2019-01-14
Mark 11:23 NKJV
In order to receive what God promised in His Word, you need to do three things. First, make up your mind. Take hold of His promise and don’t let go. Be tenacious! God responds to a faith that perseveres and a mind that’s made up: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Former baseball star Sam Ewing said, “Nothing is as embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said couldn’t be done.” Second, visualize your victory. Before construction starts, the architect already has a picture of the end result in his or her mind. By faith Abraham “saw” his children; he counted them every time he looked up at the stars (See Genesis 15:5). Use your memory to replay past victories, and your imagination to pre-play future ones. That’s what David did when he slew Goliath. Look your giant squarely in the face and declare, “You’re coming down in the name of the Lord.” Third, speak to your situation. Jesus said: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and…cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt…but believes that those things he said will be done, he will have whatever he says.” Notice, Jesus used the word “believes” once, but referred to what you “say” three times. Could that be because we already know so much about believing, but need to learn more about how to speak in and to our situation? Don’t just talk about your mountain, talk to it! Line up what you say with God’s Word. Make His Word your word, and the mountain will become your servant. It has to – Jesus said so!
Soul food: Isa 42-44; Luke 2:41-52; Ps 74:12-23; Prov 2:7-8
2019-01-13
Jakobus 1:4 NLV
Jy is nader daaraan as wat jy dink om die mens te word wat God wil hê jy moet wees. Deur sy genade, sal jy deur hierdie toets kom en sterker en wyser aan die ander kant uitkom. Paulus sê: ‘…As God aan ons kant is, wie kan ooit téén ons wees?’ (Romeine 8:31 NLV). God is aan jou kant! Die tronktralies waarteen jy slaan is net in jou gedagtes. Omdat jy hulle daar gebou het, kan jy hulle met God se hulp afbreek. God wil jou vrymaak van die bang houding wat jou vir so lank teruggehou het; om jou vry te maak om jou volle potensiaal te bereik. Die regte houding kan amper enige struikelblok oorkom. Die Bybel sê byvoorbeeld: ‘Die liefde sal nooit vergaan nie…’ (1 Korintiërs 13:8 NLV). Hoekom? Omdat liefde nie van jou emosies of omstandighede afhang nie, dis ‘n slaaf van jou wil. Liefde is ‘n besluit! Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit is my opdrag: Julle moet mekaar liefhê soos Ek julle liefgehad het’ (Johannes 15:12 NLV). As dit Jesus se opdrag is, sal Hy jou in staat stel om dit te vermag! Om te begin is gewoonlik die moeilikste deel. Die reis van ‘n duisend myl begin met een tree; daarna raak dit makliker. Wees egter bedag op ou houdings wat sal probeer om sterker as ooit na die oppervlak terug te keer. Moet hulle nie toelaat om dit te doen nie. Die radiokommentator, Paul Harvey, het gesê: ‘Mens kan altyd agterkom wanneer jy op die pad na sukses is; dis al die pad opdraande.’ Wees dus geduldig; dit sal tyd neem om daar te kom. Enigiets waardevol is egter die moeite werd om voor te werk!
Sielskos: 1 Sam 3:1-11; Hand 9:1-9
James 1:2-4 TLV
You’re closer than you know to becoming the person God wants you to be. By His enabling grace, you’ll make it through this trial and come out stronger and wiser. Paul says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NKJV). God is for you! That means you can do the thing you are afraid you can’t do. The prison bars you’re beating against are in your mind. And since you put them up, with God’s help you can take them down. God wants to set you free from the fearful attitudes that have held you back for so long; to release you to live up to your full potential. The right attitude can overcome almost any barrier. For example, the Bible says, “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8 NIV). Why? Because love isn’t dependent on your emotions or circumstances, it’s a servant of your will. Love is a decision! Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). And if Jesus commands it, He will enable you to do it! Beginning is usually the hard part. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; after that it gets easier. But look out; old attitudes will try to resurface and come back stronger than ever. Don’t let them. Radio commentator Paul Harvey says, “You can always tell when you’re on the road to success; it’s uphill all the way.” So be patient; it will take time to get there. But anything worthwhile is worth working for!
Soul food: 1 Sam 3:1-11; Acts 9:1-9
2019-01-12
2 Thessalonians 3:11 NKJV
One day Peter looked at John and said to Jesus, “What about him, Lord?” Jesus immediately rebuked Peter and said, “What is that to you? Just follow me” (See John 21:21-22). Now, if the apostle Peter could get into trouble for meddling, any of us can. The issue here isn’t about helping others; it’s about knowing when to stay out of the middle and mind your own business. Sometimes we jump in and try to solve problems without being asked. And not only are our efforts fruitless, they’re resented. As you become spiritually mature and get over your need to “fix” everybody, life becomes simpler. Now that you’re not “butting in” where you’re not invited, you’re more available to help where you’re really needed. Not meddling, however, goes beyond avoiding the temptation to police, enlighten, or rescue others. It means not eavesdropping, gossiping, talking behind people’s backs, and needing to figure everybody out. Recognize any of these traits in yourself? If so, deal with the problem before it costs you the respect of others. Do you know why we focus so much on other people’s shortcomings? You’ve guessed it – to keep from having to look closely at ourselves. The only thing you can change about others – is your attitude toward them. Paul writes, “Some…among you…are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort…that they work in quietness” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 NKJV). One counselor says: “Being a peacemaker doesn’t mean we get in the middle. We are bearers of peace by staying peaceful ourselves…not harboring turmoil…not causing the extra chaos created when we get in the middle of other people’s affairs and relationships.”
Soul food: Isa 38-41; Luke 2:34-40; Ps 74:1-11; Prov 2:6
2 Tessalonisense 3:11 NLV
Eendag het Petrus vir Johannes gekyk en vir Jesus gevra: ‘…Wat van hom, Here?’ Jesus reageer daarop: ‘…wat het dit met jou te doen? Volg jy net vir My!’ (Johannes 21:21-22 NLV). As die apostel Petrus in die moeilikheid kon kom omdat hy ingemeng het, kan enigeen van ons in die moeilikheid daaroor kom. Die kwessie gaan nie daaroor om ander mense te help nie; dit gaan daaroor om te weet wanneer om jou by jou eie besigheid te bepaal. Soms spring ons in en probeer probleme oplos sonder dat ons gevra word. Nie net is ons pogings vrugteloos nie, ons word ook daarvoor verkwalik. Soos jy geestelik meer volwasse word en oor jou behoefte kom om almal ‘reg te sien’, word die lewe eenvoudiger. Noudat jy nie meer inmeng waar jy nie uitgenooi is nie, is jy meer beskikbaar om te help waar jy regtig benodig word. Weet jy hoekom ons so baie op ander mense se tekortkominge fokus? Ja, om te keer dat ons nie te veel selfondersoek instel nie. Die enigste ding wat jy aan ander mense kan verander – is jou houding teenoor hulle. Paulus skryf: ‘Ons sê dit omdat ons hoor dat sommige mense… hulle met ander persone se sake bemoei. In die Naam van die Here Jesus Christus beveel ons sulke mense… dat hulle rustig hulle werk moet verrig en so hulle eie brood moet verdien’ (2 Tessalonisense 3:11-12 NLV). ‘n Berader sê: ‘Om ‘n vredemaker te wees beteken nie dat ons in die middel gaan staan nie. Ons is draers van vrede deurdat ons self vredig bly en nie ekstra chaos veroorsaak wanneer ons in die middel van ander mense se sake en verhoudings kom nie.’
Sielskos: Jes 38-41; Luk 2:34-40; Ps 74:1-11; Spr 2:6
