2019-02-23
Romans 12:6 NIV
Insecure people often say yes, when in reality they’d like to say no. But people who succeed at being themselves don’t let others control them. They see themselves as God sees them; therefore they’re led by His Word instead of the fear of rejection. You can invest so much effort into trying to keep everybody happy that you end up losing yourself. Question: Do you feel like you can’t be everything everybody wants you to be? Do you want to say no, but the fear of displeasing others makes you keep acquiescing? And in the meantime the pressure is building inside you and you’re thinking, “I can’t do this anymore”? Don’t get angry with those who keep making more and more demands on you. You are responsible for ordering your own life. The buck stops with you! That requires a clear sense of your own worth, your calling, your direction, your goals, and your priorities. One Christian author writes: “For years I lived under the pressure of everybody’s expectations. I thought, ‘What if I let them down?’ I thought they were pressuring me, when in reality it was my own fears and insecurities weighing me down. ‘But,’ you say, ‘don’t you care what others think?’ What others think isn’t my problem, unless I make it my problem. Pleasing God and being what He wants is my first concern. If I try to be anybody else I’ll forfeit His blessing, because God can’t bless an imitation.” The solution is to work on becoming secure in who you are in Christ, and everything else will begin to fall into place.
Soul food: Exo 4-6; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 53; Prov 6:9-11
Romeine 12:6 NLV
Onseker mense sê dikwels ja, wanneer hulle eintlik nee wil sê. Mense wat egter tevrede met hulself is, laat nie ander mense toe om hulle te beheer nie. Hulle sien hulself soos God hulle sien; hulle word dus deur sy Woord, in plaas van die vrees vir verwerping, gelei. Jy kan só hard probeer om almal gelukkig te hou, dat jy jouself verloor. Voel jy of jy nie alles kan wees wat mense wil hê jy moet wees nie? Wil jy nee sê, maar die vrees om ander mense te mishaag laat jou aanhou instem? Intussen bou die druk binne-in jou op en jy dink, ‘Ek kan hierdie nie meer doen nie’? Moenie vir die mense wat meer en meer eise aan jou stel kwaad word nie. Jy is die een wat verantwoordelik is om jou eie lewe te reël! Dit verg ‘n duidelike sin van jou eie waarde, jou roeping, jou rigting, jou doelwitte en jou prioriteite. ‘n Christelike skrywer sê: ‘Vir jare het ek onder die druk van almal se verwagtings geleef. Ek het gedink, ‘Wat as ek hulle in die steek laat?’ Ek het gedink dat hulle my onder druk plaas, terwyl dit egter my eie vrese en onsekerhede was wat my afgetrek het. ‘Gee jy dan nie om wat ander mense dink nie?’ vra jy. Wat ander mense dink is nie my probleem nie, tensy ek dit my probleem maak. My eerste prioriteit is om God te behaag en te wees wie Hy wil hê ek moet wees. As ek iemand anders probeer wees, sal ek sy seën prysgee, want God kan nie ‘n namaaksel seën nie.’ Die oplossing is om daaraan te werk om seker te wees wie jy in Christus is. Alles anders sal dan in plek val.
