2021-09-22
1 Johannes 4:18 NLV
Moderne wetenskap bevestig die waarheid van hierdie Skrifgedeelte: ‘Ware liefde het nie plek vir vrees nie; volwasse liefde dryf die vrees uit…’ Liefde en vrees is onversoenbaar; hulle kan nie gelyk bestaan nie. Kinders het twee basiese behoeftes: 1) ‘n Behoefte om hulle omgewing te verken. Dis hoe hulle leer, groei en ontwikkel. 2) ‘n Behoefte om veilig te voel. As hulle nie veilig voel nie, sal hulle nie hul omgewing verken nie.
Elke mens het ‘n veilige basis nodig van waar hulle kan ondersoek instel en groei. Navorsing bevestig dat, oor die algemeen, een ouer hulle kind meer sal aanmoedig om kanse en risiko’s te neem en hulle leer dat ‘n bietjie gevaar ‘n goeie ding is, terwyl die ander ouer gewoonlike die vertrooster en veiligheidsnet is. Die waarheid is egter dat enige ouer ‘n kind beide gawes kan gee.
Wanneer ons bang is, aktiveer ons liggaam sy simpatieke senuweestelsel. Ons harte begin vinniger klop, ons asem word korter en vlakker en ons spiere trek saam. Dus hardloop ons na ons nie-angstige teenwoordigheid toe: ons vertrooster, beskermer en ouer. Soos hulle ons vashou, neem die parasimpatiese stelsel oor. Ons hartklop neem af, ons asem word diep en egalig, ons spiere ontspan en bloed vloei terug na ons brein toe. ‘n Klein stemmetjie sê dan vir ons: ‘Ek kan weer uitgaan en die wêreld in die gesig staar.’
Dis ‘n feit dat volwasse liefde vrees in die fisiese ryk uitdryf. Dis ook waar in die geestelike ryk. Met ‘n God wat teer genoeg is om ons lief te hê en te vertroos, maar tog sterk genoeg is om ons rots en veilige vesting te wees, kan ons enigiets wat die lewe vir ons gee, oorkom en sterker as gevolg daarvan groei.
Sielskos: Hoogl 1-4; Luk 22:54-62; Ps 3; Spr 21:4-8
1 John 4:18 NKJV
The Bible says: ‘There is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.’ When we’re frightened, a loving, comforting presence can push that fear away. Nobody is immune to fear, and every one of us needs a secure base that we can run to. And we have one in God.
When we’re afraid, our body activates its sympathetic nervous system and triggers a fight-or-flight response. Our heart races, our breathing becomes faster and shallower and our muscles tense up. In those times, we need to run to our non-anxious presence: God our comforter, protector and parent. And as we are held, reassured and loved by Him, the parasympathetic system takes over. Our heart rate slows, our breathing becomes deep and even, our muscles relax and blood flows back to our brain. In essence, a voice inside us says, ‘It’s okay to carry on.’ ‘Perfect love casts out fear’ in the spiritual realm as well as the physical realm.
In Psalm 91 we read: ‘I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”…He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart’ (v.2-4 NIV). His strength is great enough to withstand and protect us from any attack of the enemy, but He’s gentle with us. He’s our place of safety and security, and we can run to Him any time. With a God who is tender enough to love and comfort us, but also strong enough to be our rock and our fortress, we can face what life throws at us and grow stronger as a result.
Song of Sol 1-4; Luke 22:54-62; Ps 3; Prov 21:4-8
2021-09-21
Ezekiel 48:35 NIV
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, “The name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” It applies not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant whose name, “Immanuel,” means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23 NLT). It means that at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, for all of us, He’s available and present!
David discovered: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT).
The name Jehovah-Shammah signifies that God’s presence is all we need. Remember when just the presence of your mother or father was enough to comfort and bring confidence to you? Fear, loneliness and helplessness disappeared when they were there. In Israel’s worst moments God’s response was always the same: “I am with you.” Those words guaranteed their needs would be abundantly met! And today God’s saying to you, “I’m with you, and neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate you from my love” (See Romans 8:38-39). That’s promise enough for anybody. Take it and run with it today!
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Luke 22:39-53; Ps 19; Prov 21:3
Ezekiel 48:35 NIV
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity, Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, ‘The name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.’ It applies not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant whose name, ‘Immanuel’, means ‘God is with us’ (Matthew 1:23 NLT).
It means that at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, for all of us, He’s available and present. David discovered: ‘I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me’ (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT).
The name Jehovah-Shammah means that God’s presence is all we need. He brings peace, comfort, healing and confidence. With Him by our side, fear, loneliness and helplessness disappear. In Israel’s worst moments, God’s response was always the same: ‘I am with you.’ Those words guaranteed their needs would be met abundantly. And today God’s saying to us, ‘I’m with you, and neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate you from my love’ (see Romans 8:38-39).
That promise is for all of us, whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, so let’s take hold of it today.
2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Luke 22:39-53; Ps 19; Prov 21:3
Johannes 15:7 NLV
In Mei 1996 het ValuJet vlug 592 in ‘n moeras in Florida neergestort. 110 passasiers is in die ramp oorlede. Kundiges in die vloot het met spesiale tegnologie, maar sonder sukses, probeer om die vliegtuig se swart boks op te spoor. Deur aan ‘n tou vas te hou wat hulle op ‘n afstand van ‘n meter uitmekaar gespasieer het, het die soekgeselskap deur elke sentimeter vuil water gesoek. Na veertien dae het hulle niks gekry nie. Die fisiese toestande was ondraaglik. Die son het op hulle neergebak en die temperatuur het tot bo dertig grade celcius gestyg. Diesel en bytende hidrouliese vloeistof het in die water gedryf, wat die soekgeselskap genoop het om verskeie lae beskermende rubber te dra. Die twee weke het hulle gedehidreerd gelaat, maar hulle moes die swart boks opspoor.
Sersant Felix Jimenez was deel van die soekgeselskap. Vir veertien dae lank het hy vir die bedroefde families en die veiligheid van sy medewerkers gebid. Toe hy op die vyftiende dag ‘n ruskans neem, het hy skielik besef dat hy vergeet het om vir een belangrike ding te bid: dat God hulle sou help om die swart boks te kry. Dus het hy God vir leiding gevra, die soektog hervat en toe hy sy paal in die water steek, het hy iets metaalagtig getref. Hy het die voorwerp uit die modder uit getrek. Dit was die swart boks.
Jimenez skryf: “Ek het aan die baie dae gedink wat ons vir die opnemer gesoek het, hoe ons verskeie kere daaroor moes geloop het en ek het gewonder hoekom dit ons so lank geneem het om dit op te spoor. Te midde van die lae geritsel van gras en die geroep van die wilde reier, het dit geklink asof ek die antwoord hoor: ‘Waarom het dit jou so lank geneem om te vra?'”
Sielskos: 2 Kor 11:16-13:14; Luk 22:39-53; Ps 19; Spr 21:3
