2021-05-20
2 Timoteus 2:5 NLV
Is jy so gretig om in almal se goeie boekies te bly dat jy aan al hulle eise toegee? Jy is nie alleen nie! Een Bybelonderwyser skryf: “Een keer toe ek oor my hewige skedule gekla het, het ek God se Gees hoor sê: ‘Jy is die een wat die skedule opstel; as jy nie daarvan hou nie, doen iets daaraan!'” Paulus het vir Timoteus gesê: ‘Volg die Here se gedragskode om sy werk te doen, net soos ‘n atleet volgens die reëls meeding, of andersins gediskwalifiseer word en geen prys wen nie’ (vers 5 NLV).
Nie elke probleem is geestelik nie, sommige probleme is fisies. Jy kan ook nie die duiwel vir dinge blameer wat jou eie fout is nie. Ons neem mense kwalik wat druk op ons uitoefen, maar tog hou ons aan om te doen wat hulle wil hê, wat ons stil woede voed. Jy laat jouself toe om onder druk te wees deur nie verantwoordelikheid vir jou eie lewe te neem nie. Die feit is dat baie mense wat dit goed bedoel, elke dag met stres en depressie rondloop omdat hulle nie nee kan sê nie. Hulle vergeet dat Jesus hulle voorbeeld is en dat Hy gereelde tye van rus en vernuwing gehad het.
Die antwoord lê daarin dat jy: 1) Jou lewe onder die leiding van die Heilige Gees plaas; 2) Leer om eerste dinge eerste te stel; 3) Besef dat jy ook behoeftes het; 4) Nie verwag dat almal sal verstaan wanneer jy grense daar stel nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Op ‘n vriend se lojaliteit kan jy altyd reken…’ (Spreuke 17:17 NLV), nie net wanneer jy aan hulle eise voldoen nie. Jy moet dus leer om grense te stel, om sodoende God se wil vir jou lewe te vervul.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 1-2; Mark 10:13-22; Ps 88:9b-18; Spr 11:27-29
2021-05-19
Spreuke 10:8 NLV
As jy in God se seën wil wandel, moet jy ophou verskonings maak en verantwoordelikheid vir jou lewe neem. Die Bybel sê: “‘n Mens met verstand aanvaar bevele. Hulle wat onsin babbel, bereik niks.” Die vermoë om verantwoordelikheid te aanvaar is ‘n kenmerk van karakter en volwassenheid. God kan jou nie herstel voor jy nie jou sonde erken en daarvan wegdraai nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…God roep elkeen tot verantwoording vir wat hy gedoen het’ (Spreuke 24:12 NLV).
Wanneer jy aanhou om ander mense te blameer, sal jy nooit die plek van eerlike verantwoordelikheid – waar ware verandering begin! – bereik nie. ‘n Gerespekteerde berader skryf: ‘Alle blaam is ‘n mors van tyd. Maak nie saak hoeveel fout jy vind nie, dit gaan nie sake verander nie. Die enigste ding wat blaam doen, is om die fokus van jouself af te neem, wanneer jy vir redes soek om jou ongelukkigheid en frustrasie te probeer verduidelik. Jy mag dalk daarin slaag om iemand anders skuldig te laat voel, maar jy sal nie daarin slaag om dit wat jou ongelukkig maak, te verander nie.’
Om ander mense te blameer, is dikwels net ‘n manier om die waarheid oor jouself te probeer vermy. Jesus het gesê dat die waarheid jou vry sal maak (sien Johannes 8:32 NLV). Dit sal jou dalk aan die begin ongemaklik laat voel, maar dis die enigste ding wat jou waarlik sal vrymaak. Om weg te kruip daarvan sal dit nie laat weggaan nie. Solank jy nie gewillig is om jou foute in die gesig te staar nie, sal jy aanhou probleme hê. Is dit hoe jy jou lewe wil lei? Nie? Raak dan eerlik met God en laat Hom toe om jou te help om die dinge wat verkeerd in jou lewe is, te korrigeer.
