2023-01-04
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (v. 6 NKJV). Here is something God can’t do: Be pleased without faith! Twelve spies entered the promised land, but only two came back and said, “We are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30 NKJV). God had promised it to them, but the majority thought it couldn’t be done.
People who think “possible” not only create forward-looking, optimistic pictures of the future in their own minds, but also in the minds of others. And the opposite is true. Sam Ewing said, “Nothing is so embarrassing as watching someone do something that you said couldn’t be done.” Now, believing you can doesn’t guarantee you will. But believing you can’t guarantees you won’t!
So how’s your approach to life? When you face the unknown, the undone, or the untried, do you focus on all the things that can go wrong or all the things that can go right? Ballistic rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun said, “I have learned to use the word ‘impossible’ with the greatest caution.” You say, “Who was he?” The scientist who made it possible for the first man to walk on the moon! John Andrew Holmes said: “Never tell a young person that something cannot be done. God may have been waiting centuries for somebody ignorant enough of the impossible to do that very thing.”
If you want to achieve something, give yourself permission to believe it is possible – and trust God for success.
Soul food: Isa 4-7; Luke 1:11-25; Ps 90:7-17; Prov 1:5-9
2023-01-03
Matteus 19:26 NLV
Lees die volgende twee Skrifgedeeltes: ‘…Maar by God is alles moontlik!’ (Matteus 19:26 NLV). ‘As gevolg van hulle ongeloof het Hy daar maar min wonderwerke verrig’ (Matteus 13:58 NLV).
Hierdie twee verse beteken die volgende: Baie dinge wat moontlik is word as gevolg van twyfel en ongeloof nooit ‘n realiteit nie. As God se Woord sê dat jy sukses kan behaal, maar jy is besig om te misluk, mag dit dalk die volgende beteken: Jy glo nie regtig wat Hy sê nie, of jy is nie gewillig om jou deel te doen nie. Wanneer jy dink: ‘Dis moontlik,’ verhoog dit jou energievlak. Niemand pak ‘n saak aan wat hulle weet reeds verlore is nie. Jy belê slegs in dit wat jy glo kan slaag. Wanneer jy dus dink: ‘Dis moontlik,’ en God vir sukses vertrou, word jou geloof die krag wat jou energie gee.
Sommige mense dink dis naïef of dwaas om so te wees. As jy een van hulle is, antwoord dan die volgende vraag: Hoeveel hoogs suksesvolle mense ken jy wat voortdurend negatief is en glo dat die meeste dinge onmoontlik is? Geen! Die eerste stap om te dink ‘Dis moontlik,’ is om jouself daarvan te weerhou om dit wat verkeerd is in elke situasie te soek en daaroor te tob.
Mense met die uitgangspunt dat dit nie moontlik is nie het twee keuses: hulle kan die ergste verwag en dit aanhoudend ervaar, of hulle kan hulle denke verander. Jy kan dit doen deur eerstens die negatiewe denke wat jy in jou gedagtes hoor nog voor jy jou mond oopgemaak het, te elimineer. ‘Die tong het mag oor dood en oor lewe. Hulle wat lief is om te praat, moet saamleef met die gevolge van hulle woorde’ (Spreuke 18:21 NLV). Om ‘Dis moontlik’ te dink, moet jy dit ook glo en spreek.
Sielskos: Jes 2-3; Luk 1:5-10; Ps 90:1-6; Spr 1:3-4
Matthew 19:26 KJV
Read these two Scriptures: “With God all things are possible” (v. 26). “He did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58 KJV). Those two verses mean this: Many things that are possible remain undone because of doubt and unbelief. So, this year, think “possible.”
If God’s Word says you can succeed, but you’re failing, it may mean this: You don’t really believe what He says, or you’re not willing to do your part. When you think “possible,” it increases your energy level. Who gets energized at the prospect of losing? If you know something can’t succeed, how much time and energy are you willing to give it? Nobody goes looking for a lost cause. You only invest yourself in what you believe can succeed. So when you think “possible” and trust God for success, your faith becomes the energizing force.
Some people believe that possibility thinkers are naive or foolish. If you’re one of them, answer this question: How many highly successful people do you know who are continually negative? How many impossibility thinkers are you acquainted with who achieve big things? None! The first step to thinking “possible” is to stop yourself from searching for and dwelling on what’s wrong with each situation.
People with an it-can’t-be-done mindset have two choices: they can expect the worst and continually experience it, or change their thinking. And that begins with eliminating the negative self-talk you hear in your head before you have even opened your mouth. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). In order to think “possible,” you must believe and speak “possible.”
Soul food: Isa 2-3; Luke 1:5-10; Ps 90:1-6; Prov 1:3-4
2023-01-02
Johannes 15:11 NLV
Jy moet ter wille van Christus elke dag van jou lewe geniet, want Hy het ‘n baie hoë prys betaal sodat jy dit kan doen. Hy het gesê: ‘…Ek het gekom sodat hulle lewe kan hê, ja, om dit oorvloedig te hê’ (Johannes 10:10 NLV). Hy het gesê: ‘Dit het Ek vir julle gesê sodat julle my blydskap mag ervaar en julle blydskap volkome kan wees’ (Johannes 15:11 NLV). Hy het gesê: ‘Hou aan bid, en julle sal ontvang sodat julle blydskap volledig kan wees’ (Johannes 16:24 NLV).
Jesus het gebid dat jy blydskap moet ervaar: ‘Ek is nou na U toe op pad. Ek sê hierdie dinge terwyl Ek nog in die wêreld is sodat hulle my blydskap in al sy volheid in hulleself kan ondervind’ (Johannes 17:13 NLV). Met Jesus self wat sulke kragtige woorde bid oor sy begeerte dat jy vreugde moet hê, hoe kan jy ooit twyfel dat God wil hê dat jy gelukkig moet wees en jou lewe geniet?
As verloste kind van God, is jy ‘n lopende advertensiebord vir Christenskap! Moenie rondgaan en ernstig, streng of suur lyk in ‘n poging om ‘geestelik’ voor te kom nie. Nee, dit sit nie-Christene af! Jy het ‘n nuwe ingesteldheid nodig; ‘n Skriftuurlike een wat jou in staat sal stel om die lewe te geniet en jou ‘n lekkerder mens te maak om by te wees.
Sielskos: Jes 1; Luk 1:1-4; Ps 1; Spr 1:1-2
John 15:11 AMPC
You need to enjoy each day of your life for Christ’s sake, because He paid a very high price for you to be able to. He said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)” (John 10:10 AMPC). He said: “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing” (John 15:11 AMPC). He said, “Ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete” (John 16:24 AMPC).
Jesus actually prayed that you would have joy: “Now I am coming to You… so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts]” (John 17:13 AMPC).
With Jesus Himself praying such powerful words about His desire for you to have joy, how could you ever doubt that God wants you to be happy and enjoy your life? As a redeemed child of God, you’re a walking billboard for Christianity! Don’t go around looking severe, stern, strict, sour, and sensorial, believing that you’re coming across as “spiritual.” No, that’s a turnoff to non-Christians! You need a new mindset; a scriptural one that will enable you to enjoy life and make you a more enjoyable person to be around.
Soul food: Isa 1; Luke 1:1-4; Ps 1; Prov 1:1-2
