2021-06-15
Matthew 6:7 NAS
Knowing our tendency to complicate things, Jesus said, “When you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (vv. 7-8). By using the words “meaningless repetition,” He’s teaching us that prayer doesn’t have to be long, loud, or labored. And because He said “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him,” He’s inviting you to find a scriptural promise that corresponds to your need and stand on it.
Charles Swindoll, who uses his driving time to pray, writes this: “Often I speak to God out loud. Sometimes I sing to Him. Occasionally the entire prayer will be in my mind. Each time I commit myself to prayer, I notice that God becomes my focus rather than some personal struggle. I’m relieved of worry. I’m able to release anything concerning me so that I can become altogether lost in the majesty of His presence and the joy of ministry. When I arrive, I’m excited to do as God pleases. I find myself refreshed, relieved, and ready. My mind is focused. My heart is prepared. My emotions are clear, and whatever was troubling me when I began that drive no longer concerns me. Prayer has made that possible. Now I wish I could say I use every commute every day for time in prayer. But like many people, I often forget. My mind will be spinning from one problem to the next and rather than pray, I churn. At times I’ll be so anxious it doesn’t occur to me that I should quit worrying and commence praying.”
Prayer: make it simple, and frequent.
Soul food: 2 Ki 21-23; Luke 1:1-10; Ps 73:1-16; Prov 13:17-19
Matteus 6:7 NLV
Jesus het geweet van ons neiging om dinge onnodig te kompliseer en het gesê: ‘Wanneer julle dan bid, moenie met woorde mors… nie… julle Vader weet presies wat julle behoeftes is, selfs nog voordat julle Hom vra!’ (verse 7-8 NLV). Jesus leer ons hier dat gebed nie lank, luid of moeisaam hoef te wees nie. Hy nooi jou ook uit om ‘n Skriftuurlike belofte te soek wat met jou behoefte ooreenstem en dan daarop te staan.
Charles Swindoll, wat sy tyd in die kar gebruik het om te bid, skryf die volgende: ‘Ek praat dikwels hardop met God. Soms sing ek vir Hom. Met tye is my hele gebed in my gedagtes. Elke keer wat ek myself aan gebed oorgee, kom ek agter dat God my fokus word, eerder as een van my persoonlike probleme. My bekommernisse smelt weg. Ek is in staat om enigiets wat my bekommer te laat gaan, sodat ek heeltemal verlore in sy teenwoordigheid en die vreugde van bediening kan word. Wanneer ek by my bestemming arriveer, is ek opgewonde om God se wil te doen. Ek voel verkwik, verlig en gereed. My gedagtes is gefokus. My hart is voorbereid. My emosies is helder en wat my ookal gepla het terwyl ek bestuur het, pla my nie meer nie. Gebed het dit moontlik gemaak. Ek wens ek kon sê dat ek elke rit, elke dag gebruik om in gebed te deur te bring. Soos baie mense, vergeet ek egter dikwels. My gedagtes sal van een probleem na die volgende spring en eerder as om te bid, broei ek daaroor. Met tye sal ek so angstig wees dat dit nie by my opkom dat ek eerder myself moet ophou bekommer en begin bid nie.’
Gebed: maak dit eenvoudig en gereeld.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 21-23; Luk 1:1-10; Ps 73:1-16; Spr 13:17-19
Matthew 6:32 NLT
Money worries can, and probably will, affect all of us at some time. Jesus gave this advice to a group of people who were anxious about their finances: ‘Don’t worry about these things…your heavenly Father already knows all your needs…and he will give you everything you need’ (vv. 31-33 NLT). He’ll do this for us every day too, if we live for Him and make God’s kingdom our main concern.
If you’re feeling worried about money at the moment, what’s your biggest fear? Is it not having enough money, or not having God’s blessing on your finances and how you use your money? If the fear of missing out on God’s involvement in our finances is bigger and stronger than the fear of not having enough, we’re actually in a good place, because it means we’ll be more inclined to seek God’s advice, use our money in line with His will, and sow generously into His kingdom.
