2019-12-14
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Trust in God more than in yourself. That doesn’t mean you should go through life doubting and second-guessing yourself, or being afraid to move in case you make a mistake. When you recognize and embrace God’s plan for your life, you tap into the power you need to fulfill it. False humility will handicap you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, and keep you from moving forward. When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet, he protested, “I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). But listen to what God told him: “Say not, ‘I am a child'” (v. 7). As surely as “the tongue can bring death or life” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT), you must learn to speak God’s Word over the vision He has given you. Yes, it’s a mistake to think you can play God’s role or that He will play yours. But once you understand your personal assignment and tap into His power, you can start believing for success, regardless of what obstacles may stand in your way. When you know you’re in the will of God, doing what He told you to do, you can stand confidently on these Scriptures: “‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV). “One man…shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised” (Joshua 23:10 NKJV). “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalm 138:3 NKJV). You’re not alone today – God is with you!
Soul food: 2 Tim 1-4; John 20:1-9; Ps 105:37-45; Prov 30:20-23
2019-12-13
Jeremia 1:5 NLV
Vra God om vir jou te sê wie jy is. Boekwinkels het honderde boeke op die rakke wat vir ons vertel dat ons enigiets kan wees wat ons wil wees. Alhoewel daar waarheid in steek, is dit nie die volle waarheid nie! ‘n Vis mag dalk glo dat hy kan blaf, maar dit gaan nie gebeur nie. Visse mag dus dalk bid, glo, eis, bely en probeer soveel as wat hulle wil, maar hulle gaan nie sukses behaal nie. Hoekom nie? Omdat God jou net sal bemagtig om dit te doen waarvoor Hy jou geroep het en waarvoor Hy jou toegerus het om te wees. Hy het vir Jeremia gesê: “…’Ek ken jou nog voordat jy gevorm is in die skoot van jou moeder. Voor jou geboorte al het Ek jou gekies en aangestel om namens My te praat met die nasies van die wêreld.’ Ek het geantwoord: ‘Nee, oppermagtige Here, ek kan nie goed praat nie. Ek is ook te jonk!’ Maar die Here het geantwoord en gesê: ‘Moenie sê jy is te jonk nie. Gaan na die mense waarheen Ek jou stuur en gee my boodskap vir hulle. Jy moet ook nie bang wees vir hulle nie. Ek sal by jou wees en jou beskerm! Ek is die Here wat so sê.’ Toe het die Here sy hand uitgesteek en aan my mond geraak. Hy het vir my gesê: ‘Ek het my woorde in jou mond gesit'” (verse 5-9 NLV). Wanneer God jou met een talent toerus, gee Hy nie vir jou ‘n vyf-talent opdrag nie, en omgekeerd (sien Matteus 25:14-15). Die wonderlike ding is: Die een-talent persoon en die vyf-talent persoon sal altwee eendag voor Hom staan en hoor: ‘Uitstekend! Jy is regtig ‘n goeie werker op wie ‘n mens kan staatmaak…’ (Matteus 25:21 DB).
Sielskos: Miga 5-7; Joh 19:31-42; Ps 105:23-36; Spr 30:15-19
Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
Ask God to tell you who you are. Bookstore shelves are lined with volumes of books telling us that we can be anything we make up our minds to be. And while there’s some truth to that, it’s not the whole truth! A dog may believe it can fly, but if it tries to, it will go “splat.” A fish may believe it can bark, but it’s not going to happen. Bottom line: Dogs and fish may pray, believe, claim, confess, and try all they want, but they won’t succeed. Why? Because God will only empower you to be what He called and equipped you to be. He told Jeremiah: “‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, I am too young. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘I have put my words in your mouth'” (vv. 5-9 NIV). When God equips you with one talent He doesn’t give you a five-talent assignment, and vice versa (See Matthew 25:14-15). And here’s the great thing: The one-talent person and the five-talent person will one day stand before Him and hear the commendation: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).
Soul food: Micah 5-7; John 19:31-42; Ps 105:23-36; Prov 30:15-19
2019-12-12
Handelinge 16:7 NLV
Ons het almal individuele gawes en lewensdoelwitte van God ontvang. Dis goed en reg om talentvolle, suksesvolle mense te bewonder en van hulle te leer, solank jy hulle nie probeer dupliseer nie. Dis goed en reg om hulle karaktereienskappe na te streef en hulle insette te soek, solank jy na God, die argitek van elkeen van ons se lewens, toe gaan en Hom vra om vir jou sy bloudruk van jou lewe te wys. Selfs al was dit Dawid se begeerte om die tempel te bou, het God vir hom gesê dat sy seun, Salomo, dit uiteindelik sou bou. Dawid se werk was om geld en materiaal vir die projek in te samel. As jy die tipe persoon is wat dinge laat gebeur, mag hierdie tipe denke teen jou grein ingaan. Lees dus die volgende en dink daaroor: ‘Hulle [is]… deur die Heilige Gees verhinder om die woord op daardie stadium in die provinsie Asië te verkondig. Toe hulle naby Misië kom, het hulle Bitinië toe probeer gaan, maar die Gees van Jesus het hulle nie toegelaat nie. Hulle het toe deur Misië gereis na Troas toe. Daar het Paulus in die nag ‘n visioen ontvang. Hy het ‘n Masedoniese man gesien wat hom staan en smeek: ‘Kom oor na Masedonië toe en help ons.’ Nadat Paulus die visioen gesien het, het ons onmiddellik Masedonië toe vertrek omdat ons tot die oortuiging gekom het dat God ons geroep het om die evangelie daar te verkondig’ (Handelinge 16:6-10 NLV). Laat God dus jou doelwitte bepaal en jy sal in die regte rigting beweeg.
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 19:17-30; Ps 105:16-22; Spr 30:10-14
Acts 16:7 NKJV
We’ve all been given individual gifts and goals in life, and God is the giver of both. Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6 NKJV). When you have a desire that’s “born of the flesh,” don’t expect God to fulfill it. It’s okay to admire and learn from gifted, successful people, as long as you don’t try to duplicate them. It’s okay to emulate their good character qualities and seek their input as long as you go to God, the architect of each of our lives, and ask Him to show you His blueprint for your life. Even though David’s desire was to build the temple, God told him his son, Solomon, would ultimately build it. David’s job was to raise the money and materials for the project. If you’re a “make-it-happen” sort of person, that kind of thinking will go against your grain. So read this and think about it: “They were forbidden by the…Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia…pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:6-10 NKJV). So let God set your goals and you’ll be heading in the right direction.
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 19:17-30; Ps 105:16-22; Prov 30:10-14
