2019-09-28
1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT
Somebody quipped, “The trouble with success is that the formula is the same as the one for a nervous breakdown.” The Bible gives us the real formula for successful living. It encompasses three areas: authority, attitude, and assurance. “Accept the authority of the elders…humble yourselves under the mighty power of God…Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Let’s look at each of the three areas: (1) Submit yourself to those who are wise. Listen to their counsel, become accountable, accept reproof, take suggestions, respect experience, and follow a worthy example. Only when you can take advice will you be qualified to give it. Only when you respect and submit to leadership will you be qualified to lead others. (2) Humble yourself. In Scripture the “hand” of God symbolizes two things: His discipline and His deliverance. When you humble yourself before Him, you’re accepting His discipline as being for your good. You’re also acknowledging His willingness to answer your cry for help and deliver you by whatever means He chooses. (3) Throw yourself on God’s mercy and care. Trouble and disappointment will surely come, and when they do you need to throw yourself on the Lord. The situation may be too big for you, but it’s never too big for Him. Does that mean there’s no place for planning, goal-setting, and hard work? No, it just means you’re willing to do things God’s way, which is always best.
Soul food: 1 Sam 27-31; Matt 28:11-20; Ps 63; Prov 22:17-23
2019-09-27
2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV
The story of Joseph the prisoner becoming Joseph the prime minister teaches us that we can rise above the circumstances, overcome the challenges, and live in the fullness of our God-given potential. His journey was a long one, and yours may be too. But if you don’t take the first step, you’ll remain stuck where you are. Sometimes your “stronghold” was established early in life. Family pain is the deepest pain, because it’s inflicted so early and involves people who should have been trustworthy. You were too young to process the mistreatment. You didn’t know how to defend yourself. Your dad, mom, uncle, big brother – they towered over you, usually in size, always in rank. When they judged you falsely, you believed them. All this time you were operating on faulty data: “You’re stupid…slow…dumb like your daddy…fat like your mama…” Decades later those voices of defeat still echo in your subconscious. But they don’t have to! “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” Use the “reject and repeat” strategy and you’ll win the victory in your thinking. When negative, fearful, guilt-ridden, inferior, condemning thoughts arise, reject them and begin to repeat what God says about you in His Word. As God’s Word comes to life within you, your old thoughts will begin to die and lose their control over you. Today pull down that stronghold and let your healing begin.
Soul food: 1 Sam 24-26; Matt 28:1-10; Ps 51; Prov 22:12-16
2 Korintiërs 10:4 NLV
Die verhaal van Josef die gevangene wat Josef die eerste minister geword het, leer ons dat ons bo ons omstandighede kan uitstyg, die uitdagings kan oorkom en in die volheid van ons Godgegewe potensiaal kan lewe. Sy reis was lank en joune mag dalk ook lank wees. As jy egter nie die eerste tree neem nie, sal jy vassit waar jy tans is. Soms word jou ‘vesting’ vroeg in jou lewe gevestig. Familiepyn is die diepste pyn, omdat dit so vroeg toegedien word en omdat mense wat betroubaar moes gewees het, daarby betrokke is. Jy was te jonk om die mishandeling te verwerk. Jy het nie geweet hoe om jouself te verdedig nie. Jou pa, ma, oom, ouer broer – hulle het bo jou uitgetroon, gewoonlik in grootte, altyd in rangorde. Wanneer hulle jou valslik geoordeel het, het jy hulle geglo. Al hierdie tyd was jy besig om volgens foutiewe data op te tree: ‘Jy is dom…stadig…dwaas