2024-01-09
Ephesians 5:2 NKJV
Spiritual healing takes place when you’re able to confess your problem to someone mature enough to handle it and committed enough to not give up on you. What does it mean to “walk in love?” (a) To be confident of God’s unfailing love toward you. (b) To show His love to others. (c) To be able to accept their love in return. Only then can you become spiritually whole.
You can only be loved to the extent that you’re known. When you keep part of your life a secret, others may tell you they love you, but deep inside you think, “If you knew the whole truth about me, you wouldn’t love me.” So, you’re unable to receive and be strengthened by their love. Sin isolates us, and sin and isolation will make us sick in our soul, and even our body. Confession and then prayer, connectedness to each other and to God, ushers in the Spirit and promotes healing.
To be fully known and fully loved is the most healing gift we can give to each other. The Bible says, “Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (James 5:16 NAS). We’re all forgiven, recovering sinners, and no one can be secure in a relationship if they’re loved only because they’re intelligent, strong, pretty, or successful. One Bible teacher says: “When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find it is those who instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”
Soul food: Lev 11:1-13:37; Matt 4:1-11; Ps 42:6-11; Prov 1:24-28
2024-01-08
Psalm 91:11 NLV
Daar is meer as driehonderd verwysings na engele in die Skrif en hulle word met twee woorde beskryf: baie en magtig. Dit het egter net een engel geneem om die leeus se bekke vir Daniël toe te sluit en om Petrus uit die tronk te red die aand voor hy tereggestel sou word. Onthou jy Elisa se dienaar? Toe ‘n groot leër die stad van Dotan omsingel het, het Elisa vir God gevra om sy dienaar se oë oop te maak: ‘…Toe hy opkyk, sien hy dat daar baie perde en strydwaens van vuur op die heuwels rondom Elisa was’ (2 Konings 6:17 NLV).
As God jou oë vandag oopmaak, wat sou jy sien? Engele wat jou kinders skool toe begelei? Wat jou van ‘n dronk bestuurder beskerm? Wat die hande van die chirurg rig? Wat jou oppas terwyl jy slaap? Een Bybelonderwyser sê: ‘As jy ‘n gelowige is, moet jy verwag dat magtige engele jou in jou lewenservaring sal begelei.’
Het almal ‘n beskermingsengel? Nee, die Bybel sê: ‘Die engele is… geestelike wesens wat God uitstuur in belang van daardie mense wat gered gaan word’ (Hebreërs 1:14 NLV). Wanneer jy Jesus verwerp, verbeur jy hierdie sekuriteit, maar wanneer jy Hom as jou Here en Redder aanvaar, kry jy vier-en-twintig uur ‘n dag se beskerming: ‘Want die Engel van die Here hou wag oor almal wat Hom dien, en Hy red hulle’ (Psalm 34:8 NLV).
Jou engel waai nie net vir jou soos hy verbyvlieg nie; hy slaan sy tent op, vertoef en bly waaksaam. Jy kan in die skadu van sy vlerke rus – as dit nie jou angsvlakke verlaag nie, sal niks nie! Die feit is dat sommige van die rykste mense op aarde nie eers hierdie voordeel geniet nie! Ons is geseënd.
Sielskos: Lev 8-10; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 42:1-5; Spr 1:20-23
Psalm 91:11 NIV
In Scripture there are over three hundred references to angels, and they’re described in two words: many and mighty. But it took only one angel to shut the mouths of lions for Daniel and bring Peter out of prison the night before he was due to be executed. And do you remember Elisha’s servant? When an enemy army surrounded the city of Dothan, Elisha asked God to open his servant’s eyes: “And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17 KJV).
If God opened your eyes today, what would you see? Angels escorting your children to school? Protecting you from drunk drivers? Guiding the hand of the surgeon? Guarding you while you sleep? One Bible teacher says, “If you’re a believer, expect powerful angels to accompany you in your life’s experience.” Does everybody have an angel looking out for them? No, the Bible says, “All angels [are] ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14 NIV).
