2024-08-09
Luke 2:44 NIV
The Bible says: “Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival… After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers” (vv. 41-47 NIV). Note the words “Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company…”
It was a full day’s journey before they realized He wasn’t with them! Then it took them three days to find Him! There is a lesson here for you. It’s easier to lose that special sense of God’s presence than to get it back once you have lost it. It’s easy to wander off and do your own thing, unaware that you haven’t included the Lord in your day or taken time to consult Him about your plans.
The way to maintain a sense of God’s presence is to intentionally involve Him in all that you do. Jesus promised, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23 NIV).
Soul food: 1 Chr 6:1-7:19; Luke 12:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Prov 20:19-21
2024-08-08
Psalm 18:7 NLV
Het jy ‘n reeks nederlae en terugslae gehad? Is jy moedeloos omdat die aanvalle lank en vermoeiend was? Lees dan hierdie woorde van die Psalmdigter Dawid en staan daarop: ‘Ek het U baie lief Here; U is my sterkte… In my angs het ek tot die Here geroep, tot my God geroep om hulp. In sy heiligdom het Hy geluister; my hulpgeroep het Hy gehoor… Van bo af het Hy sy hand uitgestrek en my gegryp, uit die diepwaters het Hy my getrek… Hulle het aangeval toe ek swak was, maar die Here hou my staande. Hy lei my na veiligheid en red my omdat Hy my liefhet. Die Here beloon my opregtheid… God se pad is volmaak. Die Here se woorde is betroubaar. Hy beskerm dié wat by Hom skuil. Want wie anders as die Here is God? Wie anders as God is ‘n rots? God rus my toe met krag. Hy maak my pad veilig’ (verse 2, 7,17, 19-21, 31-33 NLV).
Jy het dit al vantevore gehoor en jy weet wat om te doen – bestee meer tyd in gebed met God en lees sy Woord! In plaas daarvan om jou eie krag te probeer gebruik, skakel by God in en laat sy krag deur jou vloei. Kyk wie op die troon van jou lewe is. As dit enigiemand anders as God is, insluitend jouself, is dit ‘n afgod wat onttroon moet word. Hoe lank sal hierdie stryd neem? God weet en Hy sal sorg dat hierdie aanval nie groter as die genade wat Hy voorsien, is nie. Hy sê vandag vir jou: ‘…My genade is genoeg vir jou, want my krag kom juis in swakheid tot volle verwesenliking…’ (2 Korintiërs 12:9 NLV).
Sielskos: 1 Kro 4:24-5:26; Luk 11:45-54; Ps 119:1-8; Spr 20:15-18
Psalm 18:6 TLB
Have you suffered a series of defeats and setbacks? Are you discouraged because the attacks have been long and tiring? Read these words from the psalmist David and stand on them: “Lord, how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me… In my distress I screamed to the Lord for his help. And he heard me from heaven; my cry reached his ears… He reached down… and drew me out of my great trials… On the day when I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady. He led me to a place of safety, for he delights in me. The Lord rewarded me for doing right… What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him. For who is God except our Lord? Who but he is as a rock? He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go” (vv. 1, 6, 16, 18-20, 30-32 TLB).
You have heard it before, and you know what to do – spend more time with God in prayer and reading His Word! Instead of striving in your own strength, plug into God and start flowing in His strength. Check and see who is on the throne of your life. If it’s anyone other than the Lord, including yourself, it’s an idol that must be dethroned. How long will this battle last? God knows, and He will never permit the attack you face to be greater than the great grace He provides. Today He is saying to you, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV).
Soul food: 1 Chr 4:24-5:26; Luke 11:45-54; Ps 119:1-8; Prov 20:15-18
2024-08-07
Ephesians 1:18-19 NIV
Like a proud parent, our heavenly Father loves it when we carry out impossible things by His power and for His glory. And when you live in raw reliance upon His power, you will do things that otherwise cannot be done. When you think about it, in and of ourselves, we are incapable of loving God. We cannot fabricate love for Him. We can just respond to His love for us. Knowing this sets us free.
Religion focuses on doing things for God. But true Christianity is all about receiving what Christ has done for us on the cross. What we do for God is a reflection and a response to what He has done for us. We all love miracles; we just dislike being in a circumstance where we need one. But that is a precondition. You will never experience the power of God until you’re in a situation that requires it.
If you want to be filled with His Spirit, step into a situation that requires His power. Pursue a God-ordained dream you cannot achieve in your own strength and wisdom. That’s why Paul writes: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know… his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (vv.18-20 NIV). Today, God wants you to experience “his incomparably great power” in your life.
Soul food: 1 Chr 3:1-4:23; Luke 11:29-44; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 20:11-14
Efesiërs 1:19 NLV
Soos ‘n trotse ouer, hou ons hemelse Vader daarvan wanneer ons onmoontlike dinge deur sy krag en tot sy eer doen. Wanneer jy in totale afhanklikheid van sy krag leef, sal jy dinge doen wat andersins nie gedoen kan word nie. Wanneer jy daaroor dink, vanuit onsself, is ons nie in staat om God lief te hê nie. Ons kan nie liefde vir Hom versin nie. Ons kan net op sy liefde vir ons reageer. Hierdie wete maak ons vry.
Godsdiens fokus daarop om dinge vir God te doen. Ware Christenskap is egter om dit wat Christus vir ons aan die kruis gedoen het, te ontvang. Wat ons vir God doen, is ‘n weerkaatsing en ‘n reaksie op dit wat Hy vir ons gedoen het. Ons almal hou van wonderwerke; ons hou net nie daarvan om in ‘n situasie te wees waarin ons een nodig het nie.
As jy met sy Gees gevul wil word, tree in ‘n situasie wat sy krag benodig. Streef ‘n Godgegewe droom wat jy nie in jou eie krag en wysheid kan vervul nie, na. Dis hoekom Paulus skryf: ‘Mag God julle harte so verlig dat julle sal insien watter wonderlike vooruitsig sy roeping inhou… Mag julle insien hoe enorm groot die krag is wat God gebruik in ons wat glo. Dieselfde magtige sterkte was ook aan die werk toe God Christus uit die dood opgewek het en Hom in die hemel aan sy regterhand laat sit het’ (verse 18-20 NLV). Vandag wil God hê dat jy sy enorme groot krag in jou lewe moet ervaar.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 3:1-4:23; Luk 11:29-44; Ps 78:65-72; Spr 20:11-14