soos jou pa…vet soos jou ma…’ Dekades later eggo daardie stemme van vernedering steeds in jou onderbewussyn. Dit hoef egter nie so te wees nie! ‘Die wapens van ons stryd is nie mensgemaak nie, maar die kragtige gevegstoerusting van God wat vestings kan vernietig…’ Gebruik die ‘verwerp en herhaal’ strategie en jy sal oorwinning oor jou denke behaal. Wanneer negatiewe, vreesagtige, skuldige, minderwaardige, veroordelende gedagtes by jou opkom, verwerp hulle en begin herhaal wat God in sy Woord oor jou sê. Soos God se Woord binne-in jou lewendig word, sal jou ou gedagtes begin doodgaan en hulle beheer oor jou verloor. Vernietig dus vandag daardie vesting en laat jou genesing begin.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 24-26; Matt 28:1-10; Ps 51; Spr 22:12-16
2019-09-26
Markus 6:31 NLV
Daar is ‘n antieke legende wat sê dat die apostel Johannes ‘n patrysvoël gehad het waarna hy omgesien het. Een dag het ‘n jagter hom besoek en was verbaas om hom met die voël te sien speel. ‘Ek is verras om te sien dat jy jou met sulke beuselagtighede besig hou wanneer daar belangrike sake rakende die evangelie is waarmee jy kon besig wees.’ Johannes het geantwoord: ‘Is jou boog altyd styf gespan?’ Die jagter het gesê: ‘Nee, dit sal die boog onbruikbaar maak. Ek maak die snaar los, tensy ek besig is om te jag.’ Die apostel het geknik en gesê: ‘Ek ook; ek maak my gedagtes vir dieselfde rede los.’ Raai wie het gesê: ‘Kom julle nou self eenkant toe na ‘n stil plek en skep ‘n bietjie asem.’ Jesus, die Persoon wat die meeste ooit in aanvraag was. Jesus is mos ons voorbeeld. Een dag het ‘n pastoor aangekondig dat hy nie op vakansie sou gaan nie, omdat die Duiwel nooit ‘n vakansie neem nie. Sommige gemeentelede het gelag; ander het gedink dat hy baie ‘geestelik’ is. Een man het egter huis toe gegaan en ondersoek ingestel of Jesus dieselfde houding gehad het. Hy het gevind dat Jesus in sy drie jaar van aktiewe bediening, tien periodes gehad het wat Hy weg van die skare gegaan het, tesame met sy nagtelike rus en die rus op die Sabbat. Die volgende Sondag het hy vir die pastoor gevra: ‘Volg jy die Duiwel se voorbeeld, of Jesus se voorbeeld?’ Ontspanning is presies dit: ‘n tyd om ontslae te raak van jou spanning, jou energie te vernuwe en jou kosbaarste verhoudings te voed. Neem dus die tyd om te rus.
Sielskos: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; Matt 27:57-66; Ps 60; Spr 22:7-11
Mark 6:31 NLT
There’s an ancient legend that says the apostle John had a partridge he enjoyed feeding and tending. One day a hunter visited him and was astonished to see him playing with the bird. “I’m surprised to see you engaged in such amusement when there are great matters related to the gospel with which you could be busy.” John replied, “Do you always keep your bow bent?” The hunter said, “No, that would render it useless. I loosen the string unless I am hunting.” The apostle nodded and said, “Me too; I unbend my mind for the same reason.” Guess who said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for awhile and rest.” Jesus, the most-in-demand person Who ever lived. Why did He say it? The Bible tells us, “There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” And Jesus is our example. One summer a pastor announced he wasn’t going to take a vacation, since the Devil never goes on vacation. Some of his congregation laughed; others thought he was very “spiritual.” One man went home, however, to see if Jesus had the same attitude. He found that in His three years of active ministry Jesus had ten periods when He got away from the crowds, in addition to His nightly rest and Sabbath day rest. Next Sunday he asked his pastor, “Are you following the Devil’s example or the Lord’s example?” Recreation is just that: re-creation, a time to renew your energy and nurture your most valuable relationships. So, take time to rest.
Soul food: 1 Sam 20:30-23:29; Matt 27:57-66; Ps 60; Prov 22:7-11