The Bible talks about ‘casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you’ (1 Peter 5:7 ESV). None of us can escape financial uncertainty, and when we experience it, we long for the assurance that we’re not alone. Ironically, financial peace of mind doesn’t come from hoarding and withholding, but from giving when it doesn’t seem to make sense. That’s because in those times when we’re down to our last pound, or we don’t know how we’re going to pay the next bill, all we can do is turn to God and trust Him. And as we see Him walking beside us and working in our situation, our faith and confidence in Him to provide for us and meet our needs grows stronger each day.
2 Ki 21-23; Luke 1:1-10; Ps 73:1-16; Prov 13:17-19
2021-06-14
1 Timothy 2:1 NIV
Prayer is simply communicating with God. And communication can be spoken or silent. It can even be expressed in song. Many of the Psalms are just prayers set to music. Prayer is connecting with God. Whether it’s confessing a sin, praising His name, pursuing His will, interceding for a friend, or petitioning for your own needs, your prayer must be God-centered, never self-centered. Sincere prayer comes from a heart that longs for God to reveal what He desires. So you must allow adequate time for listening and waiting intently before your heavenly Father. And prayer must be your first priority.
Paul instructs Timothy: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made” (v. 1 NIV). Note the words, “First of all.” Before you slide out of bed, before you take a shower, before you make your way to work, and before your first appointment, pray, pray, pray! Every afternoon at three o’clock, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. In the middle of the day, they interrupted their schedule to gather for one purpose: prayer.
So when your day is rolling along at its own pace and in its own direction, interrupt it with prayer. As your day builds toward a crisis, deliberately stop to pray. When your morning begins to go south, pull away for a few moments of solitude to seek God’s mind and ask for His instruction. When your attitude starts to sour, pause for an attitude adjustment prompted by prayer. Don’t wait – pray immediately.
Make prayer your first priority in all things and at all times. If you do, you’ll find that prayer changes your life for the better.
Soul food: 2 Ki 18:17-20:21; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 80:12-19; Prov 13:13-16
1 Timoteus 2:1 NLV
Gebed is eenvoudig kommunikasie met God. Kommunikasie kan gesproke of stil wees. Dit kan selfs in ‘n liedjie uitgedruk word. Baie van die Psalms is net gebede wat getoonset is. Gebed gaan daaroor om met God te skakel. Of dit nou die belydenis van sonde, lofprysing van sy Naam, om sy wil te vra, om vir ‘n vriend in te tree of om jou eie behoeftes te kommunikeer is, moet jou gebede Godgesentreerd en nooit selfgesentreerd wees nie. Dus moet jy genoeg tyd toelaat om te luister en aandagtig voor jou hemelse Vader te wag.
Gebed moet ook jou eerste prioriteit wees. Paulus het vir Timoteus opdrag gegee: ‘Eerstens spoor ek jou aan om vir alle mense te bid. Terwyl jy jou versoeke rig, smeek God se onverdiende goedheid daaroor af en dank Hom’ (vers 1 NLV). Let die woord ‘Eerstens’ op. Voor jy uit die bed klim, voor jy gaan stort, voor jy werk toe gaan, voor jou eerste afspraak: bid, bid, bid!
Elke middag om drieuur het Petrus en Johannes na die tempel toe gegaan om te bid. Hulle het hulle skedule in die middel van die dag vir een doelwit onderbreek: gebed. Wanneer jou dag dus op sy eie pas verbygaan en in sy eie rigting beweeg, onderbreek dit met gebed. Soos jou dag na ‘n krisis toe opbou, stop opsetlik om te bid. Wanneer jou oggend begin verkeerd loop, onttrek jouself vir ‘n paar oomblikke van stilte om God se wil te soek en Hom vir sy instruksies te vra. Wanneer jou houding begin suur word, neem ‘n oomblik om jou houding deur gebed te verander. Moenie wag nie – bid onmiddellik.
Maak gebed jou eerste prioriteit in alle dinge en ten alle tye. As jy dit doen, sal jy uitvind dat gebed jou lewe ten goede verander.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 18:17-20:21; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 80:12-19; Spr 13:13-16
