2021-01-28
Proverbs 22:3 NLT
Here are three things realistic thinking can do for us:
1) It helps to give us a sense of security. When we’ve thought through the worst that can happen and developed contingency plans to meet it, we can feel more confident and secure. It’s reassuring to know that we’re prepared. Disappointment is the difference between our expectations and reality. Thinking realistically minimises the difference between the two.
2) It gives us credibility. People who are continually surprised by things that go wrong soon lose their credibility. It shows that they’ve not planned or thought things through properly. But people who think realistically about what could happen, and plan accordingly, put themselves in a strong position, which encourages others to have confidence in them. So before we ask anyone else to be part of our projects, ideas, or visions, we need to ask ourselves: a) Is it possible? b) Have I identified and explained the pros and cons of achieving it? c) Do I have a solid foundation to build on?
3) It helps us to make an idea useable and workable. When we have an idea that we’re really enthusiastic about, we can rely too much on what we wish or think is happening, rather than what’s actually happening, so our ideas don’t have the results or the success we intend. Ideas and plans need to be built on solid foundations, and thinking realistically helps provide them. Solomon put it this way: ‘A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.’ So before we get too carried away by new project or idea, let’s think realistically about the steps we need to take.
Isa 34-37; Matt 10:32-42; Ps 107:1-9; Prov 3:13-18
Spreuke 22:3 NLV
Hier is drie dinge wat realistiese denke vir jou sal doen:
1) Dit sal jou ‘n sin van sekuriteit gee. Wanneer jy gedink het aan die ergste wat kan gebeur en ‘n gebeurlikheidsplan daarvoor opgestel het, voel jy meer gemaklik en vol vertroue. Dis gerusstellend om te weet dat jy nie maklik verras sal word nie. Teleurstelling is die verskil tussen verwagtinge en die realiteit. Wanneer jy realisties dink, verminder jy die verskil tussen die twee.
2) Dit sal jou geloofwaardigheid gee. Leiers wat aanhoudend deur die onverwagte verras word, verloor vinnig geloofwaardigheid in hul volgelinge se oë. Leiers wat realisties dink en daarvolgens beplan, posisioneer hulself om te wen. Dit gee hul volgelinge vertroue in hulle. Voordat jy dus enigiemand uitnooi om deel van jou visie of projek te wees, moet jy jouself die volgende afvra: a) Is dit moontlik? b) Het ek die voordele en nadele van die projek geïdentifiseer en dit verduidelik? c) Het ek ‘n vaste fondasie om op te bou? Thomas Edison het opgemerk: ‘Die waarde van ‘n goeie idee lê in die gebruik daarvan.’
3) Dit sal jou help om ‘n idee bruikbaar te maak deur die ‘wens faktor’ uit die weg te ruim. Die meeste idees en pogings bereik nie hul bedoelde resultate nie, omdat ons te veel op dit wat ons wens, en nie op dit wat is nie, staatmaak. Jy kan nie ‘n huis in die lug bou nie; dit benodig ‘n soliede fondasie. Idees en planne is dieselfde. Hulle het iets konkreet nodig om op te bou en realistiese denke voorsien daardie soliede fondasie.
Salomo het dit so gestel: ‘Iemand wat verstandig is, sien wanneer onheil kom en vermy dit. Die onervare mens loop oopoë daarin vas en boet daarvoor.’ Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – dink realisties.
Sielskos: Jes 34-37; Matt 10:32-42; Ps 107:1-9; Spr 3:13-18
2021-01-27
Luke 14:28 NLT
Reality is the difference between what you wish for – and what is. If you’re a naturally optimistic person you may find it difficult to think realistically. Indeed, you may think it’s the opposite of having faith. No, faith doesn’t deny the problem, it connects you with God through whose strength you can overcome. Here are two things that thinking realistically will do for you:
(1) Minimize unnecessary risks. All actions have consequences. Thinking realistically will help you determine what those consequences could be. This is particularly important when your actions affect others. The old motto, “expect the best but plan for the worst,” has merit. By thinking that way you minimize unnecessary risks. It gives you a goal, with a plan to reach it. Here’s the good news: You need a sense of hope in order to succeed. Here’s the bad news: Hope is not a strategy.
