2024-09-18
Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
Maybe you’re facing graduation. More frequently than ever before, people are switching to different jobs and companies and changing their whole careers. In 2014, career specialist Andy Chan observed that young adults will face, on average, twenty-nine jobs over their lifetime. In 2013 Oxford researchers predicted that about half the jobs will be replaced with technology by 2033. So, how do you adjust to a constantly changing environment?
Perhaps you’re in a rut. Your life is safe but unrewarding. You want to do more or be more. Perhaps you’re facing an empty nest. You abruptly find independence and time and options that have been unavailable to you for a few decades. What’s the best way to use them? Possibly you’re retiring. What might God have next for you? Maybe you have traveled abroad and seen a great need, or have investigated a problem and want to make a difference. What should you do next? Perhaps you’re considering marriage. How can you tell if this person is the right one? What if you make a mistake? Or maybe you have been agonizing over a lost opportunity in your past. Will God give you another one?
In answering these questions, you must keep two things in mind. First and foremost, God is more interested in what you become than where you go or what you do for a living. His goal for your life is “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 KJV). Second, you will save yourself time, trouble, and possible heartache by consulting God before making any decision. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).
Soul food: Mic 1-4; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 24:10-14
2024-09-17
Genesis 12:1 NLT
One author pens: “Would you want the kind of kids you have to tell their whole lives, ‘Wear these clothes. Take these classes. Go to that school. Apply for this job. Marry that person. Purchase this house,’ and you always have them do exactly what you tell them as long as they live? No… Why? Because your main goal is… that they become people of great character and judgment. The only way for them to do that is to make lots and lots of decisions. Of course, that means they’ll make a lot of wrong decisions. That becomes a primary way they learn.
Very often God’s will for you will be “I want you to decide,” because decision-making is an indispensable part of character formation. God is primarily in the character-forming business, not the circumstance-shaping business.” Abraham didn’t say, “Lord, exactly where are you taking me? How is the economy there? What are the job market and the housing market like? Do they have good medical facilities and schools?” The Bible says, “By faith… Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8 NLT). Abraham decided to follow God, and trust God with everything else. And he came out on top!
God does not promise to give us details but to give us wisdom. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally” (James 1:5 KJV). Why does God do it this way? Because decision-making is character building.
Soul food: Neh 11-13; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 78:56-64; Prov 24:5-9
Genesis 12:1 NLV
Een skrywer sê: ‘Wil jy die tipe kinders hê vir wie jy hulle hele lewe lank moet sê: ‘Trek hierdie klere aan. Neem hierdie klasse. Gaan na daardie skool toe. Doen vir hierdie werk aansoek. Trou met daardie persoon. Koop hierdie huis.’ Kinders wat altyd moet doen wat jy vir hulle sê solank as wat hulle lewe? Nie? Hoekom nie? Omdat jou hoofdoelwit is dat hulle mense van goeie karakter en oordeel moet word. Die enigste manier vir hulle om so te word is deur baie besluite te neem. Natuurlik beteken dit dat hulle ook baie verkeerde besluite sal neem. Dit is egter die beste manier hoe hulle sal leer.
Dikwels sal God se wil vir jou wees: ‘Ek wil hê jy moet besluit,’ omdat besluitneming ‘n onontbeerlike deel van karaktervorming is.’ Abraham het nie gesê: ‘Here, presies waarheen neem U my? Hoe lyk die ekonomie daar? Hoe is die werksgeleenthede en huismark? Is daar goeie mediese fasiliteite en skole?’ nie. Die Bybel sê: ‘Omdat hy geglo het, het Abraham, toe God hom geroep het, gehoorsaam weggetrek na die land wat God vir hom as ‘n erfdeel sou gee. Hy het weggetrek sonder om te weet waar hy sou beland’ (Hebreërs 11:8 NLV). Abraham het besluit om God te volg en God met alles anders te vertrou. Hy het gevolglik bo uitgekom!
God beloof nie om ons detail te gee nie, maar wel wysheid. ‘Vra vir God as jy nie kan agterkom wat Hy wil hê jy moet doen nie. Hy sal jou eenvoudig daardie wysheid gee…’ (Jakobus 1:5 NLV). Hoekom doen God dit so? Omdat besluitneming karakter bou.
Sielskos: Neh 11-13; Luk 22:14-23; Ps 78:56-64; Spr 24:5-9
2024-09-16
Handelinge 27:25 NLV
Derdens, word deur God se beloftes geanker. Die derde anker wat ons selfvertroue gee word in Paulus se woorde gevind: ‘…Verseker vertrou ek op God dat alles presies só sal gebeur soos Hy vir my gesê het.’ As jy al ooit deur ‘n ontroue eggenoot verraai is, mag jy dalk jou vertroue in die huwelik verloor het. As jy ‘n slagoffer van die subprima-verbandkrisis was, het jy dalk jou huis en jou vertroue in banke verloor. As jy vir iemand gestem het wat jy glo integriteit het, net om te ontdek dat hulle in die sak van spesiale belangegroepe is, het jy dalk jou vertroue in die regering verloor.
Moet egter nooit ooit vertroue in God se beloftes verloor nie! Kyk vandag jou storm reguit in die oë en sing die woorde van hierdie beroemde lofsang deur Russell Carter: ‘Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling winds of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God, I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.’ Jy mag dalk jou skeepsvrag verloor, jy mag dalk jou skip verloor, jy mag dalk selfs oorboord val – maar jy gaan as gevolg van God se beloftes aan jou seëvier.
As jy jouself vandag in ‘n krisis bevind, is hier ‘n paar Bybelse beloftes waarop jy kan staan: ‘Die ewige God is jou skuilplek en onder jou is sy ewige arms…’ (Deuteronomium 33:27 NLV). ‘U redding is vir my ‘n skild. U regterhand ondersteun my; u hulp maak my sterk’ (Psalm 18:36 NLV). ‘Tot julle stokoud is, sal Ek julle dra. Ek het julle gemaak en sal vir julle sorg. Ek sal julle ondersteun en julle red’ (Jesaja 46:4 NLV).
Sielskos: Neh 8-10; Luk 22:1-13; Ps 78:40-55; Spr 24:1-4
Acts 27:25 NIV
Third, anchored by God’s promises. The third anchor that gives us confidence in a crisis is found in Paul’s words, “I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” If you have ever been betrayed by an unfaithful spouse, you may have lost trust in marriage. If you were a victim of the subprime mortgage crisis, you may have lost your home and your trust in bankers. If you voted for someone you believed had integrity only to discover they were in the pocket of special interest groups, you may have lost your trust in government.
But never ever lose trust in the promises of God! Look in the face of your storm today and sing the words of this famous hymn by Russell Carter: “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, when the howling winds of doubt and fear assail, by the living Word of God, I shall prevail, standing on the promises of God.” You may lose your cargo, you may lose your ship, you may even go overboard – but you’re going to prevail because of God’s promises to you. As the old saying goes, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it!”
If you’re in crisis today, here are some Bible promises you can stand on: “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV). “You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great” (Psalm 18:35 NLT). “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you” (Isaiah 46:4 NIV).
Soul food: Neh 8-10; Luke 22:1-13; Ps 78:40-55; Prov 24:1-4
