2020-01-21
Jeremia 1:12 NLV
Wanneer jy voor gevaar te staan kom. Dawid het gesê: “Ek sal vir die Here sê: ‘U is my toevlug en my vesting, my God op wie ek vertrou.’ Verseker sal Hy jou red uit die strik van die voëlvanger, en van die plaag wat vernietig. Hy sal jou oordek met sy vlerke, en onder sy vleuels sal jy skuil; sy trou sal jou beskerm soos ‘n skild. Jy sal nie bang wees vir die skrik van die nag, of die pyle van die dag; vir die plaag wat in die donker kom, of die ramp wat teen die middag verwoes nie. Al sou duisend langs jou val, of tienduisend om jou sterf, naby jou sal dit nie kom nie. Net met jou oë sal jy dit aanskou, en die straf van die goddelose sien. As die Here jou toevlug is, as die Allerhoogste jou skuilplek is, sal geen kwaad jou tref, en geen ramp naby jou tent kom nie. Want Hy sal sy engele beveel om jou te beskerm oral waar jy gaan. Hulle sal jou op die hande dra sodat jy nie jou voet teen ‘n klip stamp nie. Op die leeu en die adder sal jy trap, die jong leeu en die slang vertrap. ‘Omdat hy My liefhet, sal Ek hom verlos; omdat hy my Naam ken, sal Ek hom beskerm. Hy sal roep, en Ek sal antwoord; in nood sal Ek by hom wees. Ek sal hom red en in eer herstel. Ek sal hom ‘n lang lewe gee, en hy sal my verlossing sien'” (Psalm 91:2-16 NLV). Let die frase: ‘Ek sal vir die Here sê’ op. Wanneer jy God se Woord oor jou lewe spreek, stel jy die krag daarin vry. Staan van vandag af vas en verwag dat God sy Woord sal eer!
Sielskos: Eks 33-35; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 89:15-37; Spr 2:21-22
Psalm 91:2 NLT
When we’re facing danger. David said: ‘This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety…my God and I trust him.’ When we’re afraid and facing an overwhelming situation, we can run to God for safety. Trusting in God doesn’t mean we’ll never face difficult or scary circumstances. Life throws all sorts of things our way. But we can still be at peace because of God’s promises, such as this one: ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them’ (Psalm 91:14-15 NLTUK). He will never leave us to face anything on our own. We’ll always have Him with us, and we can always rely on Him. He’s bigger than our situations and more powerful than any storm that we’re facing. When we speak God’s Word over our lives, we release the power contained in it. So we need to be speaking out verses which show us how big God is compared to our situation. Here are some examples: ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline’ (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT); ‘The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm’ (Exodus 14:14 NLT); ‘Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock’ (Isaiah 26:4 NLT); ‘I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?’ (Jeremiah 32:27 NLT). So let’s stand firm today, and expect God to keep His promises to us.
Exo 33-35; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 2:21-22
Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV
When you are facing danger. David said: “This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety…my God and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you…If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up…so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone…The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation'” (Psalm 91:2-16 NLT). Note the phrase, “This I declare about the Lord.” When you speak God’s Word over your life, you release the power contained in it. So stand firm today, and expect God to honor His Word!
Soul food: Exo 33-35; Matt 8:28-34; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 2:21-22
2020-01-20
Philippians 2:4 NKJV
When we give to others, we can sometimes be tempted to do it because we want to get something back. Perhaps we’re in need of some encouragement, so we compliment others hoping they will give us a compliment back. Perhaps we want someone to do something nice for us, so we go out of our way to do something nice for them first. Any kind of relationship with another person should be two-way. We should give, and they should give. But we need to be checking our motives. As we become more like Jesus, we’ll realise that we need to be selfless in our giving. We need to be serving others because it’s what Jesus would do, not because we want something back. Jesus said: ‘Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great’ (Luke 6:35 NIV). He sees everything we do for others, and He sees the attitude we do it with. The Bible says, ‘Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.’ Being selfless doesn’t mean we never speak up about our needs, or take time for ourselves. It means we make sure we’re thinking of the other person, and their needs. It means we do what we can to meet their needs and support them, without expecting them to do it in return. However, we need to avoid being taken for granted. It’s clear when people are using us, or when they don’t care for our wellbeing. If the other person isn’t recognising our needs, we might need to pray about whether we should remain as close to them. God can give us wisdom in all our relationships.
Exo 30-32; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 2:20
Philippians 2:4 NKJV
If your only motive for giving to someone is to see what you can get back, you will be disappointed. The Bible says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” When you give yourself to another person for that person’s development and well-being, you are truly giving and God will bless you for it. If you’re married or a parent, you know this from personal experience. What does your husband or wife value most highly? Money in the bank, or your time freely given? What would your children rather have? A toy, or your undivided attention? The people who love you would rather have you than what you can give them. It’s wise to invest in yourself and your career, but never at the expense of those who matter most. If you succeed in your career but fail with your loved ones, your success will be hollow and your regrets real. Solomon was famous for his wealth and wisdom. Yet he wrote, “As I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless – like chasing the wind” (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT). Learn from his mistakes. Don’t invest in things, invest in relationships. Here is how most relationships often play out: “I win, you lose – I win only once. You win, I lose – you win only once. We both win – we win many times.” When you seek the good of others, God promises that good things will come to you (See Ephesians 6:8).
Soul food: Exo 30-32; Matt 8:18-27; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 2:20
