2024-07-26
John 10:10 NAS
Why do 50 percent of marriages, including Christian marriages, end in divorce? Jesus answers that question: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (v. 10 NAS). God performed the first wedding ceremony between Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. And the honeymoon barely began before Satan entered the picture and attacked them, causing feelings of shame and separation from God. Later in Scripture, when Satan couldn’t defeat the patriarch Job through boils, bankruptcy, and bereavement, he attacked him through his wife. Your marriage is one of Satan’s prime targets, and you forget that at your peril. So how can you protect it?
(1) Know your mate’s expectations: Are they realistic? Were they unexpressed or unknown until conflict arose in the relationship? Disappointment often manifests itself as anger.
(2) Familiarize yourself with your spouse’s family history: In many ways, he or she is a product of the environment they grew up in. The truth is, we build with the tools and fight with the weapons our parents gave us. And during quarrels and heated conversations, memories of parental anger, childhood abuse, and family arguments can influence how we react later when we get married.
(3) Start praying for your mate: Better still – start praying with them! Jesus said: “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV). So protect your marriage – it’s one of Satan’s biggest targets.
Soul food: 1 Tim 1-3; Luke 9:28-36; Ps 1; Prov 19:9-11
Johannes 10:10 NLV
Hoekom eindig 50 persent van huwelike, insluitend Christelike huwelike, in die skeihof op? Jesus antwoord hierdie vraag: ‘Die dief kom vir niks anders nie as om te steel, dood te maak en te vernietig. Ek het gekom sodat hulle lewe kan hê, ja, om dit oorvloedig te hê’ (vers 10 NLV). God het die eerste huwelikseremonie tussen Adam en Eva in die tuin van Eden gehou. Die wittebrood het skaars begin voor Satan hulle aangeval het, wat gevoelens van skuld en skeiding van God veroorsaak het. Later in die Skrif, toe Satan nie die patriarg Job deur swere, bankrotskap en leed kon oorwin nie, het hy hom deur sy vrou aangeval. Jou huwelik is een van Satan se vernaamste teikens. Hoe kan jy dit dus beskerm?
1) Ken jou maat se verwagtinge. Is hulle realisties? Het hulle onverwags hul opwagting gemaak toe konflik in die huwelik te voorskyn gekom het? Teleurstelling manifesteer dikwels as woede.
2) Raak vertroud met jou eggenoot se familiegeskiedenis. In baie opsigte is hy of sy ‘n produk van die omgewing waarin hulle grootgeword het. Die waarheid is dat ons met die gereedskap bou en met die wapens veg wat ons ouers vir ons gegee het. Herinneringe van ouerlike woede, kindermishandeling en gesinsargumente kan beïnvloed hoe ons later tydens rusies en hewige gesprekke in die huwelik, reageer.
3) Begin vir jou maat bid. Beter nog – bid saam met hom/haar! Jesus het gesê: ‘…As twee van julle hier op aarde sou saamstem oor enigiets wat julle van God behoort te vra, sal my hemelse Vader dit vir julle doen. Waar twee of drie mense bymekaarkom omdat hulle my mense is, is Ek immers ook saam met hulle daar’ (Matteus 18:19-20 NLV). Beskerm dus jou huwelik – dis een van Satan se grootste teikens.
Sielskos: 1 Tim 1-3; Luk 9:28-36; Ps 1; Spr 19:9-11
2024-07-25
Matthew 14:29 NIV
The Bible says, “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him” (vv. 28-31 NIV).
When you know that you have prayed, prepared, and planned, you must step out and do it. It’s normal to experience fear when you attempt something you have never done before. Perhaps you have read the story of Peter’s attempt to walk on the water and judged him a failure. That’s not so. First, Peter gets an A for being willing to leave his safety zone and do what he had never done before. Second, he experienced the exhilaration of actually walking on water if for only a fleeting moment; no other disciple could boast of that. Third, he learned a valuable lesson: Focusing on Jesus rather than your circumstances is essential when attempting the impossible. Fourth, he recognized that his survival depended solely on Jesus. “He was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said” (vv. 30-31 NIV).
Jesus didn’t condemn Peter for failing, He just told him he needed to develop greater faith. God won’t let you drown in your mistakes. As long as you keep trusting Him, He will keep working with you until you succeed. He is your heavenly Father, and your success is His success!
Soul food: Hab 1-3; Luke 9:18-27; Ps 65; Prov 19:5-8
Matteus 14:29 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Petrus sê toe vir Hom: ‘Here, as dit regtig U is, laat my dan op die water na U toe kom.’ ‘Kom dan,’ het Jesus gesê. Petrus klim toe oor die kant van die skuit en begin op die water na Jesus toe loop. Maar toe hy die hoë golwe rondom hom sien, het hy paniekerig geword en begin sink. Hy skree toe vir Jesus: ‘Here, red my!’ Jesus het onmiddellik sy hand uitgesteek en hom gegryp. ‘Jou geloof is maar bitter klein,’ sê Hy vir hom…’ (verse 28-31 NLV).
Wanneer jy weet dat jy gebid, voorberei en beplan het, moet jy uittree en dit doen. Dis normaal om vrees te ervaar wanneer jy probeer om iets te doen wat jy nog nooit vantevore gedoen het nie. Miskien sien jy Petrus as ‘n mislukking omdat hy begin sink het. Dis egter nie so nie. Eerstens, kry Petrus ‘n A omdat hy gewillig was om sy gemaksone te verlaat en iets te doen wat hy nog nooit gedoen het nie. Tweedens, het hy die opwinding ervaar om vir ‘n kort oomblik op water te loop; geen ander dissipel kon daaroor spog nie. Derdens het hy ‘n waardevolle les geleer: Dis noodsaaklik om op Jesus eerder as jou omstandighede te fokus wanneer jy die onmoontlike aanpak. Vierdens het hy besef dat sy oorlewing alleenlik van Jesus afgehang het.
Jesus het nie vir Petrus veroordeel omdat hy misluk het nie, Hy het net vir hom gesê dat hy groter geloof moet ontwikkel. God sal jou nie in jou foute laat verdrink nie. Solank as wat jy aanhou om Hom te vertrou, sal Hy aanhou om met jou te werk totdat jy sukses behaal. Hy is jou hemelse Vader en jou sukses, is sy sukses!
Sielskos: Hab 1-3; Luk 9:18-27; Ps 65; Spr 19:5-8
2024-07-24
1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV
Let’s take another look at how to conquer the fear of failure. (1) Pursue your God-given purpose in life. To truly succeed at something, you must have a passion for it. And God will not only reveal to you His purpose, He will give you a passion to pursue it. Paul had the gift, education, and connections to pursue a number of different careers. But he wrote, “I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” What do you feel passionately about? Study it; it’s a clue to your destiny.
(2) Ask yourself these three questions: (a) “What’s the worst that can happen if I don’t succeed?” You will still have God, your talents, your family, and other opportunities. (b) “Has this ever been done before?” Even if not, so what? (c) “Is this fear a signal that I don’t have the proper people, processes, or plans in place to succeed at this time?” Then ask the really big question: “What are the benefits I will enjoy if I succeed?” Have a can-do attitude.
Look your fear in the face and boldly assert: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). Don’t let the familiarity of this Scripture cause you to recite it by rote. Say it out loud. Really absorb the words; get them into your spirit. Know that Christ strengthens you to succeed for the glory of God. Know that when He guides you, He provides you with all that you need to succeed in whatever He has called you to do.
Soul food: Nah 1-3; Luke 9:1-17; Ps 14; Prov 19:1-4
