2023-08-12
1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers” (Luke 10:30 NIV). Jerusalem represented the place of God’s favour, whereas Jericho was cursed by Joshua when God leveled its walls (See Joshua 6:26). The road connecting the two cities was teeming with robbers, so was this man’s intention to travel part of the way, then get off? The Bible doesn’t say, but one thing we do know is God goes to great lengths to keep us from going down the road to temptation and getting hurt. And even with all His safeguards in place, we still manage to get into trouble.
First, you stop listening to the promptings of His Spirit. Second, you’re unwilling to pray about certain desires with a submitted heart. Third, you’re not interested in talking to a trusted friend who will hold you accountable. Fourth, you don’t want to know what the Bible says about the matter. You have unilaterally decided to quench the Spirit so you can indulge your fleshly impulses.
Remember, there is always free food on the end of a fishhook, but while temptation promises freedom, it ends up costing you. David’s affair wrecked his family. Real freedom isn’t about having the liberty to gratify your every appetite; it’s about refusing to become a slave to unhealthy desires. The battle against temptation is noble, but if all you do is struggle to repress your desires, eventually they will wear you down. You need to maintain a clear mental image of the kind of person God wants you to be and cooperate with His Spirit to become that person.
Soul food: Deut 30:1-32:28; Mark 5:1-10; Ps 119:41-48; Prov 17:17
2023-08-11
Genesis 22:5 NLV
Verbeel jouself dat jy jou kind op ‘n altaar aan God moet opoffer, sonder dat God vir jou sê hoekom jy dit moet doen! Hier is wat Abraham vir die twee jong mans wat hom op die moeilikste reis van sy lewe vergesel het, gesê het: ‘Bly ‘n bietjie hier… Ek en die seun sal ‘n entjie verder gaan. Ons sal daar aanbid en dan [sal beide van ons!] terugkom.’ Abraham se toewyding aan God was onwrikbaar.
Bekommernis en aanbidding is heeltemal teenoorgesteldes van mekaar. Ons sal baie gelukkiger wees as ons leer om bidders eerder as kommerkouse te wees. Bekommernis maak ‘n gaping vir die Vyand om ons te treiter, maar aanbidding lei ons in God se teenwoordigheid in waar ons onfeilbare vrede, vreugde en hoop vind. Ons is geskep om God te aanbid (sien Openbaring 4:11). God is goed, selfs wanneer ons omstandighede nie is nie. Hou dus op om jou te bekommer, gee jou besorgdhede aan God oor en lewe in sy genade. Genade is nie net goddelike guns nie; dis krag en goddelike bevoegdheid!
Moenie nog ‘n dag van jou lewe mors deur jouself te bekommer nie. Bepaal wat jou rol is en wat dit nie is nie. Moenie probeer om God se verantwoordelikheid op jouself te neem nie. Wanneer jy doen wat jy kan doen, tree God in en doen wat jy nie kan doen nie. Gee jouself en jou bekommernisse aan God oor, aanbid Hom en begin om die oorvloedige lewe wat Hy vir jou voorsien, te geniet. Die oomblik wat jy agterkom dat jy besig is om jouself te bekommer, ontwrig jou verkeerde gedagtepatrone deur te sê: ‘Ek sal myself nie bekommer nie. Ek sal U aanbid, Here. U is goed en ek vertrou volkome op U.’
Sielskos: Deut 28-29; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 119:33-40; Spr 17:16
Genesis 22:5 NKJV
Imagine having to offer your child on an altar as a sacrifice to God. And God doesn’t tell you why! Here is what Abraham said to the two young men who accompanied him on the most difficult journey of his life: “Stay here… the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back [both of us!].” Abraham’s commitment to God was unwavering: “I will worship my way through this and come back stronger!”
Worry and worship are total opposites. And we will be much happier when we learn to become worshipers instead of worriers. Worry causes an opening for the Enemy to torment us, but worship guides us into God’s presence where we unfailingly find peace, joy, and hope. We were created to worship God (See Revelation 4:11). When nothing else works, worship does because it places our entire focus on Him. God is good even while our circumstances aren’t.
So, stop worrying; give your concerns to God, and live in His grace. Grace isn’t just divine favour; it’s power and divine enablement! Don’t squander another day of your life worrying. Determine what your role is and what it isn’t. Don’t attempt to take on God’s responsibility. When you do what you can do, God steps in and does what you can’t do. Present yourself and your worries to God, worship Him, and start enjoying the abundant life He provides for you.
The moment you recognize you are worrying, disrupt your wrong thought patterns by saying, “I will not worry. I will worship you, Lord. You are good, and I completely trust You.”
Soul food: Deut 28-29; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 119:33-40; Prov 17:16
2023-08-10
Philippians 4:8 AMPC
Paul writes: “Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honourable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]” (v. 8 AMPC).
If you are serious about wanting a better life, you must change the way you think. The best way to stop thinking about something is simply to think about something else. When you don’t enjoy a certain TV program, what do you do? Switch channels! Does the channel you don’t like no longer exist? No, it’s there anytime you choose to switch back to it.
Likewise, when you find yourself stuck in a repeated thought pattern that’s detrimental to you – one that plays like a broken record in your mind – take action. Refuse to loan your mind to the Devil for his scheme. The only place a thought can live is in your mind. The only power a thought has over you is the power you give it.
God says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19 KJV). God gives you the options, but He won’t exercise them for you. Choosing the right thought is like flipping a light switch; it dispels darkness and illuminates the room. Your most dominant thoughts will control your life, so make sure they line up with God’s Word. Today “fix” your mind and change your life.
Soul food: Deut 25-27; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 119:25-32; Prov 17:11-15
Filippense 4:8 NLV
Paulus skryf: ‘Weet julle waaraan julle moet dink in plaas daarvan om julle te sit en bekommer? Dink aan dit wat vir God saak maak, dinge wat ordentlik en reg is, dinge waaraan God sal dink en waarvan Hy sal hou, dinge wat God sal sê goed is. Moenie julle tyd mors om aan allerhande nuttelose dinge te sit en dink nie. Hou julle besig met dinge wat die moeite werd is en wat God in ‘n goeie lig stel’ (vers 8 DB).
As jy ernstig daaroor is om ‘n beter lewe te verkry, moet jy die manier wat jy dink verander. Die beste manier om op te hou dink aan iets is om eenvoudig aan iets anders te dink. Wanneer jy nie ‘n sekere televisieprogram geniet nie, wat doen jy? Jy verander van kanaal! Bestaan die program waarvan jy nie hou nie, nie meer nie? Nee, dis nog steeds daar indien jy sou besluit om dit weer te probeer kyk.
Net so, wanneer jy jouself vind waar jy in ‘n gedagtepatroon vasgevang wat nadelig vir jou is, neem aksie. Weier om jou gedagtes aan die Duiwel vir sy planne uit te leen. Die enigste mag wat ‘n gedagte oor jou het, is die mag wat jy daaraan gee. God het gesê: ‘Vandag gee ek aan jou die keuse tussen lewe en dood, tussen seën en vloek… Mag jy tog die lewe kies…’ (Deuteronomium 30:19 NLV). Om die regte gedagte te kies is soos om ‘n lig aan te skakel; dit verdryf die donkerte en verlig die kamer. Jou mees dominante gedagtes sal jou lewe beheer, maak dus seker dat hulle in lyn met God se Woord is. Verander vandag jou gedagtes en verander jou lewe.
Sielskos: Deut 25-27; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 119:25-32; Spr 17:11-15
