2020-10-28
Philippians 4:6 CEV
Talking to God is vital to our Christian life – after all, being a Christian is defined by our relationship with Him. Philippians 4:6-7 instruct us: ‘With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel’ (CEV). But it can be hard to get our mindset about prayer right. An old acronym to shape our conversations with God, especially to avoid ‘shopping list’ prayers, is A.C.T.S – adoration, confession, thanks, and supplication.
1) Begin with adoration. The idea is that every conversation with God should start with us recognising who He is. It really can change our outlook to briefly put aside what we need, and even praise for what God has done, to focus on His incredible personality. What God does in the world is different in different situations, but His love for us, and the person He is, never changes. That’s why we focus on that first.
2) Second, confess. Once we’ve reminded ourselves of the loving, forgiving personality of God, we should spend time working through our wrongs with Him, and step into His forgiveness.
3) Then, give thanks. This is the time to thank God for the things that He’s done, is doing, and will do, and recognise specific things that we have to be grateful for.
4) Finally, comes supplication, the idea of making a request to God. Once we’ve got our perspective right, then we can bring the things on our heart before God, sharing what we need, want, and care about. We may even find that our requests start to align with God’s heart once we’ve adored and thanked Him, and confronted our wrongdoing first.
Zeph 1-3; John 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 24:26-27
Filippense 4:6 NLV
Rachel en Jim het ‘n kommersiële gebou besit, die helfte daarvan het Jim vir sy tandheelkundige praktyk gebruik. Vir vyftien jaar lank het hulle glad nie gesukkel om die ander helfte te verhuur nie, wat ‘n ekstra inkomste was om hulle rekeninge te betaal. Toe hulle hul langtermyn huurder verloor het, het ‘n eiendomsagent vir hulle gesê: ‘Vergeet daarvan om vir ‘n ruk die spasie te adverteer – niemand huur op die oomblik nie.’
Om van haar stres ontslae te raak, het Rachel rondtes by die plaaslike gimnasium begin swem. Eendag het sy baie angstig gevoel en besluit om te bid terwyl sy swem, terwyl sy die alfabet gebruik om telling van haar rondtes te hou. Sy het begin om God te beskryf, deur met die letter A te begin. ‘U is ‘n Almagtige God,’ het sy gedurende die eerste rondte gebid. B. “‘n Barmhartige God, ‘n betroubare God,” het sy tydens die volgende rondte gebid. Dan C: Dankie dat U Christus vir ons gestuur het.’Teen die tyd wat sy ses-en-twintig rondtes geswem het, was dit ‘n uur later en was haar vrese weg. Sy het geweet dat God sou voorsien.
‘n Kort rukkie later het ‘n fisioterapeut gebel om uit te vra oor die spasie, nadat sy die ‘Te Huur’ bordjie in die venster gesien het. Dit was presies wat sy wou gehad het, dus het sy en haar vennoot die spasie gehuur. Rachel bid steeds terwyl sy rondtes swem. ‘Ek het immers ontdek dat God se goedheid van A tot Z strek,’ sê sy.
Bekommer jy jou vandag oor iets? Hier is ‘n beter opsie: ‘…Vra alles wat julle nodig het van God, terwyl julle Hom ook dank vir alles wat Hy doen… Omdat julle aan Christus behoort, sal die vrede van God julle harte en gedagtes soos ‘n veiligheidswag oppas’ (verse 6-7 NLV).
Sielskos: Sef 1-3; Joh 7:1-13; Ps 104:1-23; Spr 24:26-27
2020-10-27
Hebrews 11:27 NIV
Fourth: you must persevere when life gets difficult. Moses’ life could be summarised in these two words: ‘He persevered.’ Moses understood that difficulties come into every life, and he knew how to respond to them correctly and move on. And we must learn to do that too.
As followers of Christ, we should never let problems defeat us; instead, we should let them draw us closer to God. God allows specific situations in our lives to bring growth, and without perseverance we won’t get very far.
