2022-03-23
Philippians 1:6 CEV
Paul wrote, ‘God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain… he won’t stop before it is complete’ (v.6 CEV). Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: ‘The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing’ (John 5:19-20 NLT).
Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46 NIV). And His words teach us three important things: 1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. 2) When God doesn’t answer, we should stand on the promises He gave us in His Word. 3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it.
So stick with God’s plan; as long as we do that, there’s nothing the enemy can do to destroy us. The Bible says, ‘No weapon turned against you will succeed… These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD’ (Isaiah 54:17 NLT). When you feel like you’ve reached your limit, do what Jesus did and pray, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’ (Luke 23:46 NIV). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.
Job 18-20; Luke 19:11-27; Ps 55:1-11; Pro 8:17-18
Philippians 1:6 CEV
Paul writes, “God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain… he won’t stop before it is complete” (v. 6 CEV). You will notice that Jesus regularly took time out of His busy schedule to pray. In fact, He sometimes prayed all night. And He tells us why: “The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing” (John 5:19-20 NLT).
Under the weight of our sins, He cried from the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46 NIV). And His words teach us three important things: (1) We can be following God’s plan and still feel overwhelmed and alone at times. (2) When God doesn’t answer, we must practice standing on the promises He gave us in His Word. (3) The pain we’re feeling will eventually give way to the joy that awaits us on the other side of it.
So stick with God’s plan; as long as you do that, there is nothing the Enemy can do to destroy you. The Bible says, “No weapon turned against you will succeed…. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17 NLT). When you feel like you have reached the end of your rope, do what Jesus did and pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46 NIV). In other words, turn it all over to God. Trust Him to do what you can’t do and to bring you through in victory.
Soul food: Job 18-20; Luke 19:11-27; Ps 55:1-11; Pro 8:17-18
2022-03-22
Efesiërs 1:11 NLV
God sê: ‘Ek is die Alfa en die Omega, die Eerste en die Laaste, die Begin en die Einde’ (Openbaring 22:13 NLV). God bepaal die eindresultaat wat Hy wil hê en begin dan by die begin en werk dan daarnatoe. Josef het ontdek dat selfs wanneer jou familie teen jou draai, God se plan steeds in werking is. Toe hy daarop terugkyk, het Josef gesê: ‘Wat my betref, het God die kwaad wat julle gedoen het, omgekeer in iets wat goed is…’ (Genesis 50:20 NLV). Moet egter nie ‘goed’ met ‘gemaklik’ verwar nie. Wanneer God jou korrigeer en jou lei, voel dit nie altyd goed nie. Dit is egter goed! Dawid het gesê: ‘Die lyding was goed vir my, want toe het ek u voorskrifte geleer’ (Psalm 119:71 NLV).
Indien jy nie seker is van God se plan nie, soek Hom totdat Hy dit vir jou wys. Ander dinge mag dalk dringender lyk, maar niks is belangriker nie. As jy reeds God se plan ken, kan jy seker wees dat geen menslike optrede dit kan kanselleer nie. Die Psalmdigter het geskryf: ‘Here, U sal u doel met my bereik, want u troue liefde, Here, ken geen einde nie…’ (Psalm 138:8 NLV). Daar is geen situasie wat Satan kan uitdink waarvoor God nie reeds vir ‘n uitweg gesorg het nie.
Paulus stel ons gerus: ‘…God is getrou. Hy sal keer dat die versoeking te sterk vir julle word. Midde-in die versoeking sal Hy vir ‘n uitweg sorg sodat julle kan volhou’ (1 Korintiërs 10:13 NLV). Dis in die tye wat jy getoets word, wat jy ontdek dat God getrou is. Hy sal jou strek, maar nooit verder as jou breekpunt nie. Sy plan vir jou is om sterker en gereed vir dit wat volgende op sy agenda is, uit hierdie ervaring te kom.
Sielskos: Job 15-17; Luk 19:1-10; Ps 13; Spr 8:14-16
Ephesians 1:11 CEV
God said, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13 CEV). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works toward it. He “always does what he plans.”
Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20 NIV). But don’t confuse “good” with “comfortable.” When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good! David said, “When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me” (Psalm 119:71 CEV).
If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, rest assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, “The Lord will vindicate me; your love… endures forever” (Psalm 138:8 NIV).
There is no situation Satan can devise for which God hasn’t already made “the way of escape” (1Co 10:13 NKJV). Paul reassures us: “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [tested] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [testing] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (v. 13 NKJV). It’s in your times of testing that you discover “God is faithful.” He will stretch you, but never beyond your breaking point. His plan is for you to come out of this experience stronger and ready for what’s next on His agenda.
Soul food: Job 15-17; Luke 19:1-10; Ps 13; Pro 8:14-16
Ephesians 1:11 CEV
God said, ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end’ (Revelation 22:13 CEV). God determines the end result He wants, then starts at the beginning and works towards it. He ‘always does what he plans’. Joseph discovered that even when your family turns against you, God’s plan is still in effect. Looking back, he said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good’ (Genesis 50:20 NIV). But don’t confuse ‘good’ with ‘comfortable’. When God corrects or redirects you, it doesn’t always feel good. But it is good! David said, ‘When you corrected me, it did me good because it taught me’ (Psalm 119:71 CEV).
If you’re not sure of God’s plan, seek Him until He shows it to you. Other things may seem more urgent, but nothing is more important. And if you already know God’s plan, be assured that no human action can cancel it. The psalmist wrote, ‘The LORD will vindicate me; your love… endures forever’ (Psalm 138:8 NIV).
God has already made ‘the way of escape’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) for every situation that Satan can come up with to push us off course. Paul reassures us: ‘God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it’ (v.13 NKJV). It’s in the times of testing that we discover ‘God is faithful’. He’ll stretch us, but never beyond our breaking point. His plan is for us to come out of the experience stronger and ready for what’s next in His plan.
Job 15-17; Luke 19:1-10; Ps 13; Pro 8:14-16
