2024-01-19
Colossians 4:2 NIV
The word “watchful” is a throwback to the Old Testament-era practice of sitting on a city wall and keeping watch. Watchmen were the first to see attacking armed forces or traveling merchants. They had the optimal vantage point. They saw what nobody else saw. They saw them sooner than others saw them. That is exactly what happens when we pray. We see what nobody else sees, and we see them sooner than others see them. Why? Because prayer provides us with a God’s-eye view; it enhances our awareness and gives us a sixth sense that allows us to perceive spiritual realities.
In their classic book Geeks and Geezers, business gurus Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas make an interesting observation about a common denominator among successful leaders in every field. Bennis and Thomas call them first-class noticers. “Being a first-class noticer allows you to recognize talent, identify opportunities, and avoid pitfalls. Leaders who succeed again and again are geniuses at grasping context. This is one of those characteristics, like taste, that is difficult to break down into its component parts. But the ability to weigh a welter of factors, some as subtle as how very different groups of people will interpret a gesture, is one of the hallmarks of a true leader.”
Prayer turns us into first-class noticers. It helps us to see what God wants us to notice. The more you pray, the more you notice. The less you pray, the less you notice. It’s as simple as that. Here is a Bible formula for success in any area of life: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Soul food: Dan 3-4; Matt 7:1-14; Ps 84; Prov 2:16-19
2024-01-18
1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV
The Bible says, “‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (vv. 9-10 NKJV). The Holy Spirit compensates for our sensory limits by enabling us to conceive things we cannot perceive with our five senses. Think of Him as a sixth sense. That sense must be cultivated, matured, and fine-tuned. And that can only happen when we spend time meditating in the Scriptures and fellowshipping with God in prayer. Until we are awakened by the Holy Spirit, we are unaware of our need for God, of the spiritual warfare that is being waged all around us, and of what God is doing all around us.
One night Jacob had a dream in which God appeared to him and said, “I am with you and will keep you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15 NKJV). When he awakened the next morning, Jacob said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it… This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” (Genesis 28:16-17 NKJV). Jacob went to sleep and woke up in the same place, but he woke up a different person. After his wake-up call, Jacob saw God everyplace he looked.
Today ask God for a spiritual epiphany. Pray, “Lord, show me what you want me to see, teach me what you want me to know, lead me step-by-step in the path of your perfect will.” That’s a prayer God will answer!
Soul food: Dan 1-2; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 81; Prov 2:11-15
1 Korintiërs 2:10 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘…Wat geen oog gesien het; wat geen oor gehoor het; wat in niemand se hart opgekom het nie – dit het God voorberei vir hulle wat Hom liefhet. Maar ons ken hierdie geheim omdat God dit deur sy Gees aan ons bekendgemaak het…’ (verse 9-10 NLV). Die Heilige Gees vergoed vir ons sintuiglike beperkings deur ons in staat te stel om dinge wat ons nie met ons vyf sintuie kan waarneem nie, bewus van kan word. Dink aan Hom as ‘n sesde sintuig. Hierdie sintuig moet ontwikkel en fyn ingestel word. Die enigste manier om dit te doen is deur tyd te bestee om op die Skrif te mediteer en met God in gebed deur te bring.
Totdat ons deur die Heilige Gees wakker gemaak word, is ons onbewus van ons behoefte aan God, van die geestelike oorlog wat rondom ons plaasvind en dit wat God rondom ons doen. Een nag het Jakob ‘n droom gehad waarin God verskyn en vir hom gesê het: ‘Ek sal by jou wees en jou beskerm waar jy ook al gaan…’ (Genesis 28:15 NLV). Toe hy die volgende oggend wakker word, het Jakob gesê: ‘…Sowaar! Die Here is op hierdie plek, en ek het dit nie geweet nie!.. Dis niks anders nie as die woning van God, die poort na die hemel!’ (verse 16-17 NLV).
