2022-06-07
Jakobus 4:3 NLV
Regte motiewe. Die rede hoekom jy bid is baie belangriker as die woorde wat jy sê. Om ‘n rein hart te hê wat vir God en ander mense lief is, is altyd vir die Here aanvaarbaar. Selfsug, weerwraak, manipulasie, beheer, jaloesie, trots en om te bid om die lotery te wen, is aan die ander kant onaanvaarbaar. Enigiets wat op selfsug gebaseer is, is inderwaarheid ‘n onaanvaarbare motief.
Iemand het een keer vir ‘n klein seuntjie gevra of hy elke aand sy gebedjie opsê. Hy het vir ‘n oomblik daaroor gedink en geantwoord: ‘Nee, party aande het ek niks nodig nie.’ Klink dit bekend? Die hoofsaaklike en eerste rede om te bid, is om ‘n intieme verhouding met God te ontwikkel. Dink daaroor: Hoe lank dink jy sal jou huwelik hou as jy slegs huis toe kom om jou eggenoot te sien wanneer jy skoon klere, ‘n goeie maaltyd en ‘n bietjie liefde nodig het? Nie lank nie, né? Dieselfde beginsel is op gebed van toepassing.
Jesus het gesê: ‘As julle aan My verbind bly en my woorde ‘n stewige vastrapplek in julle gekry het, vra dan net wat julle wil hê, en julle sal dit kry’ (Johannes 15:7 NLV). Wanneer jy daarop fokus om aan Christus ‘verbonde’ te bly, sal jy ‘n reaksie op dit wat jy vra, kry. Jakobus skryf: ‘En selfs wanneer julle vra, kry julle dit nie omdat julle motiewe verkeerd is…’
Die waarheid is dat ons natuurlik selfgesentreerd van aard is. Dis hoekom ons ons harte op ‘n gereelde basis moet reining – en dit verg dat ons ons beweegredes moet ondersoek. Dit mag dalk aan die begin pynlik wees, maar jy moet dit egter doen as jy wil hê dat jou gebede beantwoord moet word.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 21-22; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 124; Spr 12:26
James 4:3 CEV
Right motives. The reason we pray is much more important than the words we say. The motive is the why behind the what. And having a pure heart that loves God and loves people is always acceptable to Him. On the other hand, selfishness is unacceptable, revenge is unacceptable, manipulation and control are unacceptable, jealousy is unacceptable, pride is unacceptable, and praying to win the lottery is unacceptable. In fact, anything that’s selfishly based is an unacceptable motive. Somebody once asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. He thought about it for a second and replied, ‘No, some nights I don’t need anything.’ Does that sound familiar at all?
The first and most important reason for prayer is to develop an intimate relationship with God. Think about it: how much would a friendship grow if you only spoke to your friend when you needed something? Probably not very much. And the same principle applies to prayer. Jesus said, ‘If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you’ (John 15:7 NKJV). When we focus on ‘abiding’ in Christ, we’ll get a response to our ‘asking’. James wrote, ‘Your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons.’
The truth is, we’re all naturally self-centred. That’s why we need to purify our hearts on a regular basis – and means having a check-up of our motives for praying. It might be difficult, or even painful at first, but it’s so worthwhile in growing our prayer life and relationship with God.
1 Kings 21-22; Matt 15:1-14; Ps 124; Pro 12:26
2022-06-06
1 John 5:14 NIV
Knowing God’s will. John wrote: ‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him’ (v.14-15 NIV). One of the surest ways to know we’re praying according to God’s will is to pray according to His Word. We can use the Scriptures to back up what we’re praying for. Say, ‘Lord, you promised it in your Word, and I’m believing you for it.’
Sometimes there are things we want to pray for, but we aren’t sure whether those things are God’s will for us according to Scripture. In that case, we need to ask God to give it to us if it’s His will, and to help us be satisfied with His decision if He says no. Saint Augustine prayed, ‘Grant that I may do Thy will as if it were my will, so that Thou mayest do my will as if it were Thy will.’
D.L. Moody put it this way: ‘Spread out your petition before God, and then say, “Thy will, not mine, be done.” The sweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me.’ We might have to wait, because God’s timing is part of His will. But be patient; if God says it’ll happen, it will happen. We might not see it yet, but God has promised and it’s on the way. And remember, if He doesn’t give us what we asked for, it’s usually because He wants to give us something better. Our part is to walk with Him in faith and keep a good attitude.
1 Kings 18:16-20:43; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 116; Pro 12:25
1 John 5:14 NIV
Knowing God’s will. John writes: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him” (vv. 14-15 NIV). One of the surest ways to know you’re praying according to God’s will is to pray according to His Word.
Use the Scriptures to back up what you’re praying for. Say, “Lord, you promised it in your Word, and I’m believing you for it.” Sometimes there are things we want to pray for, but we aren’t sure whether those things are God’s will for us according to Scripture. In that case, you need to ask God to give it to you if it’s His will – and to help you be satisfied with His decision.
Saint Augustine prayed, “Grant that I may do Thy will as if it were my will, so that Thou mayest do my will as if it were Thy will.” D. L. Moody put it this way: “Spread out your petition before God, and then say, ‘Thy will, not mine, be done.’ The sweetest lesson I have learned in God’s school is to let the Lord choose for me.”
Now you may have to wait, because God’s timing is part of His will. Be patient; it will happen. You may not see it yet, but God has promised and it’s on the way. And remember, if He doesn’t give you what you asked for, He will give you something better when you walk in faith and keep a good attitude.
Soul food: 1 Kings 18:16-20:43; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 116; Pro 12:25
1 Johannes 5:14 NLV
Ken God se wil. Johannes skryf: ‘Dit is die vrymoedigheid wat ons voor God het, dat wat ons ook al volgens sy wil vra, Hy na ons luister. As ons dan met die wete leef dat Hy na ons luister, na wat ons ook al vra, weet ons ook dat Hy die versoek wat ons gevra het, sal toestaan’ (verse 14-15 NLV). Een van die sekerste maniere om te weet dat jy volgens God se wil bid, is om volgens sy Woord te bid. Gebruik die Skrif om dit waarvoor jy bid, te rugsteun. Sê: ‘Here, U het dit in u Woord beloof en ek glo U daarvoor.’
Soms is daar dinge waarvoor ons wil bid, maar ons is nie seker of daardie dinge volgens die Skrif God se wil vir ons is nie. In daardie geval moet jy God vra om dit vir jou te gee as dit in sy wil is – en om jou te help om tevrede te wees met sy besluit. Sint Augustinus het gebid: ‘Gee dat ek u wil kan doen asof dit my wil is, sodat U my wil kan doen asof dit u wil is.’ D.L. Moody stel dit so: ‘Vra vir God wat jy wil hê en sê dan: ‘Laat egter nie my wil geskied nie, maar u wil.’ Die lekkerste ding wat ek in God se skool geleer het, is om die Here vir my te laat kies.’
Jy mag dalk moet wag, want God se tydsberekening is deel van sy wil. Wees geduldig; dit sal gebeur. Jy mag dit dalk nog nie sien nie, maar as God dit beloof het, is dit op pad. Onthou egter ook: As Hy nie dit vir jou gee waarvoor jy gevra het nie, sal Hy vir jou iets beters gee wanneer jy in geloof wandel en ‘n goeie houding behou.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 18:16-20:43; Matt 14:22-36; Ps 116; Spr 12:25
