2020-09-24
2 Korintiërs 4:9 NLV
Soos bome wat in die wind buig, so verkry veerkragtige mense krag uit teenspoed, omdat hulle weet hoe om die volgende vyf dinge te doen: 1) Om geanker te bly. Salomo het gesê: ‘Twee is beter as een… As een mens val, kan sy vriend hom ophelp…’ (Prediker 4:9-10 NLV). Toe Barbara Smith se seun oorlede is, het sy ‘n ondersteuningsgroep begin om ouers in dieselfde situase byeen te bring. ‘Ons het mekaar gered,’ sê sy. 2) Om hulle innerlike monoloog te monitor. Let op hoe jy oor jou situasie praat. Wanneer jy agterkom dat jy negatief raak, probeer om dinge in lig van die Skrif te sien. God se Woord sê: ‘…Die boodskap is hier by jou, op jou lippe en in jou hart’ (Romeine 10:8 NLV), en ‘Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe…’ (Spreuke 18:21 NLV). In plaas daarvan om in vrees en woede rond te sit en te kla oor hoe jy daar gekom het, fokus op dit wat jy wel kan beheer – jou woorde! 3) Om die ligter oomblikke raak te sien. Salomo het gesê: “‘n Vrolike mens is soos goeie medisyne. ‘n Neerslagtige mens tap jou krag” (Spreuke 17:22 NLV). Toe Donna Goldman met veelvuldige sklerose gediagnoseer is, het sy aanhou skoolhou. ‘Ek laat die kinders met my krukke speel – solank hulle dit nie as wapens gebruik nie!’ het sy geskerts. 4) Om terug te gee. God bemoedig ons, ‘…sodat ons ook in staat sal wees om mense in al hulle swaarkry by te staan…’ (2 Korintiërs 1:4 NLV). Renee Weinhouse, wat fase 4 limfoomkanker oorwin het, sê: ‘Niks maak my gelukkiger as om ‘n pasiënt hoop te gee nie.’ 5) Om na hulself te kyk. ‘n Gesonde dieet en gereelde oefening help om areas in die brein wat vir stres ontvanklik is, te herstel.
Sielskos: 2 Kor 11:16-13:14; Luk 23:26-31; Ps 54; Spr 21:18-21
2020-09-23
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
In the Bible, we see a lot of people defining their success as knowing what God wanted for them, and then working towards it. For the Israelites in the Old Testament, success meant getting to settle down in the land that God had promised them. For Joshua, this was the goal that he was chasing. In Joshua 1:6-9, God instructs him to ‘be strong and courageous’ three times, and also focused on him following the instructions laid out for him in Scripture, saying, ‘be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do’ (NLT). We see these instructions, to be brave and follow God’s commands, throughout the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land. We have to notice, though, that not everyone who followed God’s instructions made it to the end of the journey. Moses obeyed God to the end of his life, and passed on his task. He didn’t get to finish the mission, but he’s considered to be an immensely successful agent of God. Following what God wants us to do should be the real measure of whether we’re prospering in life. Sometimes we play a part for a limited time, and that is our success. We don’t always get to be involved in the whole picture, or see the end result. Real success isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. It’s the joy created by progress. It’s knowing that you’re fully on track when it comes to God’s plan for your life.
2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 52; Prov 21:17
Joshua 1:8 NKJV
In Scripture the word “success” simply means knowing and doing God’s will for your life. It’s that simple! For Joshua, success meant entering the Promised Land, conquering it, living there, and enjoying all its blessings every day. Listen to what God told him: “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and…you will have good success” (vv. 7-8 NKJV). True success involves these three things: (1) Becoming what God wants you to be. (2) Doing what God wants you to do. (3) Having what God wants you to have. And as you achieve the goals He has set for your life, you become successful. As the renowned author/lecturer Dale Carnegie once observed, “Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” In their endless quest for achievement, some people become so greedy and grasping that they are never satisfied. And because they are always wanting more, they fail to enjoy what God has already given them. Real success isn’t a destination; it’s a journey. It’s joy created by progress. It’s knowing that you’re “on schedule” when it comes to God’s assignment for your life.
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 23:13-25; Ps 52; Prov 21:17
Josua 1:8 NLV
In die Skrif beteken die woord, ‘sukses,’ eenvoudig dat jy God se wil vir jou lewe ken en doen. Dis so eenvoudig! Vir Josua, het sukses beteken om die Beloofde Land binne te gaan, dit te oorwin, daar te woon en elke dag die seëninge daarvan te geniet. Luister na wat God vir hom gesê het: ‘Wees sterk en baie dapper! Voer al die opdragte uit wat Ek vir my dienaar Moses gegee het. Moenie links of regs daarvan afwyk nie. Jy sal dan suksesvol wees in alles wat jy doen. Hou hierdie wetboek altyd by jou. Dink dag en nag daaroor na sodat jy alles kan doen wat daarin geskryf is. Jy sal dan sukses behaal op jou pad. Jy sal voorspoedig wees’ (verse 7-8 NLV). Ware sukses vereis hierdie drie dinge: 1) Om te word wat God wil hê jy moet wees. 2) Om te doen wat God wil hê jy moet doen. 3) Om te hê wat God wil hê jy moet hê. Soos jy die doelwitte bereik wat Hy vir jou lewe gestel het, word jy suksesvol. Soos die bekende skrywer en lektor, Dale Carnegie, een keer opgemerk het: ‘Sukses is om te kry wat jy wil hê. Geluk is om dit wat jy kry, te wil hê.’ In hulle eindelose soeke na prestasie, word sommige mense so gierig en gulsig dat hulle nooit tevrede is nie. Omdat hulle altyd meer wil hê, geniet hulle nie dit wat God reeds vir hulle gegee het nie. Ware sukses is nie ‘n bestemming nie, dis ‘n reis. Dis vreugde wat deur vooruitgang geskep word. Dit is die wete dat jy ‘op skedule’ is wanneer dit by God se taak vir jou lewe kom.
Sielskos: 2 Kor 9:1-11:15; Luk 23:13-25; Ps 52; Spr 21:17
2020-09-22
Psalm 8:6 NIV
How can you know God wants you to succeed in life? Three reasons: (1) Because He created you. In Genesis He said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26 NKJV). The words “image” and “likeness” are important. Think about it: We sometimes tell a child, “You’re the image of your father. You’re just like him!” Because you are God’s supreme creation, He poured into you His mind, His power, His wisdom, and everything else you need to succeed. Once you grasp the truth of that and begin to act on it, your outlook will be transformed. You will start thinking like a “no limit person.” (2) Because you have worth. Actress Ethel Waters, who used to sing at the Billy Graham crusades, said, “I am somebody, ’cause My God don’t make no junk!” As the crowning achievement of God’s creation, you are the object of His attention and affection. The psalmist wrote, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them” (Psalm 139:17-18 NLT). (3) Because everything God made was for you. “You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet.” Does that mean God will simply drop success into your lap? No, “God blessed them, and…said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it'” (Genesis 1:28 NKJV). God has given you His authority and creative ability to succeed in whatever He calls you to do. So instead of thinking like a victim – start thinking like a victor!
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 34; Prov 21:14-16