Sielskos: Eks 4-6; Luk 11:45-54; Ps 53; Spr 6:9-11
2019-02-22
Spreuke 10:12 NLV
Wanneer jy aan jou wrokkigheid vasklou, is daar ‘n oorlog binne-in jou aan die gang. Jy is in ‘n stryd met jouself, sowel as ander mense, gewikkel. Hoe meer jy veg, hoe meer grond verloor jy. Jy kan nie in hierdie situasie wen nie. Jy sukkel om uit te klaar wie reg en wie verkeerd is. Jy spandeer so baie tyd om wraak te neem, te skree en te baklei dat jy jou vrede en vreugde verloor. Beëindig dadelik die konflik! Weier om nog ‘n dag so te leef. Moenie toelaat dat iemand anders se aksies jou reaksie bepaal nie. ‘Wees versigtig! Pas op vir die duiwel se aanvalle. Hy is julle groot vyand. Hy loop rond soos ‘n brullende leeu, op soek na iemand om te verslind’ (1 Petrus 5:8 NLV). Moenie Satan se volgende maaltyd word nie. Laat die liefde en vrede van God jou gedagtes so baie vul dat dit na ander mense toe oorvloei – insluitend diegene wat jou ontstel het. Stop en dink: Wil jy regtig soos die persoon wees wat jou seergemaak het? Wat sou Jesus gedoen het? Hy sou sy ander wang gedraai het (sien Matteus 5:39). ‘Maar wat van die mense wat my verkeerd behandel het?’ vra jy. Wat daarvan? Dis nie jou plig om oordeel oor hulle te fel nie. Daar is net een gekwalifiseerde regter; laat Hom toe om dit te hanteer (sien Jakobus 4:12). Vra God om jou te help om jou woede te laat gaan, om die ander wang te draai en die mense wat jou verkeerd behandel het, te vergewe. Bid hierdie eenvoudige gebed: ‘Here, ek is kwaad. Help my om dit te laat gaan. Dankie vir die genade wat U my gegee het om die persoon wat my seergemaak het te vergewe. In Jesus se Naam: Amen.’
Sielskos: Eks 1-3; Luk 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Spr 6:6-8
Proverbs 10:12 NKJV
When you hold on to resentment it feels like there’s a war going on inside you. You’re in a battle with yourself, as well as others. And the more you fight, the more ground you lose. Arguing just drains you of energy and leaves you more hurt and angry. You’re in a no-win situation. You struggle with who’s right and who’s wrong. You spend so much time trying to out-do, out-shout, and out-maneuver others that you lose your peace and joy. End the conflict now! Refuse to live this way another day. Don’t allow someone’s actions to determine your reactions. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NIV). Don’t become Satan’s next meal. Let the love and peace of God fill your mind so much that it overflows to others – including those who have upset you. Stop and think: Do you really want to be like the person who hurt you? What would Jesus do? You know! He’d turn the other cheek (See Matthew 5:39). “But,” you ask, “what about the wrong done to me?” What about it? It’s not for you to impose judgment. There’s only one qualified judge; let Him handle it (See James 4:12). Ask God to help you to release your anger, turn the other cheek, and forgive the one who has done you wrong. Pray this simple prayer: “Lord, I’m angry. Help me to let it go. I choose to be merciful. Thank You for giving me the grace to forgive the person who hurt me and to follow You. In Jesus’ name: Amen.”
Soul food: Exo 1-3; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 40:9-17; Prov 6:6-8
2019-02-21
Acts 3:6 NIV
The Bible says, “Peter said, ‘Look at us…Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (vv. 4-7 NIV). Peter did three things you must do if you want to help people: (1) Get their attention. Peter told this incapacitated man, “Look at us” (v. 4 NIV). Hurting people are often so distracted by their pain, their past experiences, and their future fears, that in order to get through to them you must first get their attention. Why? Because faith must be focused if it’s to be effective. (2) Introduce them to the name that’s greater than their problem. That name is “Jesus,” and it’s greater than every sickness and situation. Rehab centers confirm that a relatively small percentage of people stay free from their addiction. That’s the bad news. Now here’s the good news: The name of Jesus is stronger than every addiction! “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:10). So introduce those who are hurting to Jesus! (3) Give them a hand up. As Peter pulled the man up, “immediately [his] feet and ankle bones received strength” (Acts 3:7). Because he’d been in the same condition for thirty-eight years, he needed help to get up. And there are people around you who need help to get up too. They need someone to pull them out of their despair and get them to Jesus, and God can use you to be that someone.
Soul food: Gen 50; Hag 1-2; Luke 11:14-28; Ps 40:1-8; Prov 6:1-5
