2024-09-23
Philemon 1:6 ERV
If you’re struggling with self-worth, the answer is knowing what you have and who you are “in Christ.” Paul writes, “I pray that… you understand every blessing we have in Christ.” Here are some practical steps you can take to increase your sense of confidence and self-worth:
(1) Don’t speak negatively about yourself. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and flaws, start acknowledging and verbalizing every good thing you “have in Christ.” Peter writes: “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him… he has given us great and precious promises. These… promises… enable you to share his divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT).
(2) Avoid comparing yourself to others. One day Peter pointed to John and asked, “Lord, what about him?” (John 21:21 NIV). Jesus corrected him by saying, “What is that to you? You must follow me” (v. 22 NIV). Instead of comparing yourself with others, work on being conformed to the character qualities of Christ.
(3) Let God determine your worth. As His redeemed child, God sees you clothed in the righteousness of Christ; therefore, you are always loved and accepted by Him (See 2 Corinthians 5:21).
(4) Keep your flaws in perspective. It’s okay to see where you need to improve, but make sure you appreciate your progress.
(5) Discover the true source of confidence. If you place your confidence in God, you can’t help but have a healthy attitude. So, do your best and leave the results to Him.
Soul food: Zech 5-8; Luke 23:1-12; Ps 39; Prov 24:26-28
2024-09-22
Exodus 13:18 NIV
The Bible says, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road” (vv. 17-18 NIV).
There is a lesson here for you. God knows where you are on your spiritual journey, and He is directing you accordingly, even when it seems like a roundabout way. “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23 NLT).
The shortest route from Egypt to the promised land was through enemy territory, and God knew His people were not ready for battle. “God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road.” Getting God’s people out of Egypt proved to be the easy part; getting Egypt out of God’s people proved to be the hard part. After forty generations of depending on Pharaoh, they needed to know God, learn His ways, and trust Him. So, He arranged their journey accordingly.
Are you having a wilderness experience at the moment? Be encouraged. The fulfillment of what God promised you may be taking longer than you thought, but it’s not time wasted. And God is not punishing you; He is training you for your destiny. What should you do? (1) Spend time with Him in prayer and His Word. (2) Lean less on yourself and more on God. (3) Draw on His grace and follow His guidance.
Soul food: 1 Kings 17:1-6; 1 Kings 18:16-39; 1 Kings 19:9-18; 2 Kings 2:1-12
Eksodus 13:18 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Toe die farao uiteindelik die volk laat gaan, het God hulle nie kortpad deur die Filistynse gebied laat trek na die land wat Hy vir hulle beloof het nie. Die Here het gesê: ‘As die volk nou met oorlog moet te doen kry, gaan hulle van plan verander en omvlieg terug Egipte toe.’ Daarom het God hulle eerder met die woestynpad… laat trek…’ (verse 17-18 NLV).
Daar is ‘n les hieruit te leer. God weet waar jy op jou geestelike reis is en Hy lei jou daarvolgens, selfs al lyk dit asof jy op ‘n ompad is. ‘Die Here bepaal die rigting van ‘n mens, en met sý lewe is Hy tevrede’ (Psalm 37:23 NLV).
Die kortste roete van Egipte tot by die Beloofde Land was deur vyandige grondgebied en God het geweet dat sy mense nie reg vir ‘n oorlog was nie. Om God se mense uit Egipte te kry was op die ou einde die maklike deel; om Egipte uit God se mense te kry was veel moeiliker. Nadat hulle veertig generasies lank van die farao afhanklik was, moes hulle God en sy maniere leer ken en leer om Hom te vertrou. Dus het Hy hulle reis gevolglik bepaal.
Is jy tans besig om ‘n woestynervaring te hê? Wees bemoedig. Die vervulling van dit wat God jou beloof het mag dalk langer neem as wat jy gedink het, maar dis nie tyd wat gemors word nie. God is ook nie besig om jou te straf nie; Hy is besig om jou vir jou roeping op te lei. Wat moet jy dus doen? 1) Bestee tyd saam met Hom in gebed en sy Woord. 2) Maak minder op jouself en meer op God staat. 3) Put krag uit sy genade en volg sy leiding.
Sielskos: 1 Kon 17:1-6; 1 Kon 18:16-39; 1 Kon 19:9-18; 2 Kon 2:1-12
2024-09-21
Genesis 12:1 NLV
Die twee dele van God se ‘gaan’ is gaan van en gaan na. Ur, Abram se tuiste, is beskou as díé plek om te wees. Al die handelsrykdom van rondom die Middellandse See moes deur Ur beweeg om by Mesopotamië uit te kom. Dit was ‘n plek van enorme rykdom, handel, opvoeding en tegnologie. Die eerste geskrewe regskode wat die beskawing begin het, was in Ur. Dit sou dus ‘n moeilike plek gewees het om te verlaat – veral as jy na Kanaän toe moes gaan. Kanaän was ongesofistikeerd, onverfynd en onderontwikkeld. Niemand wat genoeg geld gehad het om in Ur, die kern van beskawing te woon, sou na Kanaän getrek het nie.
Hier is egter die punt: Jy moet God met jou toekoms vertrou wanneer die pad wat Hy jou geroep het om te neem, nie soos die voor die hand liggende een lyk nie. As jy egter gewillig is om te gaan, sal jy ontdek dat God seëninge vir jou in gedagte het waarvan jy nie eers kon droom nie.
Hy het vir Abram gesê: ‘Ek sal jou die voorvader maak van ‘n groot nasie. Ek sal jou seën sodat jy geëerd sal wees, en vir ander tot ‘n seën sal wees. Ek sal dié seën wat jou seën en dié wat jou vervloek, sal Ek vervloek. Deur jou sal al die mense op die aarde geseën word’ (verse 2-3 NLV).
Die beloning wat God jou gee sal altyd groter wees as die opoffering wat Hy jou vra om te maak. Het God jou geroep om te gaan, maar jy wil eerder bly? Sê Hy vir jou om te bly, maar jy wil eerder gaan? As jy God gehoorsaam, sal jy nooit daaroor spyt wees nie. Dis ‘n waarborg!
Sielskos: Sag 1-4; Luk 22:63-71; Ps 3; Spr 24:23-25
Genesis 12:1 NKJV
The two parts to God’s “go” are going from and going to. Ur, Abram’s home, was considered the place to be. Setting out for ancient Mesopotamia, all the trading wealth from around the Mediterranean had to travel through Ur. It was a place of immense affluence, trade, education, and technology. One author writes, “The first written legal code that began civilization was there in Ur.” So, it would have been a hard place to leave – especially if you were going to Canaan. Canaan was unsophisticated, unrefined, and underdeveloped. No one who had enough money to live in Ur, the great center of civilization, would move to Canaan.
Here is the point: You must trust God with your future when the path He has called you to take doesn’t look like the obvious one. But if you’re willing to go, you will discover that God has blessings in mind you never dreamed of.
He told Abram, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (vv. 2-3 NKJV).
The reward God gives you will always be greater than any sacrifice He calls you to make. Has God called you to go, but you want to stay? Is He telling you to stay, but you want to go? Here is the score: If you obey God, you will never regret it. And that’s a guarantee!
Soul food: Zech 1-4; Luke 22:63-71; Ps 3; Prov 24:23-25
