2026-03-02
John 15:16 KJV
It doesn’t take many people to bring about change. In fact, too many people can get in the way. Gideon took 32,000 to fight, but God needed only 300. He doesn’t care how many can be counted – He cares only about how many can be counted on. The truth is that your life could be messed up because too many people are telling you what to do. Hang up the phone. Shut the door. Turn off the TV. Get down before God and ask Him to speak to you. He will give you the word you need (see Isaiah 50:4).
God doesn’t need a crowd; He just needs one who will listen and obey. If He wants to start a nation, He’ll give hope and vision to an Abraham. If He wants to bring down an Egyptian Pharaoh, He’ll reach into the bulrushes and pull out a Moses. When He wants a lineage for His Son, He’ll go to the “red light district” and find a Rahab. He’s just looking for a willing heart. Listen again: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.”
Ethel Waters, who sang with the Billy Graham crusades, loved to say, “God don’t sponsor no flops.” Her grammar was slightly off, but her theology was “right on.” Don’t spend your life trying to be ordinary. Don’t pour your life into the mold of someone else’s expectations. God has an agenda for you. The reason He’s brought you through so much is that He has a higher plan and purpose for your life. Get into His presence today and ask Him about it.
Soul food: 1 Ki 18:16-20:43; Luke 12:35-48; Ps 66:13-20; Prov 6:23-25
2026-03-01
Jakobus 5:16 NLV
As gevolg van die verbintenis met ons geliefdes, kry ons seer wanneer hulle seerkry. Een van die belangrikste dinge wat ons kan doen, is om in gebed vir diegene wat genesing nodig het, in te tree. God kan ons as ‘n agent van genesing gebruik: ‘Daarom moet julle julle sondes teenoor mekaar bely en vir mekaar bid sodat julle gesond kan word. Die gebed van iemand wie se saak met God reg is, het ‘n kragtige werking.’ Ons sien hierdie beginsel dwarsdeur die Bybel.
‘n Romeinse offisier het Jesus gevra om sy slaaf te genees en Christus het hom nie teleurgestel nie (sien Matteus 8:5-7). Vier mense het die dak van ‘n huis oopgebreek om hul siek vriend in Jesus se teenwoordigheid te kry, sodat hy van verlamming genees kon word. Jesus het vir hom gesê: ‘Staan op, tel jou bed op en loop’ (sien Markus 2:1-11). ‘n Besorgde pa het na Jesus gegaan toe sy dogter op die randjie van die dood was. Terwyl Jesus nog op pad was na sy huis, het sy dogtertjie gesterf. Jesus het na haar bed toe gestap en gesê: ‘…’Dogtertjie, staan op!’ Onmiddellik het die dogtertjie op haar voete gekom en begin rondstap – sy was immers al twaalf jaar oud. Haar ouers was absoluut in ekstase’ (Markus 5:41-42 NLV).
Een van die laaste beloftes wat Jesus vir ons gegee het voordat Hy opgevaar het hemel toe, was die volgende: ‘Hierdie is die wondertekens wat dié sal beleef wat glo… Hulle sal siekes die hande oplê, en hulle sal gesond word’ (Markus 16:17-18 NLV). Bely die volgende: ‘As ‘n gelowige in Christus, het ek die gesag om te bid, om hande op die siekes te lê en te sien hoe hulle genees word, want die Gees van God woon in my.’
Sielskos: Gal 5:22-23; 1 Kor 10:13; 2 Tim 1:7; Jak 1:19-20
James 5:16 AMPC
Because of the connection we have with those we love, when they hurt, we hurt. One of the greatest things we can do is intercede in prayer for those who need healing. God can use us as an agent of healing: “Pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (AMPC). We see this principle throughout the Bible.
