2022-01-25
1 Corinthians 4:7 NIV
We won’t find success in our similarity to others, but in our differences. Instead of comparing ourselves to somebody else and competing with them or pushing ourselves to be just like them, we should try to discover our God-given differences, the things that make us unique. That’s where we’ll really excel.
Paul wrote, ‘God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly’ (Romans 12:6-8 NLT).
God doesn’t tell us we have to be brilliant at everything, but He does want us to run with the particular set of skills He’s given us and discover where they’ll take us. When God blesses us with a dream, it’ll be fulfilled because we performed with excellence day after day. And we can’t be consistently and reliably excellent if we’re working outside our God-given strengths. It’ll take every bit of skill we have to achieve the dreams He’s given us, and following our talents will give us the best chance to be consistently good at what we do.
God hasn’t made us to be copies. Each one of us is an original, with a completely unique makeup of strengths. We might already know what some of them are, and there might be others that we haven’t discovered yet. So let’s keep building on the strengths we have, and enjoy the journey of discovery with God!
Ecc 1-4; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 100; Pro 3:7-8
2022-01-24
John 4:14 NCV
Sometimes we need to let a relationship go. Letting go of someone doesn’t mean we’ve stopped loving them; it just means the relationship isn’t the right one for us. How should we handle it?
1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best way forward. There are relationships we need to get out of for our own good, but that doesn’t always mean we have to be suddenly and completely cut off from the other person. (However, if you’re in a relationship that makes you feel at risk or in danger, it’s best to seek help and often to get out of it as quickly as possible. Don’t put yourself at risk.) Dissolving a relationship is stressful, so we need to try and end it graciously. A good place to start might be to agree on a phone call or an email a couple of times a week.
2) Don’t keep going back. We might try to be kind and keep going back, doubting and re-evaluating our decision to end the relationship in its current form. Often people will come back to entice us by suggesting we were wrong the first time round. That’s why we must resolve any doubts before we make the decision. If we find ourselves in a pattern of going back to old, unhealthy relationships, it might be that we’re trying to fill an emptiness in our heart that only God can fill.
When Jesus met the woman at the well, she had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six. He told her: ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life’ (John 4:13-14 NCV).
Gen 50; Haggai 1-2; Luke 5:12-26; Ps 96; Pro 3:5-6
Ephesians 5:7 NLT
Letting go of a person doesn’t mean you no longer love them; it just means the relationship is not right for you. How should you handle it?
(1) A gradual separation is sometimes the best solution. There are relationships you need to get out of for your own good. But because you have a cord to cut doesn’t mean that it should be ripped. Dissolving a relationship is stressful, so try to end it graciously. If the cord that binds you is constant phone calls, emails, and visits, that’s a good place to start.
(2) Don’t keep going back. Some of us are just so “nice” that we can’t end the relationship and move forward. We keep going back, second-guessing ourselves and reevaluating our decision. Make it one time, make it right, and make it decisive. Often people will come back to entice you by suggesting you were wrong the first time. That’s why you must resolve any doubt before you make the decision in the first place.
If you find yourself in a pattern of going back to old, unhealthy relationships, you may be drinking from the wrong well. You may be trying to fill an emptiness in your heart that only God can fill. When Jesus met the woman at the well, she had been through five failed marriages and was living with man number six. He told her: “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14 NKJV).
Soul food: Gen 50; Haggai 1-2; Luke 5:12-26; Ps 96; Pro 3:5-6
Efesiërs 5:7 NLV
Om iemand te laat gaan beteken nie dat jy nie meer vir hulle lief is nie; dit beteken net dat die verhouding nie reg is vir jou nie. Hoe moet jy dit hanteer?
1) ‘n Geleidelike skeiding is soms die beste oplossing. Daar is verhoudings wat jy vir jou eie beswil moet beëindig. Maar net omdat jy die koord moet sny, beteken nie dat dit uitgeruk moet word nie. Om ‘n verhouding te beëindig is stresvol, probeer dus om dit so genadiglik as moontlik te doen. As die koord wat jou bind konstante telefoonoproepe, eposse en besoeke is, is dit ‘n goeie plek om te begin.
2) Moenie aanhou teruggaan nie. Ons hou aan teruggaan en wonder of ons die regte besluit gemaak het. Maak die besluit een keer, maak dit die regte besluit en hou dan daarby. Dikwels sal mense probeer om jou terug te lok deur te insinueer dat jy die eerste keer verkeerd was. Dis hoekom jy enige twyfel eers uit die weg moet ruim voordat jy die besluit neem. As jy jouself in die patroon bevind waar jy na ou, ongesonde verhoudings toe terugkeer, mag jy dalk uit die verkeerde put drink. Jy mag dalk ‘n leegheid binne-in jou hart probeer vul wat slegs God kan vul.
Toe Jesus die vrou by die put ontmoet het, het sy reeds vyf mislukte huwelike agter die blad gehad en het saam met man nommer ses gewoon. Jesus het vir haar gesê: ‘…Elkeen wat van hierdie water drink, sal weer dors word. Wie egter die water drink wat Ek hom gee, sal nimmer as te nooit weer dors word. Die water wat Ek vir hom sal gee, sal ‘n fontein in hom word waarvan die water vir altyd sal bly opborrel’ (Johannes 4:13-14 NLV).
Sielskos: Gen 50; Hag 1-2; Luk 5:12-26; Ps 96; Spr 3:5-6
2022-01-23
Spreuke 13:20 NLV
Nie almal wat saam met jou begin loop het, is in staat om te gaan waarheen God jou wil neem nie. Soms het hulle nie die emosionele kapasiteit wat dit verg nie. Ander kere verskil hulle visie van joune. Hoe kan jy dus weet wanneer dit tyd is om ‘n verhouding te verlaat?
Vermy verhoudings wat jou uitgeput laat voel. Dit beteken dat jy duidelike grense aan die begin van jou verhoudings moet stel. Jy het nie tyd om jou lewe te lewe om misverstande, seergemaakte gevoelens en ego’s uit te sorteer nie. Hoe ver is jy gewillig om te gaan? Hoe baie wil jy daarin belê? Wanneer jy jou begroting oorskry, word jy bankrot. Om emosioneel en fisies bankrot te raak sodat iemand anders nodig kan voel, klink dalk edel, maar dit is nie. Mense wat emosioneel en fisies bankrot is, eindig met alles van senuwee ineenstortings tot buite-egtelike verhoudings op. Selfs wanneer hulle dit nie doen nie, bereik hulle nie hulle Godgegewe bestemming in die lewe nie, omdat hulle te veel gewig met hulle saamsleep.
Wanneer jy voel dat ‘n verhouding nie werk nie, stop en neem bestek daarvan. Kyk objektief in plaas van emosioneel na die situasie en ondersoek al die fasette daarvan. Soms moet sekere aspekte van ‘n verhouding getermineer word en ander areas gehandhaaf word. Dis moontlik om verhoudings te hê wat in een area werk, maar nie in ‘n ander nie. Dis moontlik om een area te verwyder en steeds baie oor te hê om te geniet. Ja, dit neem tyd en kommunikasie, maar dis dikwels die moeite werd. Daar mag dalk gemeenskaplike belange wees wat gehandhaaf moet word, terwyl ander getermineer moet word voordat alles verlore is.
Sielskos: Eseg 47:1-12; Op 21:22-22:5