Sielskos: Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 88:1-9a; Spr 11:24-26
Proverbs 28:13 NCV
The Bible says, ‘If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.’ The ability to accept responsibility is a sign of character and maturity. More importantly, God can’t restore us until we acknowledge and turn away from our sin. Nowhere in Scripture does God excuse our sin because of someone else’s behaviour. The Bible says He will ‘repay all people as their actions deserve’ (Proverbs 24:12 NLT).
If we constantly blame other people for the way we’ve acted or the things we’ve done, we’ll never reach a place of honest responsibility – and that’s where real change begins. Blaming others doesn’t change things. When we blame someone else, all it really achieves is to make others feel guilty and take the spotlight off us for a while. We might blame others in order to avoid facing the truth about ourselves. But Jesus said that ‘the truth will set you free’ (John 8:32 NIV).
Taking responsibility by admitting we’re wrong or at fault can be very uncomfortable at first, but it’s something we need to do if we want to experience real freedom. We don’t need to confess to other people, although there are times when it’s helpful to admit our wrongdoing to someone we trust, if it’s appropriate. But we must confess to God.
Hiding from our mistakes doesn’t make them go away, and in fact, until we’re willing to face them, we’ll keep having problems. That’s not how God designed us to live. So we need to be honest with God, and let Him help us correct the things in our lives that are out of order.
Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 11:24-26
Proverbs 10:8 NLT
If you want to walk in God’s blessing, stop making excuses and take responsibility for your life. The Bible says, “The wise are glad to be instructed…fools fall flat on their faces.”
The ability to accept responsibility is a hallmark of character and maturity. More importantly, God can’t restore you until you acknowledge and turn away from your sin. Nowhere in Scripture does God excuse our sin because of someone else’s behavior. The Bible says He will “repay all people as their actions deserve” (Proverbs 24:12 NLT). When you keep placing blame on other people, you never reach the place of honest responsibility – where real change begins!
A respected counselor writes: “All blame is a waste of time. Regardless of how much fault you find, it will not change things. The only thing blame does is keep the focus off you when you’re looking for reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. You may succeed in making someone else feel guilty, but you won’t succeed in changing whatever’s making you unhappy.”
Blaming others is often just a way of avoiding the truth about yourself. Jesus said that knowing the truth will set you free (See John 8:32 NLT). It may make you very uncomfortable at first, but it’s the thing that will truly liberate you. And hiding from it doesn’t make it go away. In fact, until you’re willing to face your mistakes, you’ll keep having problems. Is that really how you want to live? No? Then get honest with God, and let Him help you correct the things in your life that are out of order.
Soul food: Heb 11:17-13:25; Mark 10:1-12; Ps 88:1-9a; Prov 11:24-26
2021-05-18
Job 10:12 KJV
There’s no cure for past pain like present desire. When the longing for something is powerful enough, it can wipe out the pain of the past, enabling you to rise again with renewed energy and purpose. If you ask any woman who has experienced the pain of childbirth whether it was worth everything she went through, chances are she would do it again to experience the joy of holding that little one in her arms.
Maybe you’ve experienced a tragedy that has left you feeling indifferent about the future, or a heartbreak that still has you reeling in pain. You may have tried to rationalize it by telling yourself, “As long as I don’t care, it won’t hurt.” The fear of being hurt again is very real; a burned child dreads the fire. But you can’t live the rest of your life in fear.
Job lost his health, his wealth, and his children in a single day. How did he get through it? He said, “Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” God is not finished with you. He will visit you again! Job’s story ends with these words: “The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). And God can do the same for you.
Be encouraged – He has a better future for you: “If you devote your heart to him…stretch out your hands to him…put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by” (Job 11:13-16 NIV).
Soul food: Heb 9:1-11:16; Mark 9:38-50; Ps 75; Prov 11:23
