2019-06-07
Proverbs 24:16 NIV
Like any skill, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience can be learned. Here’s how: (1) Redefine setbacks as the gateway to something greater. (2) Remember successful people don’t just face adversity, they embrace it. (3) Tune out the critics and focus on doing your best. (4) Wake up every day remembering that prayer and gratitude create a fertile environment for faith. (5) Increase your faith-talk when you’re afraid. (6) Learn from failure, and remember the many times you’ve succeeded. (7) Visualize victory before going into battle. (8) Refuse to dwell on the past or worry about the future; today is where you have the most influence. (9) Identify a solution instead of complaining. (10) Replace self-doubt with faith-talk. (11) When things look hopeless, remember “with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). (12) When you feel alone, think of all those who have helped you and who love and support you. (13) Pray for guidance when you’re in over your head (See James 1:5). (14) Rest when you’re tired, but don’t give up. Finish strong in everything you do. (15) Remember you “can do all things through Christ” when you think you can’t (Philippians 4:13). (16) Recognize what you can’t control, focus on what you can, and surrender the rest to God. (17) Exercise physically to give yourself a sense of control and fight depression. (18) Laugh to reduce stress, strengthen your immune system, and improve arterial blood flow. (19) Be grateful. Research shows that people who sent a letter or email of thanks to somebody who helped them, stayed in a better mood for up to a month.
Soul food: 2 Kings 10-12; Mark 12:28-44; Ps 132:11-18; Prov 13:7-8
2019-06-06
Matthew 18:3 NIV
Matthew writes: “The disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him…And he said…’Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven'” (vv. 1-3 NIV). To do great things for God, you must approach Him with a childlike attitude. You can learn a lot from watching little children. Wherever they are, they find a way to enjoy whatever they’re doing. They’re quick to forgive an offense. One moment they’re fighting over something, the next moment they’re playing happily together. And trusting comes easily to them. Your children don’t worry about mortgage payments, meals, or making ends meet because they implicitly trust that you will provide what they need. What was Jesus teaching us? (a) To have simple faith. (b) To pray simple prayers. (c) To be quick to repent. (d) To reach regularly for God’s help. (e) To believe that your heavenly Father is good and that “no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). Plus, when you forgive children, they don’t run around feeling guilty and condemned. With this kind of simplicity in your relationship with God, you’ll find yourself growing spiritually and enjoying Him more than ever. And that should be your goal.
Soul food: 2 Kings 7-9; Mark 12:13-27; Ps 132:1-10; Prov 13:4-6
Matteus 18:3 NLV
Matteus skryf: “In daardie tyd het die dissipels na Jesus toe gekom met die vraag: ‘Wie van ons sal die belangrikste wees in God se koninkryk?’ Jesus roep toe ‘n klein kindjie nader en laat dié tussen hulle staan. Toe sê Hy: ‘As julle nie met ander oë na die lewe begin kyk en soos die kindertjies word nie, sal julle beslis nie in die koninkryk van God ingaan nie. Daarom is elkeen wat so nederig soos hierdie kindjie word die belangrikste in God se koninkryk'” (verse 1-4 NLV). Om groot dinge vir God te doen, moet jy Hom met ‘n kinderlike houding benader. Jy kan baie leer deur klein kindertjies dop te hou. Maak nie saak waar hulle is nie, hulle vind ‘n manier om dit waarmee hulle ook al besig is, te geniet. Hulle vergewe vinnig ‘n oortreding. Die een oomblik baklei hulle oor iets, die volgende oomblik speel hulle lekker saam. Hulle vertrou ook maklik. Jou kinders