2023-10-24
Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
Read this: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (v. 3 NKJV). Who said that? The God of the universe! What do you think your chances are of getting through on the phone to a president or prime minister? Zero! Yet regardless of your education, sophistication, ethnic background, or financial status, you can talk to God and He will talk back to you. And He doesn’t just promise to answer your prayers but to “show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Sometimes we say, “It’s the not knowing that scares me.” Companies close and workers get laid off. Routine medical checkups reveal life-threatening challenges. Terrorists threaten our safety, and politicians betray our trust. The little boy prayed, “Lord, bless Mommy, Daddy, baby, and me. And Lord, take care of yourself, because if anything happens to you, we’re all sunk!”
You say, “But I’m not sure God has ever spoken to me.” If you’re a Christian, He has spoken to you at least once. And if He will speak to you once, He will speak to you twice. But you have to talk to Him and let Him talk to you through His Word and His indwelling Spirit.
Sometimes God waits before He answers you because He is working on both ends of the line. He is working on the thing you prayed about, and He is working to get you ready for it. And sometimes the second thing takes longer than the first. “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!”
Soul food: 2 Sam 22:31-24:25; John 6:1-15; Ps 126; Prov 24:10
2023-10-23
Galatians 5:25 NLT
Do you have an out-of-control appetite when it comes to money, food, nicotine, alcohol, drugs, sex, or… (you fill in the blank). Have your repeated efforts to gain control left you with a sense of shame, failure, and hopelessness? Have all your attempts at self-control failed?
Try Spirit control! “Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions… But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25 NLT).
The secret of walking in victory is in realizing these two things: (1) Self-control is not something you do for God, it’s something God does for you. (2) Self-control is not a one time work but a daily walk. Each time you say no to self and yes to God, His Spirit comes to your aid and empowers you. By choosing to obey God instead of your impulses, you activate the power that brings victory.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; John 5:31-47; Ps 5; Prov 24:8-9
Galasiërs 5:25 NLV
Het jy ‘n aptyt wat buite beheer is wanneer dit by dinge soos geld, kos, nikotien, alkohol, dwelms, seks, of… (vul die woord self in), kom? Het jou herhaalde pogings om beheer te kry jou met ‘n gevoel van skaamte, mislukking en hopeloosheid gelaat? Het al jou pogings tot selfbeheersing misluk? Probeer Gees-beheersing!
‘…Laat julle leefstyl eerder deur die Gees bepaal word. Dan sal julle glad nie aan die begeertes van julle sondige geaardheid toegee nie. ‘n Mens se sondige geaardheid wil dinge doen wat teen die Gees is, en die Gees wil dinge doen wat teen jou sondige geaardheid is, want hulle is mekaar se vyande. Julle kan dus nie sommer maar net alles doen wat julle wil nie… Maar as die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg: liefde, vreugde, vrede, geduld, vriendelikheid, goedheid, getrouheid, sagmoedigheid en selfbeheersing… Christene is mense wat die hartstogte en die begeertes van hulle sondige geaardheid gekruisig het. Ons lewe deur die Gees; daarom moet die Gees ook ons leefstyl bepaal’ (Galasiërs 5:16-17, 22-25 NLV).
Die geheim om in oorwinning te wandel is om hierdie twee dinge te besef: 1) Selfbeheersing is nie iets wat jy vir God doen nie, dis iets wat God vir jou doen. 2) Selfbeheersing is nie ‘n eenmalige taak nie, maar ‘n daaglikse wandel. Elke keer wat jy vir die self nee en vir God ja sê, kom sy Gees jou te hulp en bemagtig jou. Deur te kies om God in plaas van jou impulse te gehoorsaam, aktiveer jy die krag wat oorwinning meebring.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Joh 5:31-47; Ps 5; Spr 24:8-9
2023-10-22
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Read this Scripture: “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen… I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes” (vv. 11-12, 14 NLT). The Israelites went through a long period of suffering because of their sins – seventy years of captivity. But God said, “I still have a plan for you.”
Have you sinned and gone through a season of correction and now you’re wondering if God has turned His back on you? God may correct you, but He will never reject you! Two chapters later, God says to the same group of people, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you” (Jeremiah 31:3-4 NLT).
Note the word “rebuild.” Your life may have fallen apart, but God can rebuild it. The Bible’s theme is restoration. King David committed adultery and murder, but when he repented, God fully restored him. And the Bible says, “After David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors” (Acts 13:36 NLT).
How would you like to have those words on your tombstone? You can! The Prodigal Son’s older brother was angry with their father because he forgave and restored his younger brother. But his father restored him anyway. You cannot undo the fact of your past sins, but God can heal you from the effects of them. Just come to Him today; take that first step!
Soul food: Eze 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Thes 4:13-18
Jeremia 29:11 NLV
Lees die volgende Skrifgedeelte: “‘Ek weet wat Ek vir julle beplan het,’ sê die Here. ‘Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê. Julle sal na My roep en kom bid. Ek sal na julle luister… Ek sal julle uit gevangenskap laat terugkeer…'” (verse 11-12, 14 NLV). Die Israeliete het deur ‘n lang periode van lyding as gevolg van hulle sondes gegaan – sewentig jaar van ballingskap. God het egter gesê: ‘Ek het steeds ‘n plan vir jou.’
Het jy gesondig en deur ‘n seisoen van regstelling gegaan en nou wonder jy of God sy rug op jou gedraai het? God mag jou dalk korrigeer, maar Hy sal jou nooit verwerp nie! Twee hoofstukke later sê God vir dieselfde groep mense: ‘…Ek het jou lief met ‘n liefde wat nooit ophou nie. Ek trek jou met troue liefde na My toe. Ek sal jou herbou soos jy vroeër was…’ (Jeremia 31:3-4 NLV). Jou lewe mag dalk uitmekaar geval het, maar God kan dit herbou.
Koning Dawid het owerspel en moord gepleeg, maar toe hy berou gehad het, het God hom ten volle herstel. Die Bybel sê ook: ‘Dawid het sy mense gedien soos God besluit het, en toe het hy gesterf. Hulle het vir Dawid begrawe by sy voorvaders…’ (Handelinge 13:36 NLV). Sal jy daarvan hou om daardie woorde op jou grafsteen te hê? Jy kan! Die Verlore Seun se broer was kwaad vir hulle pa omdat hy sy jonger broer vergewe en herstel het. Sy pa het hom egter nietemin herstel. Jy kan nie die feit van jou vorige sondes ongedaan maak nie, maar God kan jou van die gevolge daarvan genees. Kom net vandag na Hom toe; neem daardie eerste stap!
Sielskos: Eseg 37:1-14; Matt 27:50-53; 1 Tess 4:13-18
