2022-09-23
Proverbs 4:11 NKJV
Sometimes we feed our pets bad things – things they shouldn’t be fed. And when bad things go into a pet, bad things come out of a pet. We know that about our pets but forget it when it comes to our minds. Every day we are bombarded with messages from the media, employers, coworkers, people we date, books, music – and from our own thoughts. Satan works in two ways. First, he tries to feed you with stuff like temptation, depression, and worry. Second, he tries to keep you from noticing what you’re putting into your mind. A healthy mind feeds on healthy thoughts. Jesus said He came to give us “life more abundantly” (See John 10:10).
Instead of constantly striving for self-worth, peace of mind, joy and happiness, your mind can overflow with these things. But first you must pay attention to what your mind is focused on. Jeremiah said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV). One of the greatest gifts God has given us is Scripture – but we frequently turn it into a burden. “Do I have to read the Bible every day?” That’s the wrong question. You need to ask, “What can I feed my mind on today so that it will flourish?”
The psalmist said that when you delight in God’s Word, you will prosper in whatever you do (See Psalm 1:1-3). In order to have what successful people enjoy, you must first do what successful people do. And according to the psalmist, successful people delight in the Word of God day and night.
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Mark 14:53-65; Ps 34; Prov 21:14-16
2022-09-22
Efesiërs 2:19 NLV
‘Hy het ‘n einde gemaak aan die wet met sy voorskrifte. Hy het vrede gebring deur in Homself die twee groepe tot een nuwe mensheid te maak. Ja, deur sy dood aan die kruis het Hy die vyandskap beëindig. Só het Hy albei groepe in een liggaam met God versoen. Hy het vrede kom verkondig vir hulle wat ver is, én vir hulle wat naby is. Dit is aan Hom te danke dat albei van ons deur een Gees toegang tot die Vader het. Julle is dus nie meer uitlanders en bywoners nie, maar medeburgers van hulle wat aan God behoort. Ja, julle is lede van God se huis wat gebou is op die fondament wat die apostels en die profete gelê het. Christus Jesus is self die hoekklip op wie die hele gebou, terwyl dit kunstig inmekaargepas word, verrys tot ‘n tempel wat aan die Here toegewys is’ (verse 15-21 NLV).
As jou kinders buite jou huis gestaan het en gepleit het om in te kom, wat sou jy dink? Sou jy nie: ‘Kom binne, jy is my vlees en bloed. Ek is lief vir jou, jy hoef nie te pleit nie,’ sê nie? God is besig om ‘n huis te bou en jy is deel daarvan. Jy kan Hom enige tyd met enige behoefte nader, met die wete dat jy met liefde ontvang sal word. God is die vader op wie jy nog altyd gehoop het en jy is die kind wat Hy nog altyd wou gehad het. As jy enigsins daaraan twyfel, kyk na die kruis; dis hoe groot God se liefde vir jou is. Jy behoort vandag aan God!
Sielskos: 2 Kor 1-4; Mark 14:43-52; Ps 39; Spr 21:9-13
Ephesians 2:19 MSG
“He created a new kind of human being, a fresh start for everybody. Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility. Christ came and preached peace to you outsiders and peace to us insiders. He treated us as equals, and so made us equals. Through him we both share the same Spirit and have equal access to the Father. That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all – irrespective of how we got here – in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day” (vv. 15-21 MSG).
If your children stood outside your house pleading to get in, what would you think? Wouldn’t you say, “Come in, you’re my flesh and blood. I love you, you don’t need to beg”? God is building a house, and you’re part of it. You can come before Him at any time with any need, knowing you will be received with love. God is the father you always hoped for, and you’re the child He always wanted. If you have any doubts about that, look at the cross; that’s how much God loves you. Today you belong to God!
Soul food: 2 Cor 1-4; Mark 14:43-52; Ps 39; Prov 21:9-13
2022-09-21
Esther 4:14 NLT
The story of Esther teaches us two important truths: (1) You need mentors to guide you. Because she was willing to listen to Mordecai, Esther discovered that her calling wasn’t just to be a queen but a deliverer of her people. So, who is your Mordecai? Who knows you well enough to clarify and confirm your calling in life? Who loves you enough to challenge you when you get off track or strengthen and encourage you when you want to quit and run? Where we have blind spots, we need people with 20/20 vision to speak into our lives. Joshua listened to Moses. Timothy listened to Paul. Ruth listened to Naomi. Who are you listening to?
(2) You need to know you’re in the place God wants you to be. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, challenged her and changed her life by saying, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther didn’t set out to be queen. But once she was, she had to decide between her comfort and her calling. It’s a choice you must make too.
You say, “What’s my calling?” It could involve your job, your marriage, your tasks as a parent, your friendships. It could involve the neighbourhood where you live or volunteering at your church. One thing is certain: When God calls, it’s your “time.” You may be tempted to think you’re just treading water right now, waiting for some other time or more important opportunity. No, you don’t get to choose your time; God does that! The psalmist said, “My times are in thy hand” (Psalm 31:15 KJV).
Soul food: Ezek 46-48; Mark 14:27-42; Ps 3; Prov 21:4-8
Ester 4:14 NLV
Die verhaal van Ester leer ons twee belangrike waarhede: 1) Jy het mentors nodig om jou te lei. Omdat sy bereid was om na Mordegai te luister, het Ester ontdek dat haar roeping nie net was om koningin te wees nie, maar om haar volk te red. Wie ken jou goed genoeg om jou roeping in die lewe te verduidelik en te bevestig? Wie is lief genoeg vir jou om jou uit te daag wanneer jy die pad byster raak en om jou te versterk en te bemoedig wanneer jy wil tou opgooi en weghardloop? Ons almal het blinde kolle, ons benodig mense met 20/20 visie om inspraak in ons lewens te hê. Josua het na Moses geluister. Timoteus het na Paulus geluister. Rut het na Naomi geluister. Na wie luister jy?
2) Jy moet weet dat jy op die plek is waar God wil hê jy moet wees. Mordegai het Ester uitgedaag en haar lewe verander deur te sê: ‘…Wie weet, of dit nie miskien juis met die oog op ‘n tyd soos hierdie is dat jy koningin geword het nie!’ Ester moes tussen haar gemak en roeping kies. Dis ‘n keuse wat jy ook moet maak. Jy vra: ‘Wat is my roeping?’ Dit kan jou werk, jou huwelik, jou take as ouer, of jou vriendskappe behels. Dit kan die buurt waar jy woon of om by jou kerk vrywilligerswerk te doen, behels.
Een ding is egter seker: Wanneer God roep, is dit jou ‘tyd.’ Jy mag dalk in die versoeking kom om te dink dat jy op die oomblik net water trap, terwyl jy vir ‘n ander tyd of ‘n belangriker geleentheid wag. Nee, jy kan nie jou tyd kies nie; God doen dit! Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘My toekoms is in u hande…’ (Psalm 31:15 NLV).
Sielskos: Eseg 46-48; Mark 14:27-42; Ps 3; Spr 21:4-8
