2023-01-21
Romeine 8:28 NLV
Toe Josef in die tronk gegooi is, was dit vir hom moeilik om te sien hoe hierdie pad tot die vervulling van sy droom kon lei, maar dit het, omdat God ‘n plan vir sy lewe gehad het. Hy het ook ‘n plan vir jou lewe! Jou huidige werk mag dalk slegs voorbereiding wees vir die werk wat God regtig vir jou in gedagte het. Miskien nie vandag of more nie, maar as jy getrou bly, sal daar ‘n tyd kom wat jy terugkyk en besef hoe God jou treë gerig het (sien Psalm 37:23).
Weier dat ‘n gevoel van slagofferskap jou vrede steel. Jou werk, ten spyte die probleme, sou die droom van sommige van jou voorgeslag gewees het. Het jy nie vir hierdie werk waaroor jy nou so kla, gebid nie? So moeilik soos dit dalk mag wees om te aanvaar, jy is waar jy is vir ‘n rede – en vir ‘n seisoen. Studeer dus, doen die huiswerk, skryf die toetse, behaal die graad en beweeg aan na dit wat God volgende vir jou beplan.
Daar is sekere kwaliteite wat jy van jou huidige posisie na jou volgende een moet neem, dinge soos vaardighede en karakterontwikkeling. Jy mag dalk rekenaar- en sosiale mediavaardighede moet aanleer – plus geduld en dankbaarheid. Jy mag dalk moet leer hoe om ‘n kantoor te bestuur – en hoe om jou buie te beheer.
Wanneer jy deur God gelei word, word geen ervaring gemors nie, want: ‘…ons weet dat God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV). God weet wat Hy doen, vertrou Hom dus; Hy gebruik elke ervaring om sy wil te laat geskied en ons blydskap te vervul.
Sielskos: Pred 1-4; Luk 4:31-44; Ps 89:38-52; Spr 3:1-2
Romans 8:28 NLT
When Joseph was thrown in prison, it was hard for him to see how this road would lead to the fulfillment of his dream, but it did. That’s because God had a plan for his life. And He has one for yours too! Your current job may just be preparation for the job God really has in mind for you. Perhaps not today or tomorrow, but, if you stay faithful, there will come a time when you look back and realise how God directed your steps (See Psalm 37:23).
Refuse to embrace any concept of victimhood that would steal your contentment. Your job, in spite of its difficulties, would have been the dream of some of your forefathers. Didn’t you pray for this job you’re now complaining about? As difficult as this may be to accept, you’re where you are for a reason – and for a season. So study, do the coursework, take the tests, graduate, and move on to what God has for you next. There are certain qualities you need to take with you from your present position into your next one. Things like skill building and character development. You may need to learn computer and social media skills – plus patience and gratitude. You may need to learn how to manage an office – plus how to manage your moods.
When you’re led by God, no experience is ever wasted because “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). God knows what He is doing, so trust Him; He uses every experience to bring about His will and fulfill our joy.
Soul food: Ecc 1-4; Luke 4:31-44; Ps 89:38-52; Prov 3:1-2
2023-01-20
Psalm 147:3 NIV
If you’re recovering from a bad relationship, it’s a mistake to rush into another one. Unhealthy people make unhealthy choices. Some wounds take longer to heal than others, but you can count on this promise: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” All God asks is that you give Him a chance.
Start by taking time to search His Word to find out how He feels about you. His opinion is the only reliable foundation on which to build your self-worth. If a perfect God with full knowledge of your struggles and shortcomings can love you, the message is – lighten up on yourself! You can only love, or be loved again, with the same wholeness with which you love yourself.
Next time make sure your choices aren’t predicated on need or the fear of being alone. And be careful: When you don’t value yourself, you attract people who won’t value you either; people who will use you for their own ends. You deserve better, so hold out for it. You train others how to treat you by how you treat yourself. And as you become spiritually and emotionally whole, you will start seeing how unhealthy some of your former choices have been.
If some people walk away, so be it. Sometimes you have to give up less in order to have more. The God who said, “It is not good for man to be alone” has new relationships in mind for you. But He is waiting until your values and self-perception line up with His. So take it step by step, one day at a time. And remember to rejoice – your best days are still ahead!
Soul food: Isa 63-66; Luke 4:14-30; Ps 89:15-37; Prov 2:21-22
Psalm 147:3 NLV
Wanneer jy van ‘n slegte verhouding herstel, is dit ‘n fout om te vinnig ‘n ander een aan te knoop. Ongestelde mense maak ongesonde keuses. Sommige wonde neem langer as ander om te genees, maar jy kan op hierdie belofte staatmaak: ‘Hy genees die gebroke hart, en verbind die wonde.’
Al wat God van jou vra, is dat jy Hom ‘n kans moet gee. Begin deur tyd te maak om sy Woord te deursoek vir hoe Hy oor jou voel. Sy opinie is die enigste betroubare fondasie waarop jy jou selfwaarde moet bou. As ‘n perfekte God met volle wete van jou moeilikhede en tekortkominge jou kan liefhê, moet jy nie so veroordelend teenoor jouself wees nie! Maak volgende keer seker dat jou keuses nie op die behoefte of die vrees om alleen te wees nie, gebaseer is nie.
Wees ook versigtig: Wanneer jy jouself nie waardeer nie, trek jy mense wat jou ook nie sal waardeer nie; mense wat jou vir hul eie doeleindes sal gebruik, aan. Jy verdien beter, so wees bedag daarop. Jy wys ander mense hoe om jou te behandel deur hoe jy jouself behandel.
Soos jy geestelik en emosioneel gesond word, sal jy ook begin sien hoe ongesond sommige van jou vorige keuses was. As sommige mense dan wegstap, is dit dan maar so. Soms moet jy iets prysgee om meer te kan hê. Die God wat gesê het dat dit nie goed is vir die mens om alleen te wees nie, het nuwe verhoudings vir jou in gedagte. Hy wag egter totdat jou waardes en selfpersepsie in lyn met syne beweeg. Neem dit dus tree vir tree, een dag op ‘n slag. Onthou ook om jouself te verbly – jou beste dae lê nog voor!
Sielskos: Jes 63-66; Luk 4:14-30; Ps 89:15-37; Spr 2:21-22
2023-01-19
2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV
The Brady Bunch was a popular television show where a mom and dad with six kids created one big happy family without conflict or rivalries. The problem is it seldom happens that way. So, if you’re planning to remarry, here are three challenges you will need God’s help with:
(1) It’s common for kids to see a new stepparent as a usurper. Their loyalty to the memory of their departed mother or father can be intense. For them to welcome a newcomer feels like an act of betrayal. This can place the stepparent in a real bind.
(2) It’s common for one child to move into the power vacuum left by the departing parent and see themselves as a surrogate spouse. The status and power that come with this supportive role is very strong, and a youngster can be unwilling to give it up.
(3) Each of us is irrationally committed to our own flesh and blood while being merely acquainted with others. So when conflict arises in the family, parents are almost always partial to those they brought into the world. And when children sense this tension between parents, some of them will try to exploit it to their advantage. That’s why, statistically, second and third marriages have a higher failure rate than first ones.
But there is good news: “With God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26). What should you do? Seek professional counseling as early as possible. Yes, it costs, but a divorce will cost you even more. And include God; He can give you the patience, wisdom, and love you need. “Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV).
Soul food: Isa 58-62; Luke 4:1-13; Ps 89:1-14; Prov 2:20
