2017-10-18
Proverbs 28:13 TM
Julie Ann Barnhill continues: “The ‘father of lies’ (John 8:44 NIV) wants us to believe there are things we’ve done that can make God’s love for us end. And on occasion I’ve swallowed three of his favoriet lies. Lie number one: You’re the only person who ever did that. Few things can send me down the road of condemnation and guilt like anger issues… While outwardly I came across as ‘together,’ I knew the verbal and physical boundaries I crossed behind closed doors. I confessed to friends, hoping to hear I wasn’t alone. But there was dead silence, and the Enemy whispered, ‘I told you nobody else had done those things. You’re beyond help.’ I believed this until God drew me back to Bible truths I learned and believed since childhood. (a) If I confess my wrongs, He’ll forgive me time after time. (b) If I allow Him, He’ll change my thought patterns and strengthen me to do what’s right. (c) And even if I fail, Jesus remains faithful; it’s impossible for Him not to…Three years later…before a packed audience, I told hundreds of mothers where I’d been, and assured them they weren’t the only ones who’d said, done, and thought whatever they were currently beating themselves up about. Women lined up to speak to me. Some stood quietly with their heads bowed. Others fought to maintain their composure as the Enemy’s lies were exposed and defeated…I never grow tired of hearing another [person] say, ‘Thanks for being honest!’ The Lord has shown me I’m not the only one who’s done the things I’ve done.” Now that’s real freedom!
Soul food: Ecc 4-6; John 10:11-21; Ps 76; Prov 30:15-17
1 Johannes 5:14 NLV
Daar is ‘n verhaal van drie mans wat op ‘n eiland gestrand was; met min hoop om gered te word. Eendag het hulle op die eiland rondgeloop toe een van hulle ‘n ou, geroeste lamp optel. Toe hy dit vryf, het daar ‘n djin te voorskyn gekom wat aan elkeen van die mans een wens gegee het. Die eerste man het gesê, ‘Ek wens ek was terug in my kantoor in Boston.’ Poef! Hy was daar. Die tweede een het gesê, ‘Ek wens ek was tuis by my familie in Londen.’ Poef! Hy was daar. Die derde man het rondgekyk en gesê, ‘Dis so eensaam hier, ek wens my vriende was terug hier saam met my.’ Die probleem met wensdenkery is dat djinns en towerlampe nie bestaan nie. God bestaan egter! Omdat Hy in beheer van jou lewe is, is Hy magtiger as enige djin. Wanneer jou gebede in lyn met sy wil is, kan hulle ‘n realiteit word. ‘Leer die Bybel ons dit?’ vra jy. Ja; dit sê: ‘Dit is die vrymoedigheid wat ons voor God het, dat wat ons ook al volgens sy wil vra, Hy na ons luister. As ons dan met die wete leef dat Hy na ons luister, na wat ons ook al vra, dan weet ons ook dat Hy die versoek wat ons gevra het, sal toestaan’ (verse 14-15 NLV). Wanneer jou gebed in lyn met God se wil is, benodig jy nog een ding – geloof. Geloof doen twee dinge: a) Dit maak jou oë oop met die besef dat God se beloftes vir jou persoonlik bedoel is. b) Dit tree soos ‘n magneet op, wat die vervulling van sy belofte in jou lewe intrek. Waarvoor wens jy? As dit God se wil is – kan jy dit kry.
Sielskos: Eks 36-38; Joh 4:13-26; Ps 41; Spr 27:7-9
2017-10-17
Isaiah 12:2 NKJV
How much of a factor is fear in your life? Go ahead, take the fear test. Circle the number that best corresponds to how you feel. (1) I don’t remember the last time I was really afraid. (2) I am afraid rarely, and only when I or someone close to me is in physical danger. (3) I am a little more fearful than I’d like to be. (4) Fear is a significant factor in my everyday life. I avoid anything risky or dangerous. (5) I’m afraid of many things on a daily basis, and it changes the way I live my life. If you circled number one you’re an unusual individual who doesn’t experience normal fear. You may have to temper your actions with greater discernment and wisdom. If you circled number two, you have a healthy attitude toward fear and you’ve got a handle on it. You should try to encourage others who have a more difficult time with fear than you do. If you circled number three or four, you’re in an excellent position to improve your life by changing your attitude. Begin by identifying the source of your fears, and determining to turn your fear into faith in God (See Romans 10:17). For each area of fear, figure out a positive opposite, and create a plan of action to cultivate that quality. Then focus on what you can control today. If you circled number five, chances are fear is getting the better of you and you’ll have a difficult time overcoming it on your own. So pray and reprogram your mind with God’s Word (See 1 Timothy 1:7). And don’t be afraid to seek help from a trusted friend or counselor.