Jakob het aan die slaap geraak en op dieselfde plek wakker geword, maar hy het as ‘n ander mens wakker geword. Jakob het daarna vir God in alles gesien. Vra vandag vir God vir ‘n geestelike openbaring. Bid die volgende: ‘Here, wys my wat U wil hê ek moet sien, leer my wat U wil hê ek moet weet, lei my stap-vir-stap op die pad van u perfekte wil.’ Dis ‘n gebed wat God sal antwoord!
Sielskos: Dan 1-2; Matt 6:19-34; Ps 81; Spr 2:11-15
2024-01-17
Psalm 34:11 CEV
Smithsonian magazine once featured a master stonecutter from England named Simon Verity. He restored thirteenth-century cathedrals in Great Britain. As the authors watched him work, they noticed something fascinating. “Verity listens closely to hear the song of the stone under his careful blows. A solid strike, and all is well. A higher-pitched ping, and it could mean trouble. A chunk of rock could break off. He constantly adjusts the angle of the chisel and the force of the mallet to the pitch, pausing frequently to run his hand over the freshly carved surface.” Verity understood the importance of his task. He knew one wrong move could be devastating, causing irreparable damage to his work of art. His success was rooted in his ability to read the signals his stones were sending.
Parent, you need to hone your skills at listening to your children, especially during times of discipline and guidance. It takes a great deal of patience and sensitivity to interpret your child’s responses. But if you listen carefully, they will tell you what they’re thinking and feeling. And God will help you to do it: “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season” (Isaiah 50:4 KJV). Each changing season in your child’s development raises different questions, calling for different answers. To have the right answer, you must be tuned in to the question they’re asking at the time. Not only will you be imparting to them the wisdom they need at that time, you will be teaching them how to do it with their own children.
Soul food: Phil 1-4; Matt 6:9-18; Ps 79; Prov 2:9-10
Psalm 34:12 NLV
Die Smithsonian tydskrif het eenkeer oor ‘n meester-klipkapper uit Engeland, genaamd Simon Verity, berig. Hy het dertiende-eeuse katedrale in Groot Brittanje gerestoureer. Terwyl die skrywers gekyk het hoe hy werk, het hulle iets fassinerend opgemerk. ‘Verity het fyn geluister om die lied van die klip onder sy versigtige houe te hoor. ‘n Stewige hou en alles is wel. ‘n Hoër geluid kan moeilikheid beteken. ‘n Stuk rots kan afbreek. Hy pas gedurig die hoek van die beitel en die krag van die hamer by die toonhoogte aan, terwyl hy gereeld stilstaan om sy hand oor die vars gebeitelde oppervlak te vee.’ Verity het die belangrikheid van sy taak verstaan. Hy het geweet dat een verkeerde beweging verwoestend kon wees en onherstelbare skade aan sy kunswerk kon veroorsaak. Sy sukses was gewortel in sy vermoë om die tekens wat die klip stuur, te lees.
Ouer, jy moet jou vermoë om na jou kinders te luister opskerp, veral gedurende tye van dissipline en leiding. Dit verg ‘n groot hoeveelheid geduld en sensitiwiteit om jou kind se reaksie te interpreteer. As jy egter versigtig luister, sal hulle vir jou sê wat hulle dink en wat hulle voel. God sal jou help om dit te doen: ‘Die oppermagtige Here het my geleer… Elke môre maak Hy my wakker en leer my luister soos dit ‘n leerling betaam’ (Jesaja 50:4 NLV).
Elke seisoen in jou kind se ontwikkeling bring nuwe vrae wat nuwe antwoorde verg, mee. Om die regte antwoord te kan gee moet jy by die vraag wat hulle op daardie oomblik vra, ingeskakel wees. Nie net sal jy vir hulle die wysheid gee wat hulle op daardie oomblik nodig het nie, jy sal hulle ook leer hoe om dit met hulle eie kinders te doen.
Sielskos: Fil 1-4; Matt 6:9-18; Ps 79; Spr 2:9-10