A Roman centurion went to Jesus for the healing of his servant, and Christ did not disappoint him (see Matthew 8:5-7). Four people tore the roof off a house to get their sick friend into the presence of Jesus so he could be healed of palsy. And Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your bed and walk” (see Mark 2:1-11). A concerned father went to Jesus when his daughter was at the point of death. Because Jesus was delayed, the little girl died anyway. Jesus walked to her bedside and said: “‘Little girl, I say to you, arise.’ Immediately the girl arose and walked… And they were overcome with great amazement” (Mark 5:41-42 NKJV).
One of the last promises Jesus gave us before leaving this earth was: “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will… lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV). Confession: “As a believer in Christ, I have the authority to pray, to lay hands on the sick, and see them recover because the Spirit of God lives in me.”
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Tim 1:7;
Jam 1:19-20
2026-02-28
Proverbs 22:7 NIV
Good credit establishes your future buying power. But when you misuse debt, you experience anxiety each month as you pull the envelope from the mailbox with the credit card bill that says you’ve spent more than you can afford. And what about the unexpected challenges of life? Your car needs a new transmission, or you need a medical procedure not covered by your insurance. The things you buy don’t just cost you money; there are other less tangible costs such as your peace of mind and your sense of security.
You forfeit these things when you continue to live beyond your means and throw good money after bad debt by taking out “interest-only” loans, no-down-payment financing, and other seemingly “easy” financing options. Like a juggler, you keep the plates in the air by making minimum payments each month. But eventually, you get tired of the stress and the plates begin to fall. You borrow money to stay afloat and then spend sleepless nights wondering how you’ll be able to keep up with the payments. Your embarrassment only compounds the situation as you hide your financial problems and put on a good face, cutting yourself off from the help you desperately need.
If you’re in debt, what’s the solution? (1) Identify the emotions that led you to purchase items you couldn’t afford in order to fill some unnamed hole within you. (2) Live on a budget. “There is desirable treasure… in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it” (Proverbs 21:20 NKJV). (3) Develop a plan for getting out of debt and staying out of it!
Soul food: 1 Ki 16:1-18:15; Luke 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Prov 6:20-22
Spreuke 22:7 NLV
Goeie krediet bepaal jou toekomstige koopkrag. Wanneer jy egter skuld misbruik, is jy elke maand angstig wanneer jy jou kredietkaartrekening ontvang wat wys dat jy meer bestee het as wat jy kan bekostig. Wat ook van die onverwagte uitgawes in die lewe? Jou motor benodig ‘n nuwe ratkas, of jy moet ‘n prosedure ondergaan wat nie deur jou mediese versekering gedek word nie. Die dinge wat jy koop kos jou nie net geld nie; daar is ook ander minder tasbare kostes soos jou gemoedsrus en jou gevoel van sekuriteit daaraan verbonde.
Jy verbeur hierdie dinge wanneer jy aanhou om bo jou vermoë te leef en goeie geld agter slegte skuld aan te gooi deur van persoonlike lenings en ander finansieringsopsies gebruik te maak. Jy probeer al die balle in die lug hou deur elke maand die minimum betalings te maak. Uiteindelik word jy egter moeg van al die stres en die balle begin op die grond val. Jy begin geld leen om kop bo water te hou en bestee dan slapelose nagte om te wonder hoe jy met die terugbetalings gaan byhou. Jou verleentheid vererger net die situasie, wanneer jy jou finansiële probleme wegsteek en jouself van die hulp wat jy dringend nodig het, afsny.
Wat is dan die oplossing vir skuld? 1) Identifiseer die emosies wat jou daartoe gelei het om items te koop wat jy nie kan bekostig nie om ‘n naamlose leemte binne-in jou te vul. 2) Leef volgens ‘n begroting. ‘In ‘n wyse mens se huis is altyd kosbare besittings en uitgesoekte olie. ‘n Dwase mens gebruik alles op wat hy in sy huis het’ (Spreuke 21:20 NLV). (3) Ontwikkel ‘n plan om jou skuld af te betaal en skuldvry te bly!
Sielskos: 1 Kon 16:1-18:15; Luk 12:22-34; Ps 66:1-12; Spr 6:20-22
