2023-10-21
Mark 11:24 NLT
The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV). God’s greatest desire is to be believed. You can pray regularly and ritually, and even feel closer to God as a result, yet not expect Him to answer your prayers or for your situation to change.
Peter had been put in prison and sentenced to death, and his execution was scheduled for the next day. So, the church prayed all night for his release. And it happened miraculously. God put the guards to sleep, opened Peter’s prison door, and set him free. Yet when he appeared on the doorstep of the house where the believers were praying, they couldn’t believe it: “A servant girl… told everyone, ‘Peter is standing at the door!’ ‘You’re out of your mind!’ they said. When she insisted, they decided, ‘It must be his angel'” (Acts 12:13-15 NLT). Even the early disciples struggled to believe God would hear them. Even when the answer knocked on their door, they still hesitated.
And we do too, don’t we? We struggle with prayer. We forget to pray, and when we remember, we rush through prayers with insincere words. Our thoughts disperse like a covey of quail. Why does this happen? You can pray anywhere, at any time, using your own words, and God promises to answer. So, what’s the problem? We need to realize the incredible power and potential of one praying believer: “Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NCV). So don’t just pray; believe God for the answer. Then talk and act like you believe!
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; John 5:16-30; Ps 15; Prov 24:7
Markus 11:24 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘As jy nie glo nie, is dit onmoontlik om God tevrede te stel…’ (Hebreërs 11:6 NLV). God se grootste begeerte is geloof. Jy kan gereeld bid en gevolglik selfs nader aan God voel, maar steeds nie verwag dat Hy jou gebede sal beantwoord of dat jou situasie sal verander nie.
Petrus is in die tronk gegooi en tot dood veroordeel en sy teregstelling is vir die volgende dag geskeduleer. Dus het die kerk die hele nag vir sy vrylating gebid. Dit het wonderbaarlik gebeur. God het die wagte aan die slaap laat raak, Petrus se tronkdeur oopgemaak en hom vrygelaat. Toe Petrus egter by die huis waar die gelowiges besig was om te bid, opdaag, het hulle dit nie geglo nie. “…’n diensmeisie… [het] binnetoe gehardloop en uitgeroep dat Petrus by die buitedeur staan! Maar hulle het vir haar gesê: ‘Jy is skoon van jou wysie af!’ Toe sy egter daarmee volhou, het hulle gesê: ‘Dan is dit seker Petrus se engel'” (Handelinge 12:13-15 NLV). Selfs die vroeë dissipels het gesukkel om te glo dat God hulle sou hoor. Selfs toe die antwoord aan hulle deur geklop het, het hulle gehuiwer.
Ons doen dit ook, nie waar nie? Ons sukkel met gebed. Ons vergeet om te bid en wanneer ons onthou, jaag ons dit met onopregte woorde af. Hoekom gebeur dit? Jy kan enige plek en enige tyd bid en God beloof om te antwoord. Wat is dan die probleem? Ons moet die ongelooflike krag en potensiaal van een gelowige wat bid, besef: ‘Die wapens van ons stryd is nie mensgemaak nie, maar die kragtige gevegstoerusting van God wat vestings kan vernietig…’ (2 Korintiërs 10:4 NLV). Moet dus nie net bid nie; glo God vir die antwoord. Praat en tree dan op in geloof!
Sielskos: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Joh 5:16-30; Ps 15; Spr 24:7
2023-10-20
Exodus 32:13 CEV
If you’re not sure your prayers can change the situation you’re in right now, read the story of Moses interceding with God not to destroy the Israelites because of the golden calf and committing idolatry: “Moses tried to get… God to change his mind… Remember the solemn promise you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You promised that someday they would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and that you would give them land. So even though the Lord had threatened to destroy the people, he changed his mind and let them live” (vv. 11, 13-14 CEV).
Moses was on his face one minute, and in God’s face the next. For the lives of his people, he was on his knees, pointing his finger, raising his hands, crying tears, tearing his cloak, and wrestling like Jacob at the brook. Notice how he prayed. He reminded God of His covenant promises. He stood on the Word! And if there is one thing that will get God’s attention and cause Him to respond to your needs, it’s standing on His Word.
God’s word in the matter is always God’s will in the matter. “We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT).
You are similar to electric wire through which God’s power and presence can flow into any situation, and in prayer you flip the switch. So instead of complaining about the situation, begin to pray about it.
Soul food: 2 Sam 14:21-17:13; John 5:1-15; Ps 41; Prov 24:5-6
Eksodus 32:13 NLV
As jy nie seker is of jou gebede die situasie waarin jy jou tans bevind kan verander nie, lees die verhaal van Moses wat by God intree om nie die Israeliete weens die goue kalf en afgodery te vernietig nie. ‘Maar Moses het by die Here gepleit om dit nie te doen nie… Onthou tog dat U ‘n ooreenkoms gesluit het met u dienaars Abraham, Isak en Jakob. U het vir hulle belowe: ‘Ek sal julle nageslag so baie maak soos die sterre in die lug. Ek sal hierdie land vir julle nageslag gee om vir altyd in te woon.’ Die Here het toe afgesien van die ramp wat Hy oor sy volk wou bring’ (verse 11, 13-14 NLV).
Moses was op sy knieë vir sy volk se lewens, hy het sy vinger gewys, sy hande opgelig, trane gehuil, sy mantel geskeur en soos Jakob by die spruit, gestoei. Let op hoe hy gebid het. Hy het God aan sy verbondsbeloftes herinner. Hy het op die Woord gestaan! As daar een ding is wat God se aandag sal trek en Hom aan jou behoeftes sal laat voldoen, is dit om op sy Woord te staan.
God se woord oor die saak is altyd sy wil in die saak. ‘Dit is die vrymoedigheid wat ons voor God het dat wat ons ook al volgens sy wil vra, Hy na ons luister. As ons dan met die wete leef dat Hy na ons luister, na wat ons ook al vra, weet ons ook dat Hy die versoek wat ons gevra het, sal toestaan’ (1 Johannes 5:14-15 NLV).
Jy is soos ‘n elektriese draad waardeur God se krag en teenwoordigheid in enige situasie kan vloei en deur gebed skakel jy die skakelaar aan. In plaas daarvan om dus oor die situasie te kla, begin daaroor bid.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 14:21-17:13; Joh 5:1-15; Ps 41; Spr 24:5-6
2023-10-19
Job 5:2 NIV
For reasons known only to God and Satan, Job lost his money, his children, and his health. If ever a man had cause to be resentful, it was him. But Eliphaz advised him, “Resentment kills a fool.” In other words, “The only thing that can hurt me more than what has already happened is allowing resentment to rule my mind and dictate my actions.”
You say, “But I want justice!” How much justice? Imagine your enemy for a moment. Picture him strapped to a whipping post. The strong-armed man with a whip turns to you and asks, “How many lashes?” And you give a number. The whip cracks, the blood flows, and the punishment is inflicted. Your foe slumps to the ground, and you walk away. Are you happy now? Do you feel better? Are you at peace? For a little while, but soon another memory will surface, and another lash will be needed.
When does it all stop? It stops when you take seriously the words of Jesus: “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV).
When you pray, “Treat me as I treat my neighbour” (See Matthew 6:12), are you aware of what you’re really saying to God? “Give me what I give them. Grant me the same peace I grant them. Let me enjoy the same tolerance I offer them.” If you want peace, make peace. If you want God’s generosity, be generous to others. If you want the assurance of God’s forgiveness, extend forgiveness to others.
Soul food: 2 Sam 12:1-14:20; John 4:39-54; Ps 87; Prov 24:1-4
