2020-12-18
Jakobus 1:19 NLV
Die meeste mans is van nature ‘regmakers’. Hulle maak karre, wasmasjiene en die druppende kraan reg. Wanneer dit dus voorkom of hulle vrouens oor hulle probleme wil praat, eerder as om dit reg te maak, raak hulle gefrustreerd. Dikwels besef hulle nie dat sy emosionele bekragtiging, eerder as ‘n oplossing, nodig het nie. Dit beteken dat jy moet sit en geduldig moet luister hoe sy voel. Wanneer mans dit doen, verander hulle vrouens se hele uitkyk op die situasie.
Is die probleem opgelos? Nie noodwending nie. ‘n Belangrike behoefte is egter vervul. In die vrou se oë wys die man wat haar op romantiese afsprake geneem het en aan haar lippe gehang het, dat haar gevoelens steeds vir hom saak maak. Die man wat dit gouer, eerder as later, leer, sal ‘n gelukkiger vrou hê.
Dink so daaroor: Soms verander ons gebede nie die omstandighede nie, maar ons voel beter omdat ons gebid het, nie waar nie? Dis omdat ons dit met die Een wat dit kan verander en genoeg omgee om te luister, gedeel het, dus gaan ons met ‘n ander uitkyk op die situasie weg.
Dis die rede hoekom Paulus geskryf het: ‘Getroude mans, julle moet julle vroue liefhê net soos Christus liefde aan die kerk bewys het toe Hy sy lewe daarvoor gegee het’ (Efesiërs 5:25 NLV). Mans wat in hul beroepe uitblink, is dikwels onbewus van hierdie huweliksbeginsel. Dis egter nie te laat om te leer nie. Moet egter nie verras wees as jou vrou versigtig of verward lyk of flou neerval die eerste keer wat jy dit probeer nie! Haar reaksie sal in verhouding wees met die lengte van die tyd wat jy emosioneel afwesig was. Byt dus vas en gee dit tyd. Die beloning sal veel meer as die belegging wees.
Sielskos: Miga 1-4; Joh 20:19-31; Ps 67; Spr 30:29-33
James 1:19 NKJV
Most men are “fixers” by nature. They fix cars, washing machines, and leaky faucets. So when it seems like their wives would rather talk about problems than fix them, they get frustrated. Often they don’t realize that what she needs is emotional validation more than a solution. And that means sitting down and listening patiently about how she feels. When men do this, their wife’s entire outlook changes. Has the problem been solved? Not necessarily. But an important need has been met.
In the wife’s eyes, the man who pursued her, took her out on romantic dates, and hung on her every word, is letting her know that her feelings still matter to him. The husband who learns this sooner rather than later, will find himself with a happier wife.
Think of it this way: Sometimes our prayers don’t change the circumstances, but we feel better when we’ve prayed, right? That’s because we’ve shared it with the One who’s able, and cares enough to listen, so we come away with a changed outlook. It’s the reason Paul wrote: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave…[His time, attention, support, encouragement, and His life] for her” (Ephesians 5:25 AMPC).
Men who soar in their careers are often clueless about this marriage principle. But it’s not too late to learn. Now, the first time you try it don’t be surprised if your wife seems wary, looks confused, or faints and has to pick herself up off the floor! Her reaction will be proportionate to the length of time you’ve been emotionally absent. So hang in there, and give it time. The rewards will far outweigh the investment.
Soul food: Micah 1-4; John 20:19-31; Ps 67; Prov 30:29-33
2020-12-17
John 11:41 NCV
Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus prayed, ‘Father, I thank you that you heard me.’ What’s interesting about this prayer is that Jesus said it before Lazarus came back to life. It’s a powerful demonstration to us of the faith and trust we should have in God. Jesus knew God would answer His prayer before He witnessed the result.
How often do we need to see the answer to our prayers before we’ll believe that God listened to us and thank Him for responding? After we’ve prayed, the devil wants us to wonder whether or not God actually heard. He wants us to feel that doubt. But when we know God has heard our prayers, we have confidence. Worry and doubt is replaced with peace.
Here are a few Scriptures to think about: ‘When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord’ (James 1:6-7 NIV). ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him’ (1 John 5:14-15 NIV). ‘If anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’ (Mark 11:23-24 NIV).
Today, let’s begin to thank God for hearing our prayers, and trust that He’ll answer them in the way that’s best for us.
Neh 11-13; John 20:10-18; Ps 57; Prov 30:24-28
Johannes 11:41 NLV
Voordat Jesus vir Lasarus uit die dood opgewek het, het Hy gebid: ‘…Vader, Ek is dankbaar teenoor U dat U na My geluister het.’ Wanneer jy weet dat jou gebed in harmonie met God se wil is, kan jy jou gebed met dieselfde woorde afsluit. Nadat jy gebid het, wil die duiwel hê dat jy daarvan moet weggaan en wonder of God jou gehoor het en of Hy gewillig is om jou versoek toe te staan. Wanneer jy egter weet dat God jou gebed gehoor het, dink, praat en tree jy anders op. Angs word met vrede vervang.
Hier is ‘n paar Skrifgedeeltes waarop jy kan mediteer: ‘Maar as ‘n mens bid, moet jy die vertroue hê dat God sal antwoord, want iemand wat twyfel, is soos ‘n brander in die see wat deur die wind aangejaag en heen en weer gedryf word. So iemand kan mos nie dink dat hy iets van die Here sal ontvang nie’ (Jakobus 1:6-7 NLV). ‘Dit is die vrymoedigheid wat ons voor God het, dat wat ons ook al volgens sy wil vra, Hy na ons luister. As ons dan met die wete leef dat Hy na ons luister, na wat ons ook al vra, weet ons ook dat Hy die versoek wat ons gevra het, sal toestaan’ (1 Johannes 5:14-15 NLV). ‘…julle kan vir hierdie berg sê: ‘Mag God jou oplig en in die see gooi,’ en dit sal so gebeur. Al wat nodig is, is dat julle regtig sal glo en nie in julle harte twyfel nie… alles wat julle in gebed vra, sal julle ontvang, mits julle God daarmee vertrou’ (Markus 11:23-24 NLV).
Begin vandag om God te dank dat Hy na jou gebed geluister het en dat Hy dit op ‘n manier wat die beste vir jou is, sal antwoord.
Sielskos: Neh 11-13; Joh 20:10-18; Ps 57; Spr 30:24-28
John 11:41 AMPC
Before raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus prayed, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me.” When you know your prayer is in harmony with God’s will, you can wrap it up with the same words: “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”
Understand this: After you’ve prayed, the Devil wants you to go away and wonder whether or not God actually heard you, or if He’s willing to grant your request. But when you know God has heard your prayer, you have confidence. You think, act, and speak differently. Anxiety is replaced with peace.
Here are a few Scriptures for you to meditate on: “When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7 NIV). “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV). “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:23-24 NIV).
Today begin to thank God that He has heard your prayer, and that He will answer it in the way that’s best for you.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; John 20:10-18; Ps 57; Prov 30:24-28
