2018-04-10
Spreuke 12:15 NLV
Dit maak al die verskil in die wêreld wanneer jy jouself posisioneer om te ontvang! As jy byvoorbeeld jouself posisioneer soos jy hierdie lees om te ontvang deur vir die Here te sê, ‘Ek sal aksie neem op dit wat U vir my wys,’ sal jy meer voordeel daaruit trek as wanneer jy dit net lees om gemotiveerd of geïnspireer te word. Om weerstand te bied of om te ontvang – dis ‘n keuse wat jy elke dag maak. Niks sterf vinniger as ‘n nuwe idee in ‘n geslote brein nie. Dis onmoontlik om te leer wanneer jy dink dat jy reeds alles weet. Een van die redes hoekom Jesus so sterk op die Fariseërs gereageer het, is omdat hulle geweier het om dit wat Hy te sê gehad het, te ontvang. Denke wat verkeerd geposisioneer is, is soos ‘n mikroskoop wat klein onbenullige dinge kan vergroot, maar nie die groter prentjie kan sien nie. Elke situasie is ‘n geleentheid as dit op die regte manier beskou word. Geleenthede kan egter net ‘in jou skoot val’ wanneer jy jou skoot reg posisioneer. Ons gedagtes is te dikwels op net een plek gefokus. Ons is opsoek na rooi, dus sien ons blou nie raak nie; ons dink ‘môre,’ terwyl God ‘nou’ sê. Ons soek orals, terwyl die antwoord reg onder ons neus is. Wanneer ‘n persoon reg geposisioneer is, is hy of sy gereed om alles wat God vir hulle in gedagte het, te ontvang. God sal deur ander mense met jou praat, maar tensy jy luister, sal jy nie hoor wat Hy vir jou wil sê nie. Posisioneer jouself dus vandag om te ontvang.
Sielskos: Jer 36:27-40:16; Mark 1:40-45; Ps 25:1-7; Spr 9:17-18
Proverbs 12:15 NLT
Positioning yourself to receive – makes all the difference! For example, as you read this, if you position yourself to receive by saying to the Lord, “I will take action on what You show me,” you’ll benefit more than if you read it just to be motivated or inspired. To resist or to receive – that’s a choice you make every day. Nothing dies quicker than a new idea in a closed mind. It’s impossible to learn, if you think you already know it all. One of the reasons Jesus reacted so strongly to the Pharisees was because they refused to receive what He had to say. A wrongly positioned mind is like a microscope that magnifies trifling things but can’t receive great ones. Every situation, properly viewed, is an opportunity. But opportunities can only “drop into your lap” if you position your lap where opportunities drop. When you don’t position yourself to receive, it’s like asking for a bushel while you’re holding a cup. Too often our minds are locked on one track. We’re looking for red so we overlook blue; we’re thinking “tomorrow” and God is saying “now.” We’re looking everywhere, and the answer is right under our nose. When a person is positioned correctly, he or she is ready to receive all God has for them. The Bible often uses the word simple. The original term means “thick, dull, and sluggish,” and it describes those who are insensitive and unreceptive to the thoughts of others. God will speak to you through people, but unless you listen you won’t hear what He has to say. So today position yourself to receive.
Soul food: Jer 36:27-40:16; Mark 1:40-45; Ps 25:1-7; Prov 9:17-18
2018-04-09
Hebreërs 1:3 NLV
Is jy so gefokus op jou moeilikhede dat jy vergeet dat God se Woord sê: ‘U goedheid en trou vergesel my al die dae van my lewe…’ (Psalm 23:6 NLV)? Ons weet van Job se teëspoed, maar ons vergeet dikwels dat dit net vir ‘n kort seisoen in ‘n andersins baie geseënde lewe was. Die tyd wat Josef in die tronk spandeer het is deur die jare van invloed en voorreg wat hy as die regterhand van die farao geniet het, oorskadu. Sukkel jy om jou seëninge te geniet omdat jy bang is dat dit nie gaan hou nie? Miskien het jy so gewoond aan teenspoed geraak dat jy jouself heeltyd daarvoor staal. Dit is tyd dat jy jouself ophou bekommer en begin om in God se beloftes aan jou te glo! Hy het jou nie sover gebring om jou net te verlaat nie. Nee, Hy het jou ‘…uitgekies om jou in staat te stel om te gaan vrugte dra…’ Dis God se plan dat jy blywende vreugde en sukses sal geniet! Die Bybel sê, ‘…Deur sy magtige bevel, hou [die Seun] die ganse heelal in stand…’ God spreek nie iets oor jou lewe uit en laat dit dan uitmekaar val nie. Hy sê, ‘…die woord wat uit my mond kom… [sal] die doel bereik waarvoor Ek dit gestuur het’ (Jesaja 55:11 NLV). In Genesis 1:14 sê God, ‘…Laat daar ligte wees in die hemelruim sodat dag en nag onderskei kan word…’ Raai wat? Dieselfde son skyn vandag omdat die Woord dit so beveel het – en dit sal môre ook skyn. As God dit vir ‘n lewelose objek soos die son sal doen, dink jy nie dat Hy ook vir jou sal sorg nie? Jy moet glo dat jy deur God geroep en gekies is!
Sielskos: Jer 33:1-36:26; Mark 1:35-39; Ps 32; Spr 9:10-16
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
Are you so focused on your troubles that you’ve forgotten what God’s Word says: “Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”? (Psalm 23:6 KJV). We know about Job’s troubles, but we tend to forget they were just for a short season in an otherwise very blessed life. The time Joseph spent in prison was eclipsed by the years of influence and privilege he enjoyed as the number-two man in Pharaoh’s palace. Are you having difficulty enjoying your blessings because you are afraid they won’t last? Maybe you’re so accustomed to trouble that you’re continually braced for it, like sitting in a comfortable recliner and not being able to relax. It’s time you stopped worrying and started believing God’s promises to you! He hasn’t brought you this far to abandon you. No, He has “appointed you to bring forth fruit that will last.” Lasting joy and success – that’s God’s plan for you! The Bible says, “The Son is…sustaining all things by his powerful word.” God doesn’t speak something over your life, then let it fall apart. He said, “My word…will…achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NIV). In Genesis chapter one verse fourteen, God said, “Let there be lights in the…heaven to divide the day from the night.” And guess what? That same sun shines today because of the word that brought it into being – and it’ll shine again tomorrow. Now, if God will do that for an inanimate object like the sun, don’t you think He’ll take care of you too? Come on, believe that you’re called and chosen by God!
Soul food: Jer 33:1-36:26; Mark 1:35-39; Ps 32; Prov 9:10-16
2018-04-08
John 15:16 NLT
The word “ordained” comes from the word ordered. God ordered and designed you specifically. He chose your life’s direction. He preserved you when you thought you wouldn’t make it. He pushed you when you thought you had run out of steam. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble…the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT). He wants you to win. “No weapon turned against you will succeed…These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17 NLT). That means the attacks being directed against you won’t succeed! But being chosen by God doesn’t mean you can just go and do your own thing. Paul says, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2 NLT). When you’re chosen and appointed you have assurance of your position in Christ, even when your condition isn’t up to par. It’s also why God permits tests and temptations. He knows what it takes to keep you dependent on Him, and help you develop a strong root system. The first thing God told man was “be fruitful” (Genesis 1:28). He wants you to be productive and successful in every aspect of your life. Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom [to enjoy the advantages of kingdom living]” (Luke 12:32 AMPC). Once that concept gets down into your spirit, it will change your life!
Soul food: Gal 5:22; Isa 61; Heb 12:2; Isa 35:3-10
