryk in die hierdie wêreld aan. Elke keer wat jy iemand insluit wat eensaam is, elke keer as jy iemand aanmoedig wat ontmoedig is, elke keer wat jy iemand wat van die pad afdwaal uitdaag en elke keer wanneer jy die behoeftiges dien – breek die koninkryk van God in hierdie wêreld aan.
Jesus het ons geleer om te bid: ‘Laat u koningsheerskappy spoedig kom. Laat u wil hier op aarde uitgevoer word soos in die hemel.’ Let op dat Hy nie vir ons gesê het om te bid: ‘Kry my hier uit sodat ek na God se koninkryk kan gaan!’ nie. Sy gebed was: ‘Laat die hemelse dinge aarde toe kom. Laat dinge hier onder, in my lewe, verloop soos hulle daar bo in die hemel verloop.’
Die antwoord op hierdie gebed begin by jou persoonlik: jou liggaam, jou verstand, jou denkwyses, ens. Dan versprei dit na jou werkplek, jou familie, jou buurt, jou kerk en jou invloedsfeer. Dit alles begin deur jouself hierdie vraag af te vra: ‘Waar wil ek God se teenwoordigheid en krag in my wêreld sien aanbreek?
Sielskos: Jer 22-24; Luk 22:1-38; Ps 6; Spr 8:34-36
Matthew 6:10 NKJV
Every time you are in conflict with someone, but you go to them and seek reconciliation and forgiveness – the kingdom is breaking into this world. Every time you have a chunk of money and decide to give significantly to somebody who is hungry or homeless or poor – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Any time someone has an addiction and wants to partner with God so much that they are willing to get help from a loving community – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Every time a workaholic parent decides to stop idolizing their job, rearranges their life, and begins to love and care for the family entrusted to them – the kingdom is breaking into the world. Every time you include someone who’s lonely, every time you encourage someone who’s defeated, every time you challenge somebody who’s wandering off the path, and every time you serve the needy – the kingdom of God is once more breaking into the world.
Jesus taught us to pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Notice He didn’t tell us to pray, “Get me out of here so I can go up there!” His prayer was, “Make up there come down here. Make things run down here, in my life, the way they run up there.”
The answer to this prayer begins with you personally: your body, your mind, your appetites, etc. Then it spreads to your workplace, your family, your neighbourhood, your church, and your sphere of influence. And it all starts by asking yourself this question: “Where do I want to see God’s presence and power break into my world?
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Luke 22:1-38; Ps 6; Prov 8:34-36
2026-03-30
1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV
When the people of Israel brought offerings to build the temple, David said: “For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours… Both riches and honour come from You… All things come from You, and of Your own we have given You” (vv. 11-12, 14 NKJV).
Imagine for a minute that you’re responsible for giving away someone else’s money. You aren’t allowed to spend it; you can only decide where it goes. When you think of it that way, it’s not hard to imagine finding pleasure in playing the philanthropist. Who wouldn’t enjoy being a vital lifeline to those who truly need it? Or wouldn’t you sleep a little better knowing that you had made a difference in the world? Yet as a steward over what God has entrusted to you, that’s the situation you find yourself in.
You have been given someone else’s money and the opportunity to decide where it goes. The only thing that stands between you and unbridled joy is embracing that reality and pouring yourself into the work of God’s kingdom in the earth.
A farmer doesn’t acquire seed to consume or hoard it. He only decides where to plant it. And only after the seed has been irrevocably cast into the ground is a harvest returned. That’s how joy is realized. If you’ve yet to find your beneficiaries in this world, you could be depriving yourself of a joy you were created to know. Just beyond the fear that is dampening your generosity awaits a harvest of joy. Hence Paul wrote: “See that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV).
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Luke 21:34-38; Ps 31; Prov 8:32-33
1 Kronieke 29:14 NLV
Toe die volk van Israel offers gebring het om die tempel te bou, het Dawid gesê: ‘…Alles in die hemel en op die aarde behoort aan U, Here… Rykdom en eer kom van U alleen… Alles wat ons het, kom van U af, en ons gee vir U net dit wat U reeds vir ons gegee het!’ (verse 11-12, 14 NLV).
Stel jou vir ‘n oomblik voor dat jy daarvoor verantwoordelik is om iemand anders se geld weg te gee. Jy mag dit nie spandeer nie; jy mag net besluit waarheen dit moet gaan. ‘n Mens sal dit geniet om so ‘n filantroop te wees! Wie sou dit nie geniet om ‘n lewenslyn te wees vir diegene wat dit werklik nodig het nie? Sou jy nie ‘n bietjie rustiger slaap as jy weet dat jy ‘n verskil in die wêreld gemaak het nie?
Dit is die situasie waarin jy jou as rentmeester oor dit wat God aan jou toevertrou het, bevind. Aan jou is iemand anders se geld en die geleentheid om te besluit waarheen dit moet gaan, gegee. Die enigste iets wat tussen jou en ongebreidelde vreugde staan, is om daardie werklikheid te omhels en jouself in die werk van God se koninkryk op aarde te stort.
‘n Boer koop nie saad om dit te eet of te bêre nie. Hy besluit waar om dit te plant. Eers nadat die saad onherroeplik in die grond geplant is, word ‘n oes teruggegee. Dit is hoe vreugde verwesenlik word. Net anderkant die vrees wat jou vrygewigheid demp, wag ‘n oes van vreugde. Daarom het Paulus geskryf: ‘…munt dan nou ook uit in hierdie liefdeswerk’ (2 Korintiërs 8:7 NLV).
Sielskos: Jer 18-21; Luk 21:34-38; Ps 31; Spr 8:32-33
