2022-07-21
Philippians 4:6 CEV
God’s Word clearly tells us to “pray about everything.” Today, science is beginning to recognise the value and the power of prayer. Researchers investigating the role of faith in health are discovering evidence that’s hard to refute. For example, a 2014 study conducted by The Mind Health Report confirmed that people who engage in private prayer, intercessory prayer, and church activities are healthier and live longer.
Here are some additional benefits: (1) Florida State University researchers found that praying for somebody increases your readiness to forgive them. When a group of men and women prayed for the well-being of a close friend every day for four weeks, they were more willing to forgive not only the friend but people in general. Forgiveness is associated with better overall health and satisfaction with life.
(2) University of Miami researchers discovered that prayer and religious practices improve your ability to pursue and achieve long-term goals. Prayer affects regions in your brain that improve self-control, and people who view their goals as sacred are more determined to attain them.
(3) A research study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that victims of abusive relationships recovered a positive self-image and reduced their emotional pain when their lives included prayer.
(4) Columbia University researchers found that people who value religion and regularly attend church are 90 percent less likely to suffer from depression than their nonreligious peers. That’s pretty strong evidence in favour of prayer, wouldn’t you say?
Soul food: Acts 8-9; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 140; Prov 16:3
Filippense 4:6 NLV
God se Woord sê duidelik vir ons dat ons oor alles moet bid. Deesdae begin die wetenskap die waarde en krag van gebed erken. Navorsers wat die rol wat geloof in gesondheid speel ondersoek, ontdek bewyse wat moeilik is om te weerlê. ‘n Studie wat byvoorbeeld in 2014 deur The Mind Health Report van stapel gestuur is, het bevestig dat mense wat by private gebed, voorbidding en kerkaktiwiteite betrokke is, gesonder is en langer lewe. Hier is nog ‘n paar addisionele voordele:
1) Wetenskaplikes aan die Universiteit van Florida het gevind dat om vir iemand te bid, jou bereidheid om hulle te vergewe, verhoog. Toe ‘n groep mans en vrouens elke dag vir vier weke lank vir die welstand van ‘n nabye vriend gebid het, was hulle gewilliger om nie net die vriend nie, maar ook mense in die algemeen, te vergewe. Vergifnis word met beter algehele gesondheid en tevredenheid met die lewe geassosieer.
2) Navorsers aan die Universiteit van Miami het bevind dat gebed en godsdienstige aktiwiteite jou vermoë om langtermyn doelwitte na te streef en te bereik, verbeter. Gebed affekteer areas van jou brein wat selfbeheersing verbeter en mense wat hulle doelwitte as heilig sien, is meer vasbeslote om dit te bereik.
3) ‘n Studie wat deur die Universiteit van Wisconsin-Madison geloods is, het bevind dat slagoffers van afbrekende verhoudings weer ‘n positiewe selfbeeld kan opbou en hulle emosionele pyn verminder, wanneer hulle lewens gebed insluit.
4) Navorsers aan die Universiteit van Columbia het bevind dat mense wat godsdiens aanhang en gereeld kerk toe gaan, 90 persent minder geneig is om aan depressie te ly as hulle nie-godsdienstige eweknieë. Dis nogals sterk bewyse ten gunste van gebed, nie waar nie?
Sielskos: Hand 8-9; Matt 27:1-10; Ps 140; Spr 16:3
2022-07-20
Genesis 22:10 NLV
Ons word nie almal op dieselfde manier getoets nie, maar ons word almal oor dieselfde kwessies getoets. Kyk na Abraham. Nadat hy twintig jaar gewag het, het God vir hom ‘n seun gegee wat die belofte dat hy ‘…die voorvader… van baie nasies’ (Genesis 17:5 NLV), sou wees, sou vervul. Toe het God vir hom gesê om daardie seun op ‘n afgeleë altaar in die woestyn te gaan offer. Dit het nie sin gemaak nie, omdat dit God se belofte weerspreek het, maar tog het Abraham gehoorsaam.