bekommer hulle nie oor banklenings, etes of begrotings nie, omdat hulle jou onvoorwaardelik vertrou om aan al hulle behoeftes te voldoen. Wat het Jesus ons hierdeur geleer? a) Om eenvoudige geloof te hê. b) Om eenvoudige gebede te bid. c) Om vinnig te bekeer. d) om gereeld na God se hulp uit te reik. e) Om te glo dat jou hemelse Vader goed is en dat Hy ‘…die goeie nie [sal] weerhou van hulle wat doen wat reg is nie’ (Psalm 84:12 NLV). Ook, wanneer jy kinders vergewe, hardloop hulle nie rond en voel skuldig en veroordeeld nie. Met hierdie tipe eenvoud in jou verhouding met God, sal jy vind dat jy geestelik groei en Hom nog meer as ooit tevore geniet. Dit behoort jou doelwit te wees.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 7-9; Mark 12:13-27; Ps 132:1-10; Spr 13:4-6
2019-06-05
Exodus 28:3 NKJV
God told Moses: “You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments” (vv. 2-3 NKJV). Note the word “artisans.” God gives us artistic ability, and when we use it we glorify Him. Clothes “for glory and for beauty” call for creativity. Stop separating the spiritual from the secular! “Whatsoever [you] do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). How do you become creative? (1) By acknowledging that God made you to be creative. (2) By asking Him to reveal your areas of talent and creativity. (3) By valuing creative ideas. No matter what you currently do, or how well you do it, a creative idea will enable you to do it better. Creativity is being able to see what everybody else has seen, and think what nobody else has thought, so that you can do what nobody else has done. Sometimes creative thinking lies along the lines of invention, where you break new ground. Other times it moves along the lines of innovation, which helps you to do old things in a new way. But either way, it’s seeing the world through sufficiently new eyes so that new solutions appear. “On the seventh day God ended his work which he had made” (Genesis 2:2). Notice that creativity involves work, which is why many people tend to avoid it. But if you’re willing to work at being creative, God will use you to do great things.
Soul food: 2 Kings 4:18-6:33; Mark 12:1-12; Ps 48; Prov 13:2-3
Eksodus 28:3 DB
God het vir Moses gesê: ‘Laat maak vir Aäron waardige en mooi klere wat hom van die ander kan onderskei. Jy moet mense gebruik aan wie Ek uitsonderlike talente gegee het om die klere vir Aäron en sy seuns te maak (verse 2-3 DB). God het vir ons kunstige talente gegee. Wanneer ons hierdie talente gebruik, verheerlik ons Hom. ‘Waardige en mooi klere’ het kreatiwiteit nodig. Hou op om die geestelike van die sekulêre te skei! ‘Verder, doen alles – of dit nou met woorde of dade is – asof julle dit namens die Here Jesus doen…’ (Kolossense 3:17 NLV). Hoe word jy kreatief? 1) Deur te erken dat God jou gemaak het om kreatief te wees. 2) Deur Hom te vra om jou areas van talent en kreatiwiteit aan jou te openbaar. 3) Deur kreatiewe idees te waardeer. Maak nie saak wat jy tans doen, of hoe goed jy dit doen nie, ‘n kreatiewe idee sal jou in staat stel om dit nog beter te doen. Kreatiwiteit beteken dat jy sien wat almal anders gesien het, dink wat niemand anders gedink het nie, sodat jy kan doen wat niemand anders al gedoen het nie. Soms lê kreatiewe denke in lyn met innovasie, waar jy nuwe grond breek. Ander kere beweeg dit langs innovasie, wat jou help om ou dinge op ‘n nuwe manier te doen. In elke geval, is dit om die wêreld deur nuwe oë te sien sodat nuwe oplossings gevind word. ‘Op die sewende dag was alles klaar. Al God se werk was afgehandel….’ (Genesis 2:2 DB). Let wel, kreatiweit het werk nodig, dis hoekom baie mense geneig is om dit te vermy. As jy egter gewillig is om daaraan te werk om kreatief te wees, sal God jou gebruik om groot dinge te doen.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 4:18-6:33; Mark 12:1-12; Ps 48; Spr 13:2-3
