2020-09-22
Psalm 8:7 NLV
Hoe weet jy dat God wil hê dat jy sukses in jou lewe moet behaal? Om drie redes: 1) Omdat Hy jou geskep het. Hy het in Genesis gesê: ‘…Laat Ons die mens maak volgens ons beeld, ‘n afbeelding van Ons…’ (Genesis 1:26 NLV). Omdat ons God se opperste skepping is, het Hy sy gedagtes, sy mag, sy wysheid en alles anders wat jy nodig het om suksesvol te wees, in jou gegiet. Sodra jy hierdie waarheid besef en daarvolgens begin optree, sal jou lewensuitkyk getransformeer word. Jy sal begin dink soos iemand wat geen beperkinge het nie. 2) Omdat jy waarde het. Die aktrise Ethel Waters, wat by Billy Graham se kruistogte gesing het, het gesê: ‘Ek is iemand, want my God maak nie gemors nie!’ Jy is die kroon van God se skepping, die voorwerp van sy aandag en liefde. Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘Kosbaar is u gedagtes vir my, o God! Hoe onmeetlik is die totaal! As ek dit moes tel, sou hulle meer wees as sandkorrels!..’ (Psalm 139:17-18 NLV). 3) Omdat God alles vir jou gemaak het. ‘U het ons in beheer gestel van alles wat u hande gemaak het. U het vir ons mag gegee oor alle dinge.’ Beteken dit dat God sukses in jou skoot sal laat val? Nee: ‘God het hulle geseën deur te sê: ‘Wees vrugbaar en vermeerder en vul die aarde. Onderwerp die aarde en heers oor die visse van die see, die voëls in die lug en oor al die diere op die aarde’ (Genesis 1:28 NLV). God het vir jou sy outoriteit en kreatiewe vermoë gegee om sukses te behaal in dit waarvoor Hy jou roep. In plaas daarvan om soos ‘n slagoffer te dink, begin dus soos ‘n oorwinnaar dink!
Sielskos: 2 Kor 5-8; Luk 23:1-12; Ps 34; Spr 21:14-16
Psalm 8:6 NIV
God cares about our lives because He created us. Genesis 1:26 shows God saying, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us’ (NLT). Not only are we made by God, we’re made to reflect Him, and to become more and more like Him. When we’re thinking about God being in all aspects of our lives, we have to remember that He’s in us. God poured His own mind, power, and love into us. He’s in the very image of our being, so it goes without saying that we have His attention and affection on the deepest level. In Psalm 139, David is worshipping God. In verses 17-18 he says ‘How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them’ (NLT). Those words are true about each one of us, too. God has so many thoughts and plans for us that they simply can’t be counted. He lovingly contemplates every small detail of our lives. If we invite Him in, He is ready to be at work in each of those details. In addition to that, He has placed us in a world that was made to be ours. Psalm 8:6 says, ‘You put us in charge of you handcrafted world, repeated us to your Genesis-charge’ (MSG), referring back to Genesis 1:28, where God instructs humans to ‘fill the earth and subdue it’ (NIV). The earth is made by God, and given to us. Wherever God has placed us, and whatever He plans for us to do, He has given us His authority to allow us to succeed in His work. He made us to be like Him, and has given us the whole world to work with.
2 Cor 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 34; Prov 21:14-16
2020-09-21
3 John 1:2 NKJV
Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36 NKJV). And to drive home His point, He told the story of a rich man who died and went to hell, while a poor man on his doorstep went to heaven. Bottom line: Nothing is more important than your salvation! But God also has a plan for your life, and He wants you to succeed. John writes, “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Note the phrase “in all things.” That includes your health, your mental and emotional well-being, your family and relationships, your career and finances. “All things” means – all things! There’s not an area of your life that God is not interested in or that He won’t get involved in when you seek Him, obey Him, and honour Him. In the Old Testament, He said, “Keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all…you do” (Deuteronomy 29:9 NKJV). And in the New Testament, Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). Aren’t you totally invested in the success of your children? When they succeed in life, don’t you celebrate with them? Well, as His redeemed child, your heavenly Father is invested in your success and celebrates it with you. So start praying and believing Him today for success in all your endeavors.
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 39; Prov 21:9-13
3 Johannes 1:2 NLV
Jesus het gesê: ‘Wat sal dit jou tog help as jy alles in die lewe bereik, maar jou diepste menswees ly skade?’ (Markus 8:36 NLV). Om sy punt nog verder te versterk, het Hy die gelykenis vertel van die ryk man wat gesterf het en hel toe gegaan het, terwyl die arm man op sy drumpel hemel toe gegaan het. Die punt is: niks is belangriker as jou verlossing nie! God het egter ook ‘n plan vir jou lewe en Hy wil hê dat jy sukses moet behaal. Johannes skryf: ‘…ek hou aan bid dat dit in alle opsigte met jou goed mag gaan en dat jy nét so gesond sal wees soos dit geestelik goed met jou gaan.’ Let op die frase: ‘in alle opsigte,’. Dit sluit jou gesondheid, jou emosionele en geestelike welstand, jou familie en verhoudings, jou beroep en finansies in. Daar is nie ‘n area in jou lewe waarin God nie geïnteresseerd is of nie betrokke by sal raak wanneer jy Hom soek, Hom gehoorsaam en Hom eer nie. Hy het in die Ou Testament gesê: ‘Daarom, wees gehoorsaam aan die voorwaardes van hierdie verbond sodat julle voorspoedig kan wees in alles wat julle doen’ (Deuteronomium 29:9 NLV). Jesus het ook in die Nuwe Testament gesê: ‘Nee, maak die koningsheerskappy van God en dit wat voor Hom reg is, julle heel eerste prioriteit; dan sal God vir julle al hierdie ander dinge as ‘n bonus byvoeg’ (Matteus 6:33 NLV). Wanneer jou kinders sukses in die lewe behaal, vier jy dit nie saam met hulle nie? As verloste kind van Hom, is jou hemelse Vader ook by jou sukses betrokke en vier Hy dit ook saam met jou. Begin dus vandag bid en glo Hom vir sukses in alle areas van jou lewe.
Sielskos: 2 Kor 1-4; Luk 22:63-71; Ps 39; Spr 21:9-13
3 John 1:2 NKJV
We know that God wants us to enjoy life, and be successful in taking hold of His plans for us. There’s not an area of your life that God isn’t interested in. We have to remember, though, that we can block ourselves from godly success when we’re not in tune with Him. When we seek Him, obey His instructions, and do everything in a way that honours Him, He moves alongside us in what we’re doing. In the Old Testament, He said, ‘Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do’ (Deuteronomy 29:9 NIV). And in the New Testament, Jesus said, ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). When Jesus says ‘all these things’, He’s talking about our daily needs. Those verses show us that, throughout history, our God has been taking care of people. He makes sure that we have what we need, and that we see real success. But they also remind us that we have to love Him, living out that love in the ways that He instructs us to, in order to step into the success and provision that He brings. Think about someone that you have a close, loving relationship with. You want them to be happy, to have success in the things that they are passionate about. Our relationship with God is so much stronger than that, so our heavenly Father is invested in our success, right down to the details of having clothes on our back. Live with the full knowledge of that. Focus on doing what God wants, and trust that He’ll provide you with what you need. Believe that God wants you to succeed in the life that He has planned for you.
2 Cor 1-4; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 39; Prov 21:9-13
