2023-07-19
1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
The time to be careful is after you have reached your goals and you’re celebrating your victories. There are three crucial points in every battle, and believe it or not, the easiest one is sometimes the fight itself. The most difficult point is the period of indecision right before the conflict – whether to stand and fight or run away – the battle between faith and fear. But by far the most dangerous period is the aftermath. With your resources spent and your guard down, you need to watch for things like overconfidence, dulled reactions, and faulty judgment.
Remember King David’s story? “In the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle… David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened… he saw a woman bathing… Then David sent messengers, and took her” (2 Samuel 11:1-2, 4 NKJV). Pay particular attention to the phrase, “Then it happened.” David chose to stay home rather than go to battle. Who knows why? Maybe his impressive record of successes made him soft, or he got careless, or arrogant? It was only a brief affair, but it changed everything. His peace vanished, his character was ruined, and his family life destroyed.
Don’t fall prey to the perils of past victories! Remember your H.A.L.T. sign. When you’re Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired, you’re in a vulnerable place and need to be extra careful. Resting on your laurels is synonymous with flirting with disaster. Trouble awaits the man or woman who dwells in the comfortable land of accomplished dreams. So, the word for you today is – “If you think you’re standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”
Soul food: Acts 6-7; Matt 26:57-75; Ps 133; Prov 16:2
2023-07-18
Galatians 1:15 NLT
In Scripture you will notice that God usually called busy people. Moses the shepherd was busy tending his flock. Gideon the farmer was busy harvesting his crop. Peter and John the fishermen were busy mending their nets. But there was something inside each of them that responded to God’s call. With God, availability matters more than ability. Imagine for a moment a ranch hand named Saul out looking for his father’s lost mules, and returning home anointed to be Israel’s first king (See 1 Samuel 9-10).
There is no telling what God will do with you! So, be faithful and nurture the dream He put in your heart, and when the time is right, He will set everything in place. The psalmist said, “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 NIV). Don’t be impatient. If God put the desire into your heart, He will provide everything needed to bring it to pass. Jesus said, “Human effort accomplishes nothing… the… words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63 NLT).
So, water your vision with God’s Word, and spend time with Him in prayer. And if anyone tries to come between you and what God has called you to do, tell them, “Sorry, I have to go. I’m already spoken for. My destiny is too important to miss.” Don’t waste another day struggling with God’s call on your life; just surrender to Him! He didn’t call you because of your great track record, great intellect, or great gift. The Bible says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20 KJV). You’re “called… by his marvelous grace.”
Soul food: Acts 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Prov 16:1
Galasiërs 1:15 NLV
Jy sal agterkom in die Skrif dat God gewoonlik besige mense roep. Moses die skaapwagter was besig om na sy trop om te sien. Gideon die boer was besig om sy landerye te oes. Petrus en Johannes die vissermanne was besig om hulle nette reg te maak. Daar was egter iets binne-in elkeen van hulle wat op God se roeping gereageer het.
Beskikbaarheid beteken vir God meer as vaardigheid. Wees dus getrou en koester die droom wat Hy in jou hart geplaas het en wanneer die tyd reg is, sal Hy alles in plek sit. Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘Wees bly in die Here, en Hy sal jou hartsbegeertes aan jou gee’ (Psalm 37:4 NLV). Moenie ongeduldig wees nie. As God die begeerte in jou hart geplaas het, sal Hy alles voorsien wat jy nodig het om dit te vervul.
Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit is die Gees wat lewend maak, die liggaam baat jou niks. Die woorde wat Ek aan julle gerig het, is Gees en lewe’ (Johannes 6:63 NLV). Gebruik dus God se Woord en bestee tyd in gebed saam met Hom om jou visie tot vervulling te bring. As enigiemand tussen jou en God se roeping vir jou probeer kom, sê vir hulle: ‘Jammer, ek moet gaan. My lotsbestemming is te belangrik om mis te loop.’
