2023-01-29
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Doug Coldiron writes: “I’m a trucker, and my Jack Russell Terrier, Dee Dee, rides shotgun on my road trips. We were playing fetch outside Atlanta when something caught her eye and she shot into the woods. I paced the perimeter calling her name. I alerted other truckers and searched until it was pitch black. Nothing. Eventually the others left; some said, ‘I’ll pray for you.’ I wasn’t so sure God was listening. I’d already been praying for hours. Next morning, I had to get on the road, and when I opened my laptop and pulled up my Facebook page, it was filled with postings: ‘We’re praying for you.’ ‘Hang in there.’ ‘Trust God.’ I felt comforted; someone besides me was worried about my dog. If only I could get back to Atlanta soon! I thought about praying, ‘Lord, get me an assignment in Atlanta… NOW!’
I knew that could take weeks, but when I clicked on my company website to check the destination for my next job… it was Atlanta! Could prayer be working? Next morning my cell phone woke me. It was Russ, the maintenance supervisor. ‘I saw your dog on my way to work.’ I couldn’t believe my ears. I had to get to Atlanta! From the truck center, Russ drove me to where he had seen Dee Dee. After searching for hours, I glanced over my shoulder… and there she sat on the doorstep of a house. She bolted over, and as I picked her up, I prayed, ‘Thank you, God.'”
The Bible says, “Give all your worries… to God, for he cares about you” (v. 7 NLT). Coldiron adds, “Who knows what goes on in a dog’s mind? One thing I know is we’re never alone. God always answers prayer.”
Soul food: Phil 2:1-13; Exo 14:5-31
2023-01-28
Psalm 5:4 NLV
Leer die gewoonte aan om elke dag met God te begin, Wanneer jy dit doen, sal jy ‘n bron hê waaruit jy die hele dag krag kan put. Sielkundiges sê dat dit tot drie weke neem om aan ‘n nuwe gewoonte gewoond te raak en nog drie weke voor die gewoonte gevestig word. Dit beteken dat jy die ses-week grens moet oorsteek. Doen dus die volgende:
1) Maak ‘n vasbeslote besluit. As jy halfhartig begin, sal jy nooit suksesvol wees nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Julle moet mekaar van dag tot dag aanspoor…’ (Hebreërs 3:13 NLV). As dit jou sal help, vra iemand om jou aanspreeklik te hou. Vra hulle om jou aan te spoor en jou aan die belofte wat jy teenoor God gemaak het, te herinner.
2) Moenie uitsonderings toelaat nie. Vermy dit om ‘Net hierdie een keer,’ as verskoning aan te wend. Elke daad van ingewing verswak jou wil en veroorsaak dat jy grond verloor.
3) Gebruik elke geleentheid om jou nuwe gewoonte uit te oefen. Wanneer jy die kleinste drang kry om jou Bybel te lees en te bid, doen dit. Moenie wag nie; gebruik daardie oomblik om jou gewoonte in te oefen. Jy kan nie ‘n nuwe gewoonte aan die begin oordoen nie.
4) Maak op God se krag staat. Jy is besig met ‘n geestelike stryd en jy kan slegs met God se hulp oorwinning behaal. Vertrou op Hom om jou te help om die gewoonte tot sy verheerliking te ontwikkel.
Skryf die volgende woorde neer, teken jou naam aan die onderkant en hou dit konstant voor jou: ‘Here, ek wy myself daaraan toe om elke oggend met U te begin, maak nie saak wat die koste daarvan is nie. Ek maak op U staat om my te help om konsekwent te wees.’ Dis ‘n gebed wat Hy sal antwoord.
Sielskos: Gen 10-12; Luk 6:27-36; Ps 107:1-9; Spr 3:13-18
Psalm 5:3 NKJV
Develop the habit of starting each day with God. When you do, you will have a source of strength to draw on all day long. Psychologists say it takes up to three weeks to become familiar with a new habit, and another three before it takes root. That means you need to get beyond the six-week barrier. So, do these:
(1) Make a strong resolution. If you begin half-heartedly, you will never succeed. The Bible says, “Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13 NIV). If it helps, become accountable to someone. Ask them to encourage you and remind you of the promise you made to God.