Soul food: Exo 33-35; John 4:1-12; Ps 87; Prov 27:4-6
Jesaja 12:2 NLV
Hoe ‘n groot faktor is vrees in jou lewe? Kom, neem die vreestoets. Sirkel die nommer wat die beste met dit wat jy voel, korrespondeer: 1) Ek kan nie die laaste keer onthou wat ek regtig bang was nie. 2) Ek is selde bang en ook net wanneer ek of iemand naby aan my in fisiese gevaar is. 3) Ek is ‘n bietjie meer vol vrees as wat ek graag sal wil wees. 4) Vrees is ‘n aansienlik faktor in my alledaagse lewe. Ek vermy enigiets riskant of onveilig. 5) Ek is op ‘n daaglikse basis vir baie dinge bang en dit verander die manier wat ek my lewe lei. As jy nommer een gesirkel het, is jy ‘n ongewone individu wat nie normale vrees ervaar nie. Jy mag dalk jou aksies met groter wysheid moet temper. As jy nommer twee gesirkel het, het jy ‘n gesonde houding teenoor vrees en kan jy dit hanteer. As jy nommer drie of vier gesirkel het, is jy in ‘n uitstekende posisie om jou lewe te verbeter deur jou houding te verander. Begin deur die bron van jou vrese te identifiseer en wees gedetermineerd om jou vrees in geloof in God te verander (sien Romeine 10:17). Dink aan ‘n positiewe teenoorgestelde vir elke area van vrees en skep dan ‘n plan om daardie kwaliteit te kultiveer. Fokus dan op wat jy vandag kan beheer. As jy nommer vyf gesirkel het, is die kans goed dat vrees jou lewe oorneem en dat jy dit moeilik sal vind om dit op jou eie te oorkom. Begin dus om te bid en jou gedagtes met God se Woord te herprogrammeer (sien 1 Timoteus 1:7). Moet ook nie bang wees om by ‘n vriend of berader wat jy vertrou, hulp te soek nie.
Sielskos: Eks 33-35; Joh 4:1-12; Ps 87; Spr 27:4-6
2017-10-16
Proverbs 1:5 NIV
In order to keep growing, you must understand three principles: (1) You grow to the extent you give. By giving out, you create more room to grow on the inside. So give until it hurts, and keep giving until it feels good. Always endeavor to leave people better off than you found them, and you’ll be better off too. Solomon said, “The liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself” (Proverbs 11:25 TLB). This epitaph on a tombstone says it all: “What I gave, I have. What I spent, I had. What I kept, I lost.” (2) To accomplish more, you’ve got to grow more. Do you feel stuck spiritually, relationally, career-wise, or at home? You won’t get unstuck by making external changes, like pursuing a new career, leaving your family, or changing churches. Nobody’s keeping you down but yourself. The lid on your life is – you. So if you’re serious about getting unstuck, instead of looking for quick fixes take a long hard look at yourself, accept responsibility for what you see, pray, and decide to do something about it. (3) It’s not enough to dream; you must do. The Tartar tribes of Central Asia are reputed to have used a particular curse against their enemies. They didn’t call for their swords to rust or their people to die of disease. They simply said, “May you stay in one place forever.” If you don’t work daily to improve yourself, that will be your fate too. You’ll end up stuck in the same place, doing the same things, dreaming the same dreams, and never getting anywhere. So keep growing!
Soul food: Exo 30-32; John 3:22-36; Ps 32; Prov 27:1-3
