2020-10-20
Colossians 3:23 NASB
We can so often separate out the ideas of our own hard work, and God working in us, through us, or for us. The truth is, with the right mindset and prayer life, they should be the same thing. When you pray just as hard as you work, and vice versa, the game changes. Colossians 3:23 tells us ‘whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord’ (NIV). That focus is only possible with time dedicated to finding equilibrium in God. The balance between work, rest, and a relationship with God is so easy to miss nowadays.
Saint Benedict wrote a book of instructions for monks, and his message of ‘pray and work’ still stands in so many monasteries today. Benedictine tradition often follows a rule of ‘thirds’, with monks spending eight hours sleeping, eight hours working, and eight hours praying.
Our relationship with God must lead to action, but action has to be completely anchored in our relationship with God. One without the other won’t make the kind of difference to the world that God is calling us to. We have to make sure that our work gets done in a Godly way, because our tasks here on earth bring God’s heavenly glory into the world.
One of the last prayers that Jesus prayed was, ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do’ (John 17:4 NIV). We can follow His example in prayerfully chasing God’s tasks for us and completing them for His glory.
From the biggest calling on our life right through to the simplest every day task, our to-do lists can bring praise to God when we root them in prayer and worship.
2 Sam 20:1-22:30; John 5:1-15; Ps 15; Prov 24:7
2020-10-19
1 Timoteus 4:13 NLV
Wat jy lees en bestudeer, is wat jy word. Wanneer jy die regte boeke met jou saamdra, onderhou jy ‘n aanhoudende vloed van waarheid en informasie na jou hart en gedagtes toe.
1) Lees ontmoedig onproduktiewe gesprekke. Jy moet altyd gereed wees om jou geloof te deel en ander mense te dien. Het jy egter al ooit langs iemand gesit wat nie wou ophou praat nie? Baie keer het mense wat daarvan hou om te praat, nie regtig iets beduidends om te sê nie. Hulle praat net om stilte te vermy, maar wanneer jy ‘n boek beskikbaar het, los dit daardie probleem op.
2) Maak ‘n lys van boeke wat jy elke maand wil lees. Dit voorkom onwyse keuses in oomblikke van verveeldheid, versoeking of moegheid. Kies aan die begin van die jaar twee-en-vyftig boeke wat jy teen die einde van die jaar wil lees – een per week.
3) Dra boeke saam wanneer jy reis. Wanneer jy weg van jou besige skedule is, kan jy droom, fokus en beplan.
Toe hy Timoteus gementor het, het Paulus geskryf: ‘…konsentreer daarop om die Skrif aan die gemeente voor te lees, die gelowiges te bemoedig en om hulle te onderrig. Moenie die geestelike gawe verwaarloos wat jy ontvang het… nie. Gee jou volle aandag aan hierdie sake. Werp jouself in jou werksaamhede sodat almal jou vordering kan sien’ (verse 13-15 NLV).
Die eerste boek wat jy moet lees is die Bybel – en dis ook die een wat jy die meeste moet lees. Lees egter ander boeke ook, omdat God die bron van alle ware wysheid en kennis is. Om Salomo aan te haal: ‘Die verstandige ding om te doen, is om eers te bekom… Stel dit hoog op prys en dit sal aan jou eer gee’ (Spreuke 4:7-8 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Joh 4:39-54; Ps 41; Spr 24:5-6
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
When we’re busy, one of the first things we often neglect is reading the Bible. It might have become too familiar to us, or hard to understand, or we’ve just lost our passion for it. In 2 Timothy we read: ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.’ Studying God’s Word is clearly very beneficial and the right thing to do. One thing we can do to recapture our love for it is to try studying it in a different way from our usual method. Here are some ideas:
1) By book. Read a whole book of the Bible a few times and try to work out the overarching theme of that book, without focusing too much on the detail.
2) By chapter. Read a single chapter, and look for the main message. If you were giving that chapter a new heading to summarise it, what would it be?
3) By verse. Read one verse (you could even read it in different Bible translations) and focus on what you can learn just from that single verse.
4) By topic. Choose a topic that interests you, such as God’s promises, prayers, people who ignored God, food…the list is endless. Research and read everything the Bible says about that topic, and see what you can learn about God’s perspective on that topic.
5) By word. Choose a word, and research every time that word is used in the Bible. Does it highlight anything new to you?
6) By cross-referencing. Choose a verse, then use a cross-referencing tool online to find other verses that mention similar things, revealing new connections.
2 Sam 17:14-19:43; John 4:39-54; Ps 41; Prov 24:5-6
1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV
What you read and study is what you become. When you carry the right books with you, you maintain a continuous flow of truth and information into your heart and mind.
(1) Reading discourages unproductive conversation. You should always be ready to share your faith and minister to the needs of others. But have you ever sat beside someone who couldn’t stop talking? Many times people who love to talk don’t require anything significant to energize them. They talk just to avoid silence; when you keep a book handy, it solves that problem.
(2) Keep a list of books you want to read each month. This prevents unwise selections in moments of boredom, temptation, or fatigue. At the beginning of each year, select fifty-two books you’d like to read by the end of the year – one per week. Reading twenty pages a day will take you through a 140-page book every week.
(3) Carry books when you travel. When you’re away from the busyness of your daily schedule, you can withdraw into your own private world: You can dream, focus, and plan.
In mentoring Timothy, Paul wrote: “Give attention to reading…Do not neglect the gift that is in you…Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (vv. 13-15 NKJV).
The first book you should read is your Bible – and it’s also the one you should read most. But read other books too, because God is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. To quote Solomon: “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; John 4:39-54; Ps 41; Prov 24:5-6
2020-10-18
Spreuke 12:5 ABA
Jou gedagtes kan vir of teen jou werk. Wanneer dit vir jou werk, help dit jou om positief te bly, jou doelwitte te bereik en elke dag te geniet. Wanneer dit egter teen jou werk, kan dit jou negatief en moedeloos laat voel, jou terughou en jou gedagtes laat dink wat self-sabotasie tot gevolg het. Leer dus jou gedagtes om vir jou en nie teen jou nie, te werk.
‘n Belangrike manier om dit te doen, is om ‘n bewustelike besluit te neem om positief te begin dink – in terme van geloof en nie van vrees nie. Jou brein sal nie hierdie nuwe rol oornag begin vervul nie. Jy verwag dalk van jou brein om ‘n radikale transformasie te ondergaan, wat tyd sal neem. Besluit egter dat tesame met jou ywer en God se hulp, jou brein vir jou sal begin werk en ‘n positiewe dryfkrag in jou lewe sal word.
Dr Caroline Leaf, ‘n kognitiewe neurowetenskaplike, wys uit dat die brein agtien jaar neem om volwasse te word en ‘n leeftyd neem om te groei. Moenie die punt mis nie! Terwyl elke orgaan in jou liggaam tydens jou geboorte ten volle gevorm was en groter geword het soos jou liggaam gegroei het, het jou brein ‘n volle agtien jaar nodig gehad om volwasse te word. Sodra dit volledig gevorm is, hou dit aan groei – maak nie saak hoe oud jy is nie. Dis wonderlike nuus, omdat dit beteken dat jy nie in ‘n ou of verkeerde gedagtepatroon vasgevang hoef te bly nie. Jou brein groei steeds, wat beteken dat jy steeds jou denke kan verbeter.
Soos die Bybel sê: ‘Mense wat reg lewe, dink reg…’
Sielskos: Matt 21:18-22; Matt 8:5-13; Mark 6:1-6