Moenie nog ‘n dag mors om met God se roeping vir jou lewe te worstel nie; gee jouself net aan Hom oor! Hy het jou nie weens jou groot prestasies, groot intellek of groot gawes geroep nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…Maar hoe meer die sonde geword het, hoe oorvloediger het God se genade geword’ (Romeine 5:20 NLV). Jy is deur ‘sy onverdiende goedheid geroep.’
Sielskos: Hand 3:11-5:42; Matt 26:47-56; Ps 123; Spr 16:1
2023-07-17
Psalm 42:2 NLV
Vind jy dit moeilik om God se werke te verstaan? Ons almal sukkel daarmee. Selfs al kan ons terugkyk en sien hoe sy hand van seën en leiding in die verlede op ons was, voel ons by tye steeds bang en alleen. Jesus het self uitgeroep: ‘…My God, my God, waarom het U My verlaat?’ (Matteus 27:46 NLV). Daardie woorde kan as volg geïnterpreteer word: ‘Ek mag dalk nie verstaan wat op die oomblik gebeur nie, maar ek weet dat U steeds my God is.’ Wat ‘n gerusstelling!
Het jy al ooit gesien hoe ‘n kind ‘n ouer se hand vat en sê: ‘Ma/Pa stap te vinnig vir my!’ Die kind is bang om te verdwaal of agtergelaat te word. Is dit hoe jy vandag voel? Asof jy nie kan byhou nie? Dat die lewe heeltemal te vinnig beweeg? Die Bybel sê: ‘Soos ‘n wildsbok smag na water, so smag ek na U, o God’ (Psalm 42:2 NLV). Jy ‘smag’ nie na iets tensy jy dit waardeer en dit nodig het nie. Slegs rou behoefte sal veroorsaak dat jy van elke ander sigbare middel van ondersteuning wegdraai en God najaag, omdat jy weet dat jy dit nie sonder Hom sal maak nie.
Drie dinge gebeur wanneer jy God met jou hele hart najaag:
1) Jy betree die koninkryk waar alle dinge moontlik is (sien Markus 10:27 NVL).
2) Jy begin om meer soos Christus te wees, omdat jy soos die geselskap wat jy hou, word (sien 2 Korintiërs 3:18).
3) Jy leer dat jy slegs sekere vlakke van seën bereik wanneer jy God ywerig soek (sien Hebreërs 11:6).
Is jy moeg vir menslike antwoorde? Het jy meer as net goeie raad nodig? Sluit jouself vandag by God toe en laat Hom toe om met jou te praat.
Sielskos: Hand 1:1-3:10; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33
Psalm 42:1 NLT
Are you having difficulty understanding God’s ways? We all struggle with that. Even though we can look back and see how His hand of blessing and guidance has been upon us, at times we still feel afraid and alone. Jesus Himself cried, “My God… why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 KJV). Those words could be interpreted, “I may not understand what’s happening right now, but I know you’re still my God.” What assurance!
Have you ever watched a child reach for a parent’s hand and say, “Slow down; you’re walking too fast”? The child is afraid of getting lost or left behind. Is that how you feel today? Like you can’t keep up? That life is moving way too fast? The Bible says, “As the deer longs for streams of water… I long for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1 NLT). You don’t “long” for something unless you value it and need it. Only raw need will cause you to turn away from every other visible means of support and pursue God, because you know that without Him, you won’t make it.
The truth is, if you didn’t need Him so desperately, you could easily become satisfied with lesser things. Three things happen when you pursue God with all your heart.
(1) You enter the realm where “all things are possible” (Mark 10:27 KJV).
(2) You grow more Christlike, because you become like the company you keep (See 2 Corinthians 3:18).
(3) You learn that certain levels of blessing are only reached when you diligently seek God (See Hebrews 11:6).
Are you weary of human answers? Do you need more than just good advice? Shut yourself in with God today and let Him speak to you.
Soul food: Acts 1:1-3:10; Matt 26:36-46; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 15:33