When you reject Jesus, you forfeit the ultimate security, but when you accept Him as Lord and Saviour, you get around-the-clock protection because “the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him” (Psalm 34:7 NIV). Note, your angel doesn’t just wave as he flies past; he pitches his tent, lingers, and keeps vigilance. You can rest secure beneath the shadow of his wings – if that doesn’t lower your anxiety level, nothing will! The fact is, some of the wealthiest people on the planet don’t have it that good! How blessed we are.
Soul food: Lev 8-10; Matt 3:11-17; Ps 42:1-5; Prov 1:20-23
2024-01-07
Spreuke 21:11 NLV
Kommunikasievaardighede is noodsaaklik om sukses en geluk in ‘n verhouding te vind, hetsy in jou persoonlike lewe of in jou beroep. Behalwe om feite te verkry, moet kommunikasie as ‘n manier dien om insig in die hart en gedagtes van die ander persoon te vind.
Goeie kommunikasie verg vertaling. Jy leer inderwaarheid die ander persoon se taal. Ons almal gebruik dieselfde woorde, maar ons het elkeen ‘n unieke taal as dit by die liefde kom. Wat jy bedoel wanneer jy sê: ‘Ek het iemand nodig om daar te wees vir my,’ mag dalk nie wees wat die ander persoon bedoel wanneer hy of sy sê: ‘Ek sal daar wees vir jou,’ nie. Jy moet hulle taal sonder voorafgaande aannames en verkeerde projeksies wat jou in die steek laat, leer. Sulke interpersoonlike geletterheid sal jou goed in die jare wat kom, te staan kom.
Ons almal het nodig om lief te hê en liefgehê te word, maar ons maak van verskillende maniere van kommunikasie gebruik om ons begeertes uit te druk. Moenie bang wees om uitdrukkings en definisies te vergelyk om seker te maak dat julle op dieselfde bladsy is nie. ‘n Gerespekteerde Bybelonderwyser stel dit as volg: ‘Dikwels sal ek in my eie gesprekke sê: ‘Kom ek vertel jou wat ek gehoor het sodat ek kan sien of dit is wat jy bedoel het.’ Ek is geskok oor hoeveel keer ek iets heeltemal anders hoor as wat bedoel word!’
Blywende geluk vind nie plaas deur dinge te besit nie; dit vind plaas deur goeie verhoudings te hê. Werk dus daaraan om jou kommunikasievaardighede te verbeter. Dis die belegging werd!
Sielskos: Eks 20:1-3; Deut 6:1-9; Mark 12:28-34; Op 2:1-7
Proverbs 21:11 NKJV
Whether in your personal life or your career, learning how to communicate with others is essential to success and happiness in a relationship. Apart from obtaining facts, communication should deliver a way to gain some understanding into the heart and mind of another person. And good communication calls for translation. Really, you’re learning that other person’s language. We all use the same words, but we have unique languages when it comes to love.
What you mean when you say, “I need someone to be here for me,” might not be what the other person means when they say, “I will be here for you.” You need to learn their language without prior assumptions and incorrect projections weighing you down. Such interpersonal literacy will serve you well for years to come. It will stop you from treating her as though she is simply you in a different shape, or imagining that he is just like your best girlfriend, etc.
We all need to love and be loved, but we use different means of communication to express our desires. Don’t be fearful of checking terms and comparing definitions to make sure you’re both singing from the same song sheet. A respected Bible teacher puts it like this: “Often in my own conversations, I will say, ‘Let me tell you what I heard so I can see if that is what you meant.’ I am shocked at how many times I hear something totally different from what is intended!”
Lasting happiness doesn’t come from owning things, it comes from having good relationships. So, work on improving your communication skills. It’s well worth the investment!
Soul food: Exo 20:1-3; Deut 6:1-9; Mark 12:28-34; Rev 2:1-7