(2) Show you what needs to be changed. People who rely solely on hope for their success, rarely make change a high priority. If you only have hope, you imply that success is out of your hands. It’s a matter of luck and chance – so why bother changing. There’s nothing like reality staring you in the face, to help you see what needs to be changed. Change alone doesn’t bring growth, but you cannot have growth without change.
Following Christ is the most blessed and joyful life you can live, but there’s a price to be paid for it. And Jesus was realistic about it: “If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…Don’t begin until you count the cost” (vv.14:27-28 NLT).
Soul food: Isa 30-33; Matt 10:21-31; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
Luke 14:28 NLT
Jesus was realistic about a life spent following Him, and encouraged others to be realistic about it too: ‘If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple…Don’t begin until you count the cost’ (v.14:27-28 NLT).
We might think that being realistic about things is the opposite of having faith. But that isn’t true. Having faith doesn’t mean we’re denying the way things are. Instead, faith connects us with our God who will help us face our reality, whatever that might be. Here are two things that thinking realistically can do for us:
1) Minimise unnecessary risks. All of our actions have consequences. Thinking realistically helps us determine what those consequences could be. This is particularly important when our actions affect others. There’s an old saying, ‘expect the best but plan for the worst’, and it’s actually a very good strategy for us to try. By thinking that way we minimise unnecessary risks. It helps to give us a goal, with a plan to reach it. We need a sense of hope in order to succeed, but hope isn’t a strategy. That’s why we need to think realistically in our planning.
2) Show what needs to be changed. People who rely only on hope for their success tend not to make change a high priority. If we only hope to be successful, we imply that success is all a matter of luck, and we needn’t be bothered about growth and change. But being realistic about where we are and where we want to be helps us discover what we need to change or learn to get there. Change alone doesn’t bring growth, but growth can’t happen without change.
Isa 30-33; Matt 10:21-31; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
Lukas 14:28 NLV
Realiteit is die verskil tussen dit waarvoor jy wens – en dit wat is. As jy van nature ‘n optimistiese persoon is, mag jy dit moeilik vind om realisties te dink. Jy mag inderwaarheid dink dat dit die teenoorgestelde van geloof is. Nee, geloof ontken nie die probleem nie, dit konnekteer jou met God deur wie se krag jy dit kan oorkom. Hier is twee dinge wat realistiese denke vir jou sal doen:
1) Onnodige risiko’s minimaliseer. Alle aksies het gevolge. Realistiese denke kan jou help om te bepaal wat daardie gevolge mag wees. Dis veral belangrik wanneer jou aksies ander mense affekteer. Die ou gesegde: ‘Verwag die beste maar beplan vir die ergste,’ het waarde. Deur so te dink, minimaliseer jy onnodige risiko’s. Dit gee jou ‘n doelwit, met ‘n plan om dit te bereik. Hier is die goeie nuus: Jy het ‘n sin van hoop nodig om sukses te behaal. Hier is die slegte nuus: Hoop is nie ‘n strategie nie.
2) Jou wys wat verander moet word. Mense wat alleenlik op hoop vir hulle sukses vertrou, maak selde verandering ‘n hoë prioriteit. As jy slegs hoop het, impliseer jy dat sukses uit jou hande is. Dis ‘n saak van kanse en geluk – hoekom sal jy dus verander? Daar is niks soos realiteit wat jou in die gesig staar, wat jou help sien wat verander moet word nie. Verandering alleen bring nie groei mee nie, maar jy kan nie groei sonder verandering nie.
Om Christus te volg is die mees geseënde en vreugdevolle lewe wat jy kan lei, maar daar is ‘n prys aan verbonde. Jesus was realisties daaroor: ‘En jy kan nie my dissipel wees as jy nie jou eie kruis dra en My volg nie. Moenie eers begin voordat jy die koste bereken het nie…’ (verse 27-28 NLV).
Sielskos: Jes 30-33; Matt 10:21-31; Ps 104:24-35; Spr 3:11-12
