2021-01-26
Acts 17:27 NKJV
The Bible says God ‘is not far from each one of us’. God doesn’t have favourites. Everyone can have God’s love and support, but many don’t realise it or accept it. They go through life relying on their own strength, looking for solutions in the wrong places, and living without God. Sometimes we can live like that too, forgetting that we’ve got God’s support. But we don’t have to. We can: 1) Lean on God’s presence. ‘God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you”‘ (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). 2) Lean on God’s people. ‘For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them’ (Matthew 18:20 NIV).
When Moses and the Israelites battled the Amalekites, God commissioned Joshua to lead the fight in the valley below while Moses climbed the hill to pray. But he didn’t go alone. He took his two lieutenants, Aaron and Hur. While Joshua led the physical combat, Moses engaged in spiritual combat. Aaron and Hur stood on either side of their leader to hold up his arms in the battle of prayer. The Israelites succeeded because Moses prayed, and Moses succeeded because he had others to pray with him. Just as an army can ask for air support, you can ask for prayer support.
Jesus said, ‘If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven’ (v.19 NIV). Let’s hold on to the fact that we’ve got supporters – God and His people.
Isa 26-29; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
Acts 17:27 NKJV
The Bible says God “is not far from each one of us!” God does not play favourites. From the masses on the city avenues to the isolated villagers in valleys and jungles, all people can enjoy God’s presence. But many don’t. They plod through life as if there were no God to love them. As if their only strength was their own. As if the only solution comes from within, not above. They live godless lives. But you don’t have to do that. You can: (1) Lean on God’s presence. “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV). (2) Lean on God’s people. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20 NKJV).
When Moses and the Israelites battled the Amalekites, God commissioned Joshua to lead the fight in the valley below while Moses ascended the hill to pray. But he did not go alone. He took his two lieutenants, Aaron and Hur. While Joshua led the physical combat, Moses engaged in a spiritual fight. Aaron and Hur stood on either side of their leader to hold up his arms in the battle of prayer. The Israelites prevailed because Moses prayed, and Moses prevailed because he had others to pray with him. Just as an army calls in air support, you can call in prayer support. Jesus said, “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (v.19 NKJV). So lean on God’s presence and His people.
Soul food: Isa 26-29; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
Handelinge 17:27 NLV
Die Bybel sê dat God nie ver van enigeen van ons af is nie. Van die massas in die stad se strate tot die geïsoleerde dorpenaars op die platteland, alle mense kan God se teenwoordigheid geniet. Baie doen egter nie. Hulle swoeg deur die lewe asof daar geen God is wat hulle liefhet nie. Asof hulle enigste krag hul eie is. Asof die oplossing van binne af kom, nie van bo af nie. Hulle lewe goddeloos.
Jy hoef dit egter nie te doen nie. Jy kan: 1) Op God se teenwoordigheid steun. “…Onthou dat God die versekering gegee het: ‘Ek sal jou nie los nie. Ek sal jou nie in die steek laat nie'” (Hebreërs 13:5 NLV). 2) Op God se mense steun. ‘Waar twee of drie bymekaarkom omdat hulle my mense is, is Ek immers ook saam met hulle daar’ (Matteus 18:20 NLV).
Toe Moses en die Israeliete teen die Amalekiete geveg het, het God vir Josua beveel om die geveg in die vallei te lei, terwyl Moses die koppie uitgeklim het om te bid. Hy het egter nie alleen gegaan nie. Hy het sy twee luitenante, Aäron en Hur, saamgeneem. Terwyl Josua die fisiese geveg gelei het, was Moses by ‘n geestelike geveg betrokke. Aäron en Hur het weerskante van hulle leier gestaan om sy arms tydens sy strydgebed op te hou. Die Israeliete het die Amalekiete oorwin omdat Moses gebid het en Moses het gewen omdat hy ander gehad het wat saam met hom gebid het. Jy kan ook gebedsondersteuning inroep.
Jesus het gesê: ‘…As twee van julle hier op aarde sou saamstem oor enigiets wat julle van God behoort te vra, sal my hemelse Vader dit vir julle doen’ (Matteus 18:19 NLV). Steun dus op God se teenwoordigheid en sy mense.
Sielskos: Jes 26-29; Matt 10:11-20; Ps 104:1-23; Spr 3:9-10
2021-01-25
Proverbs 2:6 NIV
If we want to experience personal growth, there are four things we’ll need:
1) The right environment. We need to place ourselves in settings that encourage growth. Certain fish grow according to the size of their surroundings. If they’re kept in a small tank, they stay small, but if they’re released into the ocean, they can grow to their intended size. The same idea can apply to us. We need to spend time in an environment that allows us the space, the resources and the desire to stretch ourselves and grow.
2) Understanding of our strengths. If we try to be good at everything, we’ll end up being good at nothing. God gave each of us specific strengths. We need to first of all identify them, then focus on them and use them.
3) A willingness to change. We can be resistant to change. Most of us want things to get better without having to change anything. The Bible says, ‘Let us…be taken forward to maturity’ (Hebrews 6:1 NIV). To grow, we must accept change, and also commit ourselves to actively pursuing it.
4) Enjoyment. Personal growth is something that takes our whole lives. If we’re really committed to it, we’ll always find ways to grow and things to improve. So if we’re going to spend that much time doing something, it’s best that we enjoy what we’re doing. ‘God wants all people to eat and drink and be happy in their work, which are gifts from God’ (Ecclesiastes 3:13 NCV). If we’re not enjoying it, it’s a good idea to talk to God about it to make sure we’re on the right path. Personal growth can be an exciting journey, so let’s start embracing it.
Isa 22-25; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
Spreuke 2:6 NLV
Persoonlike groei vereis vier dinge:
1) Omgewing. Jy moet jouself in ‘n omgewing plaas wat groei aanmoedig. Sekere visse groei volgens die grootte van hulle omgewing. As jy hulle in ‘n klein visbak hou, bly hulle klein, maar wanneer jy hulle in die oseaan loslaat, groei hulle tot die grootte wat hulle bedoel was om te wees. Dieselfde beginsel is op jou van toepassing. Jy moet jou tyd met die regte mense, op die regte plek, met die regte dinge deurbring om sodoende te groei.
2) Sterkpunte. Wanneer jy probeer om in alles uit te blink, is jy op die ou einde in niks goed nie. God het jou spesifieke sterkpunte gegee – identifiseer en gebruik hulle.
3) Verandering. Die meeste van ons wil hê dat dinge moet beter word, sonder dat ons hoef te verander. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Kom ons gaan eerder verder en word geestelik volwasse…’ (Hebreërs 6:1 NLV). Om te groei, moet jy nie net jouself daaraan toewy om verandering te aanvaar nie, maar om dit na te jaag.
4) Genot. Die meeste skaakmeesters neem vyftien jaar om hulle bewegings te leer voordat hulle hul eerste wêreldtitel wen. Dis amper ‘n vyfde van hulle lewensduur! Wanneer jy so baie tyd aan iets toewy, moet jy seker maak jy geniet dit! As die bestemming vir jou aanloklik lyk, maar jy geniet nie die reis nie, sal jy wys wees om God se leiding te vra om seker maak dat jy in die regte rigting op pad is. As jy op die verkeerde trein is, moenie net saamry nie – klim by die volgende stasie af!
Sielskos: Jes 22-25; Matt 10:1-10; Ps 100; Spr 3:7-8