Notice the words ‘By faith…he persevered. Moses’ faith and trust in God helped him through every challenge he faced. When God calls us to do a job, He doesn’t just give us the task and then leaves us to deal with it by ourselves in our own strength. He equips and empowers us. He walks alongside us, encouraging us and letting us draw on His strength. He goes ahead of us and provides everything we need.
When we say yes to His plan for our lives, we can stand on this promise: ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28 NIV). If you want to live a life that’s successful in God’s eyes, you should do these four things: a) know who you are; b) take responsibility for your life; c) determine your priorities; and d) persevere when life gets difficult. If you stick closely to these Bible truths, you’ll live a life that’s truly blessed by God.
1 Tim 4-6; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
Hebreërs 11:27 NLV
Vierdens moet jy volhou wanneer die lewe moeilik raak. Jy kan Moses se hele lewe in hierdie drie woorde opsom: ‘Hy het volgehou.’
Dis ‘n feit van die lewe dat daar nie vooruitgang sonder probleme kan wees nie. Moses het verstaan dat die lewe moeilikhede en probleme kan oplewer en hy het ook geweet hoe om reg op hulle te reageer en aan te beweeg. Ons moet ook leer om dit te doen.
As volgelinge van Christus, moet ons nie toelaat dat probleme ons oorwin nie, ons moet dit toelaat om ons nader aan God te beweeg. Iemand het gesê dat ons nie moet toelaat dat probleme ons afbring nie – behalwe af op ons knieë om te bid! God laat sekere situasies in ons lewens toe om groei te laat plaasvind. Sonder volhouding sal ons egter nie ver kom nie.
Let die woorde op: ‘Omdat hy geglo het… [het] hy volgehou…’ Waarin het hy geglo? In wie het hy geglo? In God! Ons praat nie hier van ‘n vleeslike vorm van self-help nie. Nee, ons praat van die feit dat wanneer God jou roep om ‘n werk te doen, Hy jou daarvoor toerus en jou bekragtig. Hy gaan jou vooruit en voorsien alles wat jy nodig het.
Wanneer jy vir sy plan in jou lewe ja sê, kan jy op hierdie belofte staan: ‘En ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV).
Jy moet dus: a) weet wie jy is; b) verantwoordelikheid vir jou lewe neem; c) jou prioriteite bepaal; en d) volhou wanneer die lewe moeilik raak. As jy volgens hierdie vier Bybelse waarhede lewe, sal jy ‘n lewe lei wat waarlik deur God geseën word.
Sielskos: 1 Tim 4-6; Joh 6:52-71; Ps 114; Spr 24:23-25
Hebrews 11:27 NIV
Fourth: You must persevere when life gets difficult. You could sum up the life of Moses in these two words: “He persevered.”
It’s a fact of life that there’s no gain without pain, no advancement without adversity, and no progress without problems. Moses understood that difficulties come into every life, and he knew how to respond to them correctly and move on. And we must learn to do that too. As followers of Christ, we should never let problems defeat us; instead, we should let them draw us closer to God.
Someone has said that we should never let problems get us down – except down on our knees to pray! God allows specific situations in our lives to bring growth. And without perseverance we won’t get very far.
Notice the words “By faith…he persevered.” Faith in what? Faith in whom? Faith in God! We’re not talking here about some white-knuckled, flesh-based form of self-help. No, we’re talking about the fact that when God calls you to do a job, He equips and empowers you. He goes ahead of you and provides everything you need. When you say yes to His plan for your life, you can stand on this promise: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
So you must (a) know who you are; (b) take responsibility for your life; (c) determine your priorities; and (d) persevere when life gets difficult. If you abide by these four Bible truths, you will live a life that is truly blessed by God.
Soul food: 1 Tim 4-6; John 6:52-71; Ps 114; Prov 24:23-25
