2021-06-17
Genesis 1:26 NLV
Tydens die skepping het God iets interessants oor ons gesê: ‘Laat hulle soos konings heers.’ Met ander woorde, Hy het volle outoriteit in jou geplaas om jou lewe te beheer. Jy dien as sy agent hier op aarde om seker te maak dat sy wil gedoen word. Wees egter versigtig. Satan sal probeer dat jy jou heerskappy aan hom oorgee, of jou mislei om te glo dat jy geen mag het nie en dat hy al die mag het. Hy sal jou ook moontlik probeer oortuig om jou lewe volgens jou eie verwronge oordele en sieninge te regeer.
Eers wanneer jy met wysheid volgens die voorskrifte van God se Woord regeer, sal jy ‘n volkome en volledige besef van sy ontwerp vir jou lewe kry. God heers oor alles, maar Hy het vir jou heerskappy in jou invloedsfeer gegee. ‘Die hemele behoort aan die Here, maar die aarde het Hy vir die mensdom gegee’ (Psalm 115:16 NLV). God bemagtig jou om die regte keuses en besluite te maak en pas sy reaksie by jou aksies aan. Soms sit en wag ons vir God om op te tree, terwyl Hy vir ons wag om ‘n skuif te maak.
Een pastoor skryf dat God: ‘…’n basis van soewereine grense handhaaf; ‘n sfeer wat Hy nie mense sal toelaat om te oortree nie, maar terselftertyd ‘n veld oopmaak waar ons kan regeer en waar Hy dan dienoorkomstig kan reageer.’ As jy byvoorbeeld volop wil oes, moet jy volop saai. As jy vergewe wil word, moet jy ander vergewe. As jy saam met Hom in sy seën wil stap, moet jy gehoorsaam wees. Jy is geroepe om deur Jesus Christus ‘…koninklik oor die sonde en die dood [te] triomfeer’ (Romeine 5:17 NLV).
Sielskos: Hosea 1-5; Luk 1:26-38; Ps 139:1-6; Spr 13:21-23
Genesis 1:26 GWT
At creation God said something interesting about us: “Let them rule.” In other words, He invested you with full authority for managing your life. You serve as His agent on earth to make sure His will is done. But beware. Satan will try to get you to hand your rule over to him, or deceive you into believing you have no power and he has it all. Or else he’ll encourage you to rule your life based on your own skewed judgments and distorted views.
It’s not until you rule with wisdom and walk according to the precepts of God’s Word, that you enter into a complete and comprehensive realization of His design for your life. God reigns over all, but He has given you dominion in your sphere of influence. “The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of men” (Psalm 115:16 NAS).
God empowers you to make right choices and decisions, and tailors His reactions to your actions. Sometimes we sit around waiting for God to act, when the truth is, He’s waiting for us to make a move. One pastor writes that God “has maintained a base of sovereign boundaries, a sphere He will not allow [people] to trespass on…[but] simultaneously opened up a field where we get to call the plays, leaving Him to respond accordingly.” For example, if you want to reap bountifully, you must sow generously. If you want to be forgiven, you must forgive others. And if you want to walk in His blessings, you must walk in obedience. You are called to “reign in life by…Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17 KJV).
Soul food: Hosea 1-5; Luke 1:26-38; Ps 139:1-6; Prov 13:21-23
2021-06-16
Filippense 4:6 NLV
As jou emosies nog steeds in ‘n warboel is nadat jy daaroor gebid het – bid nog. Deur die dissipline van gereelde gebed te kultiveer, sal jy die vermoë om kalm en stil te bly, ontdek. Soos jy op die Here wag, sal jy verligting van vrees se greep op jou gees kry. Jy mag dalk in die versoeking kom om te dink dat jou gebed oneffektief was, of dat jy misluk het omdat jou angstigheid teruggekeer het. Sien aanhoudende angs as ‘n teken dat jy meer tyd met God moet deurbring; om die details van jou probleem te hersien, Hom te vertel hoe baie dit jou pla en soms om selfs te erken dat jy bang is dat Hy dit nie gou genoeg sal hanteer nie.
Wanneer jy jou bekommer, kies jy om oor ‘n probleem te wroeg, eerder as om dit heeltemal aan God oor te gee. As jy dus geneig is om jouself baie te bekommer, moet jy baie bid. Bid die volgende: ‘Here, hierdie is u probleem om reg te stel. Neem asseblief beheer. Laat my weet wat U wil hê ek moet doen as ek by die oplossing betrokke moet wees. Ek sien dit egter as opgelos wanneer ek dit aan U oorlaat.’
Jy het die probleem opgelos deur dit aan God oor te gee en jou verantwoordelikheid is nou om op sy leiding te wag. Wanneer Hy wil hê dat jy moet optree, sal Hy dit vir jou duidelik maak. Soos jy op Hom wag, sal Hy jou gedagtes op die volgende stap wat jy moet neem, rig. As daar niks is wat Hy jou lei om te doen nie, doen dan niks. Hy sal dit verder van daar af neem.
Sielskos: 2 Kon 24-25; Luk 1:11-25; Ps 73:17-28; Spr 13:20
2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV
Pastor Andy Stanley writes: ‘As you move forward in your relationship with God, occasionally He will test your grip on your wallet. It’s a faith thing…every so often, God will prompt you to step out of your generosity comfort zone. And if you really want to keep God in control of your finances, you need to follow. There’s a line you must be willing to cross. You must be willing to go where you can’t rely on your own financial stockpiling, but only on the Lord Himself as your provider.
I’m not talking about acting irresponsibly with your money. I’m talking about an attitude in which God’s voice is louder than the soundtrack of “what ifs” in your life. You can think of that line as the “what if” line. You’ll know you’re getting close to it when your desire to follow your generosity is met by thoughts like…What if I need the money for something else? What if I change my mind later? What if I’m just being emotional?…that line is different for everybody…
As frightening as it might feel at times, God gives us financial seed for one purpose: sowing. Unless we open our palms and let the seed fly, we will never know what fruit He might bring from it.’ The Bible says: ‘Whoever sows generously will also reap generously…God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work’ (2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV).
So let’s take that step of faith with God and cross the ‘what if’ line when He prompts us to.
2 Ki 24-25; Luke 1:11-25; Ps 73:17-28; Prov 13:20
Philippians 4:6 TLB
If after praying, your emotions are still in turmoil – pray more. By cultivating the discipline of frequent prayer, you’ll discover the ability to remain calm and quiet. As you wait before the Lord, you’ll find relief from fear’s grip on your spirit. You might be tempted to think your prayer was ineffective, or you somehow failed because your anxiety returned – perhaps as soon as you said “Amen.” Just take persistent anxiety as a signal that you need more time with God; reviewing all the details of your problem, telling Him how much it plagues you, and sometimes even admitting that you’re afraid He won’t handle it soon enough.
Having a deep, persistent concern for a problem isn’t the same as worry. Worry is choosing to fret instead of turning it completely over to God. So if you tend to worry a lot, pray a lot. Pray, “Lord, this is your problem to fix. You take control. Let me know what you want me to do if I’m to be involved in the solution. By leaving it with you, I’ll consider it solved.” At that point discipline your mind not to worry, and not to continue seeking answers or trying to find the solution. You have solved the problem by giving it to God, and your major responsibility now is to wait for His leading.
When He wants you to act, He will make it clear. As you wait before Him, He will direct your thoughts to the next step you should take. And if there’s nothing He leads you to do – do nothing more. He will take it from there.
Soul food: 2 Ki 24-25; Luke 1:11-25; Ps 73:17-28; Prov 13:20
