2021-08-26
Jesaja 54:3 NLV
God het vir sy mense gesê: ‘Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het… Ek gaan iets nuuts doen…’ (Jesaja 43:18-19 NLV). As jy dus vir God vir ‘n visie vra, of om die een wat Hy reeds vir jou gegee het te vergroot, moet jy geestelik plek daarvoor maak. ‘Maak jou woning groter. Span jou tent wyer, en moenie huiwer nie. Maak die tentlyne langer en slaan die penne dieper in. Want jy sal na links en regs uitbrei…” (Jesaja 54:2-3 NLV). Moenie met middelmatigheid in jou werk, jou verhoudings of you wandel met God tevrede wees nie.
Mark Twain het gesê: ‘Twintig jaar van nou af sal jy meer teleurgesteld wees deur die dinge wat jy nie gedoen het nie, as deur die dinge wat jy gedoen het. Gooi dus die booglyne af. Vaar weg van die veilige hawe. Vang die wind. Verken. Droom. Ontdek.’ Selfs indien jy uit ‘n agtergrond van verslawing, armoede, depressie, mishandeling en lae selfbeeld kom, sal God jou in staat stel om op te staan en ‘n einde aan daardie ou denkwyse van nederlaag en mislukking te maak.
In Bybelse tye was diervelle gebruik om wynhouers te maak. Aan die begin was hulle buigbaar en maklik om mee te werk, maar namate tyd verby gegaan het, het hulle onbuigsaam geword en hulle vermoë om uit te sit, verloor. Dis hoekom Jesus gesê het: ‘Net so min gooi ‘n mens nuwe wyn in ou leersakke. Doen jy dit tog, sal die sakke skeur en die wyn uitloop… Nee ‘n mens gooi nuwe wyn in nuwe leersakke; dan hou al twee goed’ (Matteus 9:17 NLV). Gooi jou ou wynsakke weg! God sal nie versteende gedagtes met nuwe idees deurtrek nie, maar Hy sal jou lewe verander wanneer jy jou denke in lyn met syne bring.
Sielskos: Amos 5:18-9:15; Luk 17:20-37; Ps 119:145-160; Spr 19:1-2
Isaiah 54:3 NIV
God told His people: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). So, if you’re asking God for a vision, or to enlarge the one He’s already given you, you need to make room mentally. “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left” (Isaiah 54:2-3 NIV).
Somebody said dreams always come a size too big so you can grow to fit them. Don’t settle for mediocrity in your work, your relationships, or your walk with God. Mark Twain said: “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the wind. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Even if you come from a background of addiction, poverty, depression, abuse, and low self-esteem, God can enable you to rise up and put an end to that old mindset of defeat.
In biblical times, animal skins were made into wine containers. At first they were flexible and easy to work with, but over time they grew rigid and lost their ability to expand. That’s why Jesus said, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. [It] would…burst the old skins…New wine must be put into new wineskins” (Matthew 9:17 CEV). Throw out your old wineskins! God won’t infuse a fossilized mind with fresh ideas, but He will change your life when you line up your thinking with His.
Soul food: Amos 5:18-9:15; Luke 17:20-37; Ps 119:145-160; Prov 19:1-2
Isaiah 54:3 NIV
God told His people: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV). If we’re asking God for a vision, or to enlarge the one He’s already given us, we need to make room mentally. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left’ (Isaiah 54:2-3 NIV). Somebody once said that dreams always come a size too big so we can grow to fit them.
We shouldn’t settle for second best in our work, our relationships, or our walk with God. Mark Twain said: ‘Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the wind. Explore. Dream. Discover.’ Whatever we feel is holding us back – whether it’s our background, education, skills, self-esteem, confidence, or something else – God can enable us to rise above it and put an end to our old ways of thinking and feeling we’re defeated before we’ve even started.
In biblical times, animal skins were made into wine containers. At first they were flexible and easy to work with, but over time they grew rigid and lost their ability to expand. That’s why Jesus said, ‘No one pours new wine into old wineskins. [It] would…burst the old skins…New wine must be put into new wineskins’ (Matthew 9:17 CEV).
God won’t infuse an inflexible mind with fresh ideas, but He will change our lives when we line up our thinking with His.
Amos 5:18-9:15; Luke 17:20-37; Ps 119:145-160; Prov 19:1-2
2021-08-25
Acts 13:2 NCV
The Bible says: ‘In the church at Antioch…they were all worshipping the Lord and fasting for a certain time. During this time the Holy Spirit said to them, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul to do a special work for which I have chosen them.” So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out’ (Acts 13:1-3 NCV).
Notice three things: 1) Barnabas and Saul were worshipping when God called them. And the Holy Spirit still speaks to us when we gather to pray, worship, and hear God’s Word. One reason we don’t have clear direction for our lives is because we aren’t in a place where God can speak to us objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit.
2) Their calling was confirmed by God-focused leaders. Those who laid hands on Paul and Barnabas and confirmed their calling were leaders who took time to pray, fast, and seek God’s will. People like that are a gift. They won’t necessarily tell us what we want to hear, but they’ll tell us what we need to hear. They’ll counsel, correct, and comfort us when we need it, and confirm God’s will for us.
3) God doesn’t make us go searching for His will for your life. God called Paul and Barnabas by name when the time was right for Him to reveal their calling. He knows our names, where we live, and the circumstances we’re in. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (to hide it from the Midianites) and Peter was out fishing when God called them. Our lack of experience doesn’t limit God. That’s because He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So wait for God, and when the time is right, He will call you.
Amos 1:1-5:17; Luke 17:11-19; Ps 119:137-144; Prov 18:22-24
Acts 13:2 NKJV
The Bible says: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted…prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away” (vv. 2-3 NKJV).
Notice three things: (1) Barnabas and Saul were in church when God called them. And the Holy Spirit still speaks to us when we gather to pray, worship, and hear God’s Word. One reason we don’t have clear direction for our lives, is because we aren’t in the place where God can speak to us objectively through His Word, and subjectively through His Spirit.
(2) Their calling was confirmed by proven leadership. Those who laid hands on Paul and Barnabas confirming their calling, were leaders who took time to pray, fast, and seek God’s will. Such people are a gift. They won’t necessarily tell you what you want to hear, but they’ll tell you what you need to hear. They’ll counsel, correct, and comfort you when you need it, and confirm God’s will for you. So, do you have such relationships in your life? If not, get busy and find some.
(3) God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with His will for your life. God called Paul and Barnabas by name. Yes, He knows your name, where you live, and the circumstances you’re in. Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress (to hide it from the Midianites) and Peter was out fishing when God called them. Your lack of “ministry” experience doesn’t limit God. That’s because He doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. So wait on God, and when the time is right He will call you.
Soul food: Amos 1:1-5:17; Luke 17:11-19; Ps 119:137-144; Prov 18:22-24
