2017-08-14
Psalm 119:58 NKJV
One moment of God’s favour will do more for you than a lifetime of striving. Through the favour of God, Ruth went from being a penniless widow to becoming the wife of Boaz, a wealthy man. It’s what made Esther a queen and positioned her to save the Jewish nation. As you begin to walk in God’s favour, doors of opportunity open, the right people are drawn to you, and you discover ideas, strategies, and resources in the most unexpected places. Does that mean you won’t experience opposition? No; when you’re doing anything worthwhile you must expect flak from those who aren’t privy to God’s plan for your life. It goes with the turf. But the Bible says even “the king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1 NLT). Like changing the direction of a moving stream, God can change people’s hearts and give you favour with those who might otherwise reject or overlook you. Solomon writes, “When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand” (Proverbs 16:7 TM). So when people oppose or disagree with you, just concentrate on pleasing God and let Him deal with the fallout. Remember, God takes up where you leave off. He can give you blessings that, humanly speaking, you don’t deserve and qualify for. Just as the Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to fulfil His life’s mission, He will equip and enable you to fulfil His plan for your life (See Luke 4:18-19). So stop trying so hard to make things happen on your own terms, and start praying for God’s favour. He has promised it to you and He keeps His promises.
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 119:65-72; Prov 21:10-13
2017-08-13
Jeremia 29:11 NLV
Die mense van Israel het as slawe in Babilon geleef omdat hulle ongehoorsaam aan God was en besluit het om hulle eie ding te doen. Hulle het egter ‘n hoë prys daarvoor betaal. Hulle het hulle huise, werk, vryheid en selfrespek verloor. Het dit met jou gebeur? Dan is hier vir jou goeie nuus. God sê, ‘…Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê. Julle sal na My roep en kom bid. Ek sal na julle luister. As julle heelhartig na My soek, sal julle My vind… Ek sal julle uit gevangenskap laat terugkeer…’ (Jeremia 29:11-14 NLV). Dit beteken dat God steeds ‘n plan vir jou lewe het. As jy Hom ‘heelhartig’ soek, sal Hy dit aan jou openbaar. Jy vra, ‘Hoe weet jy dat God steeds ‘n plan vir my lewe het?’ Omdat jy nog steeds asemhaal! Hy het ‘n plan vir elke liewe persoon wat Hy nog ooit geskep het, en hierdie plan verval nooit nie. God se planne het nie vervaldatums soos die melk wat jy in die winkel koop nie. Selfs as jy afgedwaal het en sy plan jare lank gemis het, kan daardie plan weer in effek kom die oomblik wat jy jou lewe aan Hom gee en in lyn met Sy wil kom. Die plan mag dalk nou bietjie anders lyk as twintig jaar terug toe jy eintlik aandag daaraan moes gee, maar dit keer God nie. Hy kan Sy plan aanpas om by enige lewe wat al ooit geleef is in te pas, insluitend joune.
Sielskos: Pred 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; Jak 4:14
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
The people of Israel ended up living as slaves in Babylon because they disobeyed God and decided to do their own thing. And they paid a high price for it. They lost their homes, their jobs, their freedom, and their self-respect. Has that happened to you? Well, there’s good news. God says: “The plans I have for you… are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me… I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NLT). That means God still has a plan for your life. And if you seek Him “wholeheartedly,” He will reveal it to you. You ask, “How do you know God still has a plan for me?” Because you’re still breathing! He has a plan for every single person He ever created, and it never goes out of date. Unlike the milk in your supermarket that has an expiration date after which it can’t be used, God’s plans don’t have expiration dates. Even if you’ve gone astray and missed His plan for years, that plan can still swing into operation the moment you turn your life over to Him and fall into line with His will. Now the plan may be somewhat modified from what it would have been twenty years ago if you’d paid attention, but that doesn’t stop God. He can adapt to fit anything that comes up in any life that’s ever lived, including yours.
Soul food: Eccl 11:7-12:1; Ps 39:4-13; Jas 4:14
2017-08-12
Matthew 24:35 NIV
One of the first books to come off the printing press when it was invented was the Bible. And it’s still the world’s best-selling book. An anonymous author has written: ‘It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s road map, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s weapon, and the player’s game plan. It’s a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, your good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practise it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and judge those who trifle with its sacred contents.’ The Bible is ‘the word of our God [which] endures forever’ (Isaiah 40:8 NIV 2011 Edition). Most of us respect the Bible; the trouble is we don’t read it daily and put it into practice. After hearing a discussion on various translations of the Bible, one man said: ‘I prefer my mother’s translation, because she translated it into everyday life.’ Are you doing that?
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 119:57-64; Prov 21:7-9
Matteus 24:35 NLV
Een van die eerste boeke wat na die uitvinding van die drukpers gedruk is, was die Bybel. Dit is steeds een van die wêreld se topverkopers. ‘n Anonieme skrywer merk op: ‘Dit bevat die gedagtes van God, die toestand van die mensdom, die pad na verlossing, die noodlot van die sondaars en die geluk van die gelowiges. Dit is ‘n lig wat jou lei, kos wat jou voed en troos wat jou opbeur. Dit is die reisiger se padkaart, die vlieënier se kompas, die soldaat se wapen en die speler se spelplan. Dit is ‘n myn vol ongelooflike rykdom en ‘n rivier van ware vreugde. Sy doktrines is heilig, sy bevele is bindend, sy geskiedenis is waar en sy besluite is onveranderlik. Christus is die hoofonderwerp, dit wat goed is vir jou is die inhoud, en die glorie van God is die slotwoord. Lees dit om wys te wees, glo dit om veilig te wees en beoefen dit om geestelik gesond te wees. Lees dit stadig, gereeld en met gebed. Laat dit jou gedagtes vul, jou hart regeer en jou treë rig. Dit word aan jou in die lewe gegee, dit sal tydens die oordeelsdag oopgemaak word en vir ewig onthou word. Dit behels die grootste verantwoordelikheid, sal die hardste werk beloon en sal diegene wat met die heilige inhoud daarvan spot, oordeel.’ Die Bybel is ‘…die woord van God [wat] bly vir altyd’ (Jesaja 40:8 NLV). Die meeste van ons respekteer die Bybel, maar die moeilikheid ontstaan wanneer ons dit nie daagliks lees en toepas nie. Nadat hy na ‘n bespreking oor verskeie vertalings van die Bybel geluister het, het ‘n man gesê: ‘Ek verkies my ma se vertaling, want dit word in haar daaglikse lewe vertaal.’ Doen jy dit?
Sielskos: 1 Kron 19:1-23:20; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 119:57-64; Spr 21:7-9