(2) Never allow an exception. A habit is like a ball of twine: Every time you drop it, some of the strands unwind. So don’t allow “just this once” thinking to creep in. Every act of yielding weakens your will and causes you to lose ground.
(3) Use every opportunity to practice your new habit. Whenever you get the slightest urge to read your Bible and pray, do it. Don’t wait; use that moment to reinforce it. It doesn’t hurt to overdo a new habit when you’re first starting.
(4) Rely on the power of God. You’re in a spiritual battle, and you can only succeed with God’s help. Depend on Him to aid you in developing the habit for His glory.
Write down the following words, sign your name at the bottom, and keep them before you constantly: “Lord, I commit myself to beginning each day with You no matter what the cost. And I’m depending on You to help me be consistent.” That’s a prayer He is sure to answer.
Soul food: Gen 10-12; Luke 6:27-36; Ps 107:1-9; Prov 3:13-18
2023-01-27
Titus 2:13 NLV
Vertroue in Christus se spoedige wederkoms en ons uiteindelike oorwinning, is wat ons in hierdie dae van ontnugtering met sommige van ons nasionale leiers, die devaluasie van ons geld en die verwoesting van oorloë wat op verskeie kontinente gevoer word, sal dra. Jesus het gesê: ‘Wees dus waaksaam, want julle weet nie watter dag julle Here kom nie’ (Matteus 24:42 NLV). Met ander woorde, wees op jou hoede, maar moenie bang wees nie.
Admiraal James Stockdale het agt uitmergelende jare in ‘n Vietnamese kamp vir krygsgevangenes deurgebring. Wat het hom gedra? Hy het gesê: ‘Ek het nooit geloof in die einde van die storie verloor nie. Ek het nooit daaraan getwyfel dat ek nie net huis toe sou gaan nie, maar ook dat ek op die ou einde sou oorwin en die ervaring in ‘n bepalende gebeurtenis in my lewe sou verander, wat ek in retrospeksie nie vir iets sou verruil nie.’ Toe hy gevra is: ‘Wie het dit nie gemaak nie?’ het Stockdale geantwoord: ‘Dis maklik. Dit was die ouens wat gesê het: ‘Ons gaan Kersfees by die huis wees.’ Kersfees sou kom en gaan. Dan sou hulle sê: ‘Ons gaan Paasfees by die huis wees.’ En Paasfees sou kom en gaan. Later sou dit weer Kersfees wees. Hulle is uiteindelik dood aan ‘n gebroke hart.’
Die moed om tussen die twee uiterstes van huidige moeilikheid en uiteindelike triomf te staan, word in hierdie woorde van die Skrif gevind: ‘ons oë vasgenael op Jesus, die Een op wie ons geloof vanaf die wegspring tot by die eindstreep steun…’ (Hebreërs 12:2 NLV). Die Een by wie jy jou begin ontvang het, waarborg jou ‘n glorieryke oorwinning.
Sielskos: Gen 7-9; Luk 6:17-26; Ps 104:24-35; Spr 3:11-12
Titus 2:13 NKJV
Trusting in Christ’s soon return and our ultimate victory is what will sustain us in these days of disillusionment with some of our national leaders, the devaluing of our money, and the devastation of wars being fought on various continents at the same time. And don’t let some television talk show host play on your fears in order to promote his or her ratings. Jesus said, “Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42 NIV). In other words, “Be alert, but don’t be afraid.”
Admiral James Stockdale spent eight grueling years in a Vietnam prisoner-of-war camp. What sustained him? He said: “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.” When asked, “Who didn’t make it out?” Stockdale replied: “Oh, that’s easy… they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.”
The courage needed to stand between the two extremes of current trouble and ultimate triumph is found in these words of Scripture: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV). The One who gave you your start has guaranteed you a glorious finish.
Soul food: Gen 7-9; Luke 6:17-26; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 3:11-12
