2023-07-13
2 Timothy 4:16 NLT
What’s the proper way to deal with loneliness?
(1) Learn to be alone without feeling lonely. Jesus often left the crowd to be alone with His Father in prayer. Why? Because He knew that solitude is essential to spiritual growth. And He came back from those times personally enriched and better equipped to deal with the challenges of life. The Bible says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day” (Genesis 32:24 NKJV). Out of that time alone with God came a man with a new name, a new nature, a new walk, and a new future. Plus, when people realize that you can enjoy your favourite dish or movie or other activity alone, they are attracted by your strength, independence, and confidence.
(2) Reject the idea that you cannot live without a certain person in your life. God is the only person you must have, and He has promised to always stay with you (See Hebrews 13:5). Many times, we fall into depression after the death of a loved one because we haven’t cultivated an outside life. But it’s never too late to get started. And God will help you. Paul wrote: “The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear” (2 Timothy 4:16-17 NLT). God will help you to grieve your loss, leave your loss, and go on to what He has for you next.
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:16-31; Prov 15:23-26
2023-07-12
Psalm 102:7 NKJV
Wolfgang Dircks, a divorced, disabled loner, was found deceased in his apartment in Bonn, Germany, in December 1998 – five years after he died. He was forty-three and died watching television. Neighbours didn’t notice his absence. His landlord came by after the bank account from which his rent was paid dried up. A TV schedule was still sitting on the lap of Dircks’s skeleton and was open to the page of December 5, 1993 – the apparent date of his death. The television had long since stopped in the on position, but the lights on his 1993 Christmas tree were still glowing.
When God created us, He said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 2:18 NKJV). You were created to be in relationship. You don’t have to accept loneliness as your destiny.
Instead: (1) Find a need and meet it. Often loneliness is not the absence of people, but purpose. Show a true interest in the difficulties of others. Resist making your own issues and worries the aim of every conversation. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV).
(2) Be generous to others with your time, talents, and treasure. Not everyone will accept what you offer, but someone will. Pray for guidance and keep reaching out. God says, “To me, you are very dear, and I love you…” (Isaiah 43:4 CEV).
Soul food: Jer 45-48; Matt 25:31-46; Ps 109:1-15; Prov 15:22
Psalm 102:8 NLV
Wolfgang Dircks, ‘n geskeide, gestremde alleenloper, is in Desember 1998 – vyf jaar nadat hy dood is – in sy woonstel in Bonn, Duitsland, gevind. Hy was drie-en-veertig jaar oud en het gesterf terwyl hy televisie gekyk het. Sy bure het niks agtergekom nie. Die woonstel se eienaar het hom kom opsoek nadat die bankrekening waaruit sy huur betaal is, opgedroog het. ‘n TV-skedule het steeds op die skoot van Dircks se geraamte gelê en was oop op die bladsy van 5 Desember 1993 – die oënskynlike datum van sy dood. Die televisie het lankal die gees gegee, maar die liggies op sy Kersboom van 1993 het steeds gebrand.
Toe God ons geskep het, het Hy gesê: ‘…Dis nie goed dat die mens alleen is nie. Ek sal vir hom ‘n metgesel maak, sy gelyke wat hom kan help’ (Genesis 2:18 NLV). Jy is geskep om verhoudings te hê. Jy hoef nie eensaamheid as jou lotsbestemming te aanvaar nie.
Doen eerder die volgende: 1) Identifiseer ‘n behoefte en voldoen daaraan. Dikwels is eensaamheid nie die afwesigheid van mense nie, maar van ‘n doel. Toon ‘n ware belangstelling in ander se probleme. Weerstaan die drang om jou eie probleme en bekommernisse die doel van elke gesprek te maak. ‘Moet niks uit selfsug doen of om daarmee te spog nie. Wees eerder nederig deur van medegelowiges meer te dink as van jouself. Julle moenie net elkeen na sy eie belange omsien nie, maar ook na mekaar se belange’ (Filippense 2:3-4 NVL).
