2024-02-07
Proverbs 6:2 NKJV
A noted psychiatrist remarked that two of the saddest words in human vocabulary are “if only.” He believes people who get trapped by their failures spend their lives saying, “If only I had tried harder… if only I had been kinder to my kids… if only I had been more truthful… if only… ” The way to change that mindset is to change your vocabulary by substituting the words “next time.” “Next time I will try harder… next time I will be kinder to my kids… next time I will be more truthful.”
The Bible says, “You are snared by the words of your mouth.” And a snare is a trap. Have you ever seen an animal caught in a trap, struggling to be free? Your words can do that. And they don’t just affect you, they affect others. Maybe you think we’re making too big a deal out of this.
If you do – read on: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). Jesus said, “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:23 NKJV).
What do these Scriptures have in common? They confirm that our words breathe life (or death) into everything! So instead of defeatist talk, speak victory over your situation. Instead of speaking failure, start speaking success. When you do, God will honour the fruit of your lips.
Soul food: Num 25-26; Matt 12:1-14; Ps 120; Prov 3:33-35
2024-02-06
Hebreërs 11:34 NLV
Die skrywer van Hebreërs het gesê: ‘…Dit sal veels te lank neem om nog te vertel van Gideon, Barak, Simson, Jefta, Dawid, Samuel en die profete… Hulle het krag in hulle swakheid ontvang, was magtig in die oorlog en het vreemde leërs op die vlug laat slaan’ (verse 32-34 NLV). Sommige van die grootste suksesverhale in die Skrif is oor mense wat met swakhede en karakterfoute gesukkel het. Hulle was vasgevang in oënskynlike mislukking en nederlaag, maar deur God se genade het hulle die struikelblokke teen hulle oorkom. Die oorheersende tema van die Bybel is opstanding – om weer op te staan! Hier is die vraag: As jy nie mislukking kan vermy nie en jy nie veronderstel is om dit te aanvaar nie, hoe moet jy dit dan hanteer?
Eerstens, verander jou houding. Die strokiesprentkarakter Homer Simpson het die houding van baie van ons opgesom toe hy gesê het: ‘Kinders, julle het jul bes probeer en liederlik gefaal. Die les is om nooit te probeer nie.’ Nodeloos om te sê is Homer ‘n klassieke onderpresteerder! Hy skerts in ‘n ander episode: ‘Om te probeer is die eerste stap tot mislukking.’ Homer probeer nooit, dus bly hy soos baie mense vasgevang waar hy is.
Die mense wat sukses in die lewe behaal het geloof en volharding. Hulle weier om tou op te gooi; hulle het besluit dat hulle nie gaan toelaat dat mislukking hulle oorwin nie. Let die woorde: ‘…Hulle het krag in hulle swakheid ontvang…,’ op. Jy mag dalk swak begin, maar deur God se genade kan jy sterk word. Jy kan uit die as van mislukkings opstaan, jou doelwitte bereik en die lewe leef wat God vir jou bedoel het. Hoe weet ons dit? Want God se Woord sê so!
Sielskos: Num 22-24; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 108; Spr 3:31-32
Hebrews 11:34 NIV
The writer of Hebrews said: “I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets… whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 32-34 NIV). Some of the biggest success stories in Scripture are about people who struggled with weaknesses and character flaws. They were mired in seeming failure and defeat, yet by God’s grace they overcame the obstacles and odds stacked against them. The overriding theme of the Bible is resurrection – getting back up again!
Here is the question: If you can’t avoid failure, and you’re not supposed to give in to it or let it color your thinking, how do you handle it? First, change your attitude. Cartoon character Homer Simpson summarized the attitude of many of us when he said, “Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is – never try.” Suffice it to say, Homer is a classic underachiever! In another episode, he quips, “Trying is the first step toward failure.” The bottom line is, Homer never tries, so like many real people, he stays stuck.
The people who succeed in life have faith and tenacity. They refuse to quit; they have decided not to let failure defeat them. Note the words “whose weakness was turned to strength.” You may start out weak, but by God’s grace, you can become strong. You can rise from the ashes of failure, achieve your goals, and live the life God intends. How do we know? Because God’s Word says so!
Soul food: Num 22-24; Matt 11:20-30; Ps 108; Prov 3:31-32
2024-02-05
Spreuke 18:24 NLV
Cicero het gesê: ‘Vriendskap verbeter geluk en verlig ellende deur die verdubbeling van ons vreugde en die verdeling van ons hartseer.’ Die feit is dat dit onmoontlik is om meer as ‘n paar nabye vriende te hê, omdat ware vriendskap tyd, aandag en toewyding verg. ‘Vriende kan mekaar verwoes. Daar kan ook ‘n vriend wees vir wie jy liewer is as vir jou eie broer’ (vers 24 NLV). Die kenmerke van ware vriendskap sluit die volgende in:
1) Vertroue. Ralph Waldo Emerson het geskryf: ‘Die heerlikheid van vriendskap is nie in die uitgestrekte hand, die vriendelike glimlag of die vreugde van geselskap nie; dit is die geestelike inspirasie wat ‘n mens kry wanneer hy ontdek dat iemand anders in hom glo en bereid is om hom te vertrou.’
2) Gee en ontvang. Soms sal een persoon die primêre gewer wees en soms die ander. Ware vriendskap is egter altyd tweesydig.
3) Gedeelde lewens. Helen Keller het gesê: ‘My vriende het die storie van my lewe gemaak. Op ‘n duisend maniere het hulle my beperkings in pragtige voorregte verander en my in staat gestel om rustig en gelukkig in die skaduwee wat deur my ontbering gegooi word, te loop.’
4) Wedersydse genot. In ‘n ware vriendskap bestee jy tyd saam, net vir die vreugde daarvan. Wat julle doen is nie noodwendig van belang nie. Ongelukkig laat die besige lewe ons vergeet watter vreugde dit kan wees.
5) Respek vir mekaar. Hoe bou mens respek? Deur nie toe te laat dat struikelblokke of omstandighede belangriker as die verhouding word nie. Wanneer julle onder druk verkeer, hou julle aan om mekaar met geduld en vriendelikheid te behandel. Wanneer die verhouding sukkel, werk daaraan om dit te behou.
Sielskos: Num 19-21;Matt 11:10-19; Ps 111; Spr 3:29-30
Proverbs 18:24 NIV
Cicero said, “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” The fact is, it’s impossible to have more than a few close friends, because true friendship takes time, attention, and commitment. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (v. 24 NIV).
The hallmarks of real friendship include these: (1) Trust. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The glory of friendship is not in the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him.”
(2) Giving and receiving. Sometimes one person will be the primary giver, and sometimes the other. But true friendships are always two-sided.
(3) Sharing your lives. Helen Keller said: “My friends have made the story of my life. In a thousand ways they have turned my limitations into beautiful privileges and enabled me to walk serene and happy in the shadow cast by my deprivation.”
(4) Mutual enjoyment. In a true friendship, you spend time together just for the joy of it. What you do isn’t necessarily of significance. Unfortunately, the busyness of life makes us forget what a joy this can be.
(5) Respecting one another. How do you build respect? By not letting obstacles or circumstances become more important than the relationship. When the pressure is on, you continue to treat one another with patience and kindness. And when the relationship is struggling, you work to preserve it.
Soul food: Num 19-21; Matt 11:10-19; Ps 111; Prov 3:29-30