Dis onwaarskynlik dat jy geroep sal word om voor dieselfde uitdagings as Abraham te staan te kom, maar weet verseker, jy sal oor dieselfde kwessies getoets word. Jy sal oor jou vlak van toewyding getoets word. Wanneer dinge moeilik raak, sal jy aan God toegewy bly en sy Woord gehoorsaam, of sal jy ‘n ander uitweg soek? Wanneer dit nie sin maak nie, nie regverdig is nie en jy dit nie verdien nie, sal jy God vertrou en aan Hom getrou bly?
Jy sal getoets word oor wie in beheer van jou lewe is. Wanneer jy die Vyand se hand aan die werk kan sien, of die persoon wat vir jou pyn verantwoordelik is kan identifiseer, sal jy onthou dat ‘alles ten goede sal saamwerk’ en dat God in beheer is? (Sien Romeine 8:28).
Jy sal oor jou geloof getoets word. ‘Omdat hy geglo het, het Abraham, toe God hom wou toets, sy seun as’t ware al klaar geoffer gehad…’ (Hebreërs 11:17 NLV). Hoe kon ‘n liefdevolle vader so iets doen? Omdat hy nooit getwyfel het dat God vir Isak ‘selfs uit die dood sou kon opwek’ (vers 19 NLV), nie.
Wanneer jy dus getoets word: ‘…hou styf vas aan die hoop wat ons bely, want ons kan op God staatmaak; Hy sal doen wat Hy beloof het’ (Hebreërs 10:23 NLV).
Sielskos: Hand 6-7; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 133; Spr 16:2
Genesis 22:10 NKJV
We are not all tested in the same ways, but we’ll be tested on the same issues. Consider Abraham. After waiting for twenty years, God gave him a son destined to “father… many nations” (Genesis 17:5 KJV). Then God told him to sacrifice that boy on a remote wilderness altar. It didn’t make sense because it contradicted God’s promise, yet Abraham obeyed.
Now, it’s unlikely you’ll be called to face the same challenges as Abraham, but, rest assured, you’ll be tested on the same issues. For example, you’ll be tested on your level of commitment. When the going gets tough, will you stay committed to God and obey His Word, or will you look for a way out? When it doesn’t make sense, isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve it, will you trust God and remain faithful to Him?
You’ll be tested on the issue of who is in control of your life. When you can see the hand of the Enemy at work or identify the person responsible for your predicament, pressure, or pain, will you remember that “all things work together for good” and God is still running the show? (See Romans 8:28.)
Another area where you’ll be tested is on the issue of your faith. When it looked like God was reneging on his promise, yet “by faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (Hebrews 11:17 NKJV). How could a loving father do such a thing? Because he never doubted that God could raise Isaac up, “even from the dead” (v. 9 NKJV). So when you’re tested, “hold fast the profession of [your] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)” (Hebrews 10:23 KJV).
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
2022-07-19
Isaiah 65:22 NIV
In 1968 a scientist discovered a six-hundred-year-old necklace in an Indian grave. It was made up of seeds which had been strung together. He planted one of those seeds, and guess what happened: It sprouted and grew. Although the seed had been dormant for six hundred years, it still had the potential for life.
Maybe you have been a Christian for years and have been spiritually dormant for most of that time, but now you would like to be productive. You desire to be fruitful. The good news is, it’s not too late! You can begin right now. “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree… planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock'” (Psalm 92:12-15 NIV).
Did you know that a palm tree produces its greatest harvest of fruit in its final years? That can be your destiny too. “For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.” That Scripture means bunions, bifocals, and baldness notwithstanding, your last season of life can be your greatest season of life. It may take you longer to do what you do, but fueled with the wisdom of God’s Word and the years you have walked with Him, you can still make a mark for God in this world.
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