2) Wees vrygewig met jou tyd, talente en skatte. Nie almal sal dit wat jy bied aanvaar nie, maar iemand sal. Bid vir leiding en hou aan om uit te reik. God sê: ‘…Jy is so dierbaar vir My. Jy is belangrik vir My. Ek is baie lief vir jou’ (Jesaja 43:4 DB).
Sielskos: Jer 45-48; Matt 25:31-46; Ps 109:1-15; Spr 15:22
2023-07-11
1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV
Sometimes you experience more problems after you become a Christian than you did before. “Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering” (Hebrews 10:32 NLT). Consider the life of Christ. “After his baptism… the heavens… opened… And a voice… said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy'” (Matthew 3:16-17 NLT). Then we read: “Jesus was led…into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil” (Matthew 4:1 NLT). First the call, then the conflict. And that’s still how it works!
When Paul was called into ministry, he was given “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted” (2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV). So when you say yes to God, prepare for attack. Satan attacks what he fears, and he fears God’s plan for your life. When a player starts scoring, the other team targets him because they know he is capable of winning. Getting the idea?
Before Jesus launched His ministry, Satan offered Him the kingdoms of the world, and he will make you the same offer. So, the only safe place to be is in the center of God’s will. When Noah was building the ark, he could withstand a hundred years of scorn, but when the job was done, he ended up drunk and disgraced. Paul writes, “These things… were written down to warn us… If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:11, 12 NLT).
So, the word for you today is – be on your guard!
Soul food: Jer 41-44; Matt 25:14-30; Ps 79; Prov 15:18-21
2023-07-10
1 John 2:1 NAS
On those days when you wonder how God could love you, read these words: “If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” When your thoughts sink to gutter level and your actions are anything but Christlike, remind yourself: “He lives forever to intercede with God on [our] behalf” (Hebrews 7:25 NLT). It works like this: When God’s law declares you guilty, Jesus steps in and says, “Father, I have this person covered; they are trusting in my shed blood, and My righteousness has been transferred to them.”
Try to picture this: In the Old Testament tabernacle, the blood of a lamb was poured on top of the mercy seat, and the ark of the covenant that contained the broken law – the record of our guilt – was placed underneath it. So, the only way God could see the broken law – was through the blood. And it’s the same today! If you’re wondering why God continues to love, accept, and bless you, it’s because Jesus is your lawyer! Notice:
(1) He is fully qualified to represent you. “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17 KJV).
(2) He has never lost a case. “He is… able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25 NKJV).
(3) He offers His services freely. “Without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1 KJV). The Bible says, “Let us… approach God’s throne of grace with confidence… that we may receive mercy and… grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
Jesus is your lawyer, so you can come to God with confidence today.
Soul food: Jer 36:27-40:16; Matt 25:1-13; Ps 137; Prov 15:15-17
2023-07-09
Mark 9:23 NKJV
No-limits people refuse to accept things as they are because they see them as they can be. Instead of saying, “It can’t be done,” they rise up in faith and say, “All things are possible to him who believes.” No-limits people have faults and failures like everybody else. The difference is, they walk by faith to the cliff’s edge knowing that one of two things will happen when they get there. Either God will put solid rock under their feet, or He will teach them to fly. In other words, they plug into God’s unlimited power supply.
The author of the book of Hebrews describes no-limits people like this: “Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle” (Hebrews 11:33-34 NIV). Notice, these people started out weak, but they became strong. How? “Through faith.” They possessed the kind of faith that disregards the odds, the obstacles, and the opposition, and declares, “I am what God says I am, I have what God says I have, and I can do what God says I can.”
The story is told of an old Scottish foreman who worked hard on the job and expected the same from his workers. One day one of them said, “Jock, don’t you know Rome wasn’t built in a day?” Smiling, Jock replied, “Aye, but I wasn’t the foreman on that job.” Today ask God to help you rise above your fears and make you a no-limits person.
Soul food: Exo 17:1-7; John 4:4-42
