2019-04-28
Psalm 147:3 NKJV
If you’re trying to recover from a broken relationship, don’t rush into another one. As you become healthy you begin to make healthy choices. Some hurts take a long time to heal, but don’t be discouraged; “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Give God a chance. Take time to search His Word and find out how He feels about you, for that’s the true basis of all self-worth. If God can love and accept you with full knowledge of your imperfections, then the message is: “Lighten up on yourself!” You can love, and be loved again, but only with the same wholeness with which you love yourself! (See Matthew 22:39). Next time make sure your choices are healthy ones, and not based solely on need, or the fear of being alone. And be careful; when you don’t value yourself, you attract people who feel the same way about you, including those who seek to control you. You deserve better, so hold out for it. Remember, you train others how to treat you by how you treat yourself. As you become whole, you’ll start to see how unwholesome some of your relationship choices have been. If some people walk away, “so be it.” Sometimes you’ve got to give up less so that God can give you more. He has new relationships in store for you, but He’s waiting until your values, perceptions, and self-worth line up with His Word. So take it step by step, one day at a time. And rejoice – your best days are ahead!
Soul food: Exo 20:8-11; Exo 16:1-31; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17
2019-04-27
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
The old saying goes: “An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.” The Bible says, “Then Satan entered Judas…So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them” (Luke 22:3-4 NKJV). It seems Judas was constantly preoccupied with money, and Satan exploited it to his destruction. During the three years that Judas followed Jesus, he heard Him repeatedly warn about the danger of loving money, but he failed to get the message. Your mind never stops working and if you don’t take control of it, it will take control of you. Paul writes: “Whatsoever things are true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report…if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” What you become – is a direct result of what your mind dwells on. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Life consists of what a man [or woman] is thinking about all day.” John Locke said, “The actions of men [or women] are the greatest interpreters of their thoughts.” James Allen said, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you. You will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” This is why the apostle Peter warns us to “prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control” (1 Peter 1:13 NLT). It’s why the psalmist wrote: “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me…Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:13-14 NKJV). Note the words “meditation of my heart.” The word for you today is: Take control of your mind.
Soul food: Num 11-13; Mark 2:18-28; Ps 2; Prov 10:30-32
Filippense 4:8 ABA
Die Bybel sê: ‘Satan het reeds in Judas… ingevaar. Hy het weggegaan om te onderhandel met die leierpriesters en die bevelvoerders van die tempelwag oor hoe hy Jesus aan hulle sou uitlewer’ (Lukas 22:3-4 NLV). Dit kom voor asof Judas altyd besig was om aan geld te dink en Satan het dit tot sy vernietiging uitgebuit. Gedurende die drie jaar wat Judas vir Jesus gevolg het, het Hy hom meermale oor die gevaar om geld lief te hê, gewaarsku. Jou gedagtes hou nooit op werk nie en as jy nie beheer daarvan neem nie, sal dit jou begin beheer. Paulus skryf: ‘Julle moet altyd dink aan die dinge wat waar is, wat mooi is, wat reg is, wat rein is, wat pragtig en goed is. Ja, julle moet dink aan alles wat mooi is, alles waarop ‘n mens trots kan wees.’ Wat jy word, is ‘n direkte gevolg van dit waarop jou gedagtes gefokus is. Ralph Waldo Emerson het gesê: ‘Die lewe bestaan uit dit wat ‘n man [of vrou] heeldag aan dink.’ John Locke het gesê: ‘Die aksies van mans [of vrouens] is die grootste interpreteerders van hulle gedagtes.’ James Allen het gesê: ‘Jy is vandag waar jou gedagtes jou gebring het. Jy sal môre wees waar jou gedagtes jou heen vat.’ Dis hoekom die apostel Petrus ons waarsku: ‘…Sorg dat julle helder dink en gedissiplineerd lewe’ (1 Petrus 1:13 NLV). Dis hoekom die Psalmdigter geskryf het: ‘…bewaar my van opsetlike sondes! Laat hulle nie oor my heers nie… Mag die woorde van my mond en die gedagtes van my hart vir U aanneemlik wees, Here, my rots en my Verlosser’ (Psalm 19:14-15 NLV). Let die woorde ‘gedagtes van my hart’ op. Die woord vir jou vandag is: Neem beheer van jou gedagtes.
Sielskos: Num 11-13; Mark 2:18-28; Ps 2; Spr 10:30-32
2019-04-26
1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV
The Bible says: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV). Do you “love” God? If so, He will reveal His thoughts to you. What an advantage! Paul writes, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (v. 13 NKJV). Don’t make the mistake of limiting “spiritual things” to prayer, Bible reading, and church activities. This promise applies to every area of your life including your family, your finances, your career, etc. The Bible says, “We have the mind of Christ.” That means when you face a problem, you can pray, “Lord, help me to see this the way You do.” When you need to make an important decision you can pray, “Lord, reveal to me what I don’t know and teach me what I need to learn so that my decision is in line with Your will and what’s best for everyone concerned.” Instead of confining God to church and so-called “spiritual activities,” ask for His help in every area of your life. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God” (NKJV). That means you must be still long enough for Him to put His thoughts into your mind. When it happens – and it will – you’ll never want to think any other way.
Soul food: Num 8-10; Mark 2:1-17; Ps 35; Prov 10:28-29
1 Korintiërs 2:16 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘…’Wat geen oog gesien het; wat geen oor gehoor het; wat in niemand se hart opgekom het nie – dit het God voorberei vir hulle wat Hom liefhet.’ Maar ons ken hierdie geheim omdat God dit deur sy Gees aan ons bekendgemaak het…’ (1 Korintiërs 2:9-10 NLV). Het jy God lief? As jy het, sal Hy sy gedagtes aan jou bekend maak. Wat ‘n voordeel! Paulus skryf: ‘As ons hierdie dinge aan julle vertel, gebruik ons nie woorde wat hulle oorsprong het in menslike slimmigheid nie, maar wat hulle oorsprong het in die Gees. Ons gebruik woorde wat van die Gees kom om geestelike waarhede te verduidelik’ (vers 13 NLV). Moenie dink dat hierdie ‘geestelike dinge’ net tot gebed, Bybelstudie en kerk aktiwiteite beperk word nie. Hierdie belofte is van toepassing op elke area van jou lewe, insluitend jou familie, finansies, jou loopbaan ens. Die Bybel sê: ‘…ons is ingestel om soos Christus te dink.’ Dit beteken dat wanneer jy voor ‘n probleem te staan kom, jy kan bid: ‘Here, help my om hierdie te sien soos U dit sien.’ Wanneer jy ‘n belangrike besluit moet neem, kan jy bid: ‘Here, openbaar dit wat ek nie weet nie aan my en leer my wat ek nodig het om te weet, sodat my besluit in lyn met u wil en die beste vir almal betrokke sal wees.’ In plaas daarvan om God tot die kerk en sogenaamde ‘geestelike aktiwiteite’ te beperk, vra sy hulp in elke area van jou lewe. Psalm 46:11 sê: ‘Wees stil en weet Ek is God!..’ (NLV). Dit beteken dat jy lank genoeg stil moet wees sodat Hy sy denke in jou gedagtes kan plaas. Wanneer dit gebeur – en dit sal – sal jy nooit enige ander manier wil dink nie.
Sielskos: Num 8-10; Mark 2:1-17; Ps 35; Spr 10:28-29
