2024-12-29
Hebrews 4:15 NLT
One of Satan’s most successful strategies for keeping us away from our quiet time with God is reminding us of our sins and shortcomings. That’s a lie; don’t believe it. In the Old Testament, the High Priest went into the Holiest of Holies to atone for the sins of the people. When he came back out, the people rejoiced, knowing that they were fully accepted by God.
With that in mind, read this Scripture: “[Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (vv. 14-16 NLT).
Another lie that Satan will tell you to keep you away from your quiet time is that the greatest saints in history spent hours each day praying and studying the Scriptures. That’s true, and one day you may become like them. Meanwhile, what should you do? Start small but begin! Pastor Greg Laurie sees spiritual hunger as the opposite of natural hunger: “When you’re hungry in the natural, you eat and are satisfied. But with spiritual hunger, it isn’t until you begin eating that you discover how hungry you really are!”
So when you fail to keep your quiet time with God, you shouldn’t feel guilty; you should feel hungry. When you “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8 KJV), you will want more and more time with Jesus – which is wonderful because He longs for time with you.
Soul food: Matt 6:5-15; Dan 6:10-23; Jam 5:13-18; 1 Thes 5:16-18
2024-12-28
Psalm 119:114 DB
Wat weerhou jou daarvan om gereelde stiltetyd met God te hou? Miskien voel die gedagte daaraan as nog ‘n ‘moet’ op die oneindige kontrolelys van jou lewe. Dus dink jy: ‘Miskien later, wanneer die lewe nie so besig is nie.’ Ons moet die mites en onpraktiese verwagtinge wat die vyand gebruik om te verhoed dat ons die vreugde ervaar om Jesus te ken en deur Hom geken te word, laat gaan.
Dawid het geskryf: ‘Een ding vra ek van die Here, en dit sal ek bly soek: om in die huis van die Here te bly al die dae van my lewe, om my te verbly in sy goedheid, en in sy tempel daaroor na te dink. Want as gevaar dreig, sal Hy my wegsteek. Hy sal my in sy woning verberg. Hy sal my op ‘n hoë rots laat staan. Dan sal ek my kop hoog oplig bokant my vyande wat my omring… U het vir my hart gesê: ‘Kom en dien My.’ Ek antwoord: ‘Here, ek kom U dien'” (Psalm 27:4-6, 8 NLV).
Toe Dawid hierdie woorde geskryf het, was daar nie ‘n tempel of ‘n ‘huis van die Here,’ nie. Wat het hy dus bedoel? Dat God so naby aan jou as ‘n gebed is; dat jy enige tyd en enige plek die Here kan soek, jou in Hom kan verbly, oor Hom kan nadink en met Hom kan praat. Wanneer jy stiltetyd hou, beteken dit dat jy jou van mense, druk en probleme kan onttrek en nuwe krag by die Here kan kry deur met Hom in jou hart en gedagtes te kommunikeer. Dit kan enige plek en enige tyd gebeur.
Sielskos: Job 32-35; Luk 2:34-40; Ps 97; Pred 11:1-3
Psalm 119:114 MSG
What’s stopping you from having a regular quiet time with God? Maybe the very thought feels filled with “shoulds” and “ought tos”; like another item to add to the unending checklist of your life. So, you think, “Maybe later, when life slows down.” We need to shed the myths and impractical expectations the Enemy uses to prevent us from experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus and being known by Him.
David wrote: “The one thing I ask of the Lord – the thing I seek most – is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me… My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming'” (Psalm 27:4-6, 8 NLT).
When David wrote those words, there was no temple or “house of the Lord.” So, what did he mean? That God is as close to you as a prayer; that you can seek the Lord, delight in the Lord, meditate on the Lord, and talk with the Lord anywhere and anytime. The words “you’re my place of quiet retreat” mean you can withdraw from people, pressures, and problems and draw fresh strength from the Lord by communing with Him in your heart and mind. It can happen anywhere and anytime.
Soul food: Job 32-35; Luke 2:34-40; Ps 97; Ecc 11:1-3
2024-12-27
Jeremia 29:11 NLV
Paulus was heeltemal toegewyd aan wat God hom geroep het om te doen. Is jy? Ons is gewoonlik ons eie grootste vyande wanneer dit by struikelblokke tot sukses kom. Dit sal jou iets kos om die nodige stappe te neem om ‘n Godgegewe droom te vervul. Jy sal hard moet werk. Jy sal opofferings moet maak. Jy sal moet aanhou leer, groei en verander. Is jy gewillig om dit te doen? Die meeste mense is nie.
Vra mense wanneer hulle dit wat hulle wil doen gaan doen, en meeste sal antwoord dat hulle hoop om dit ‘eendag’ te doen. Hoekom nie nou nie? Omdat jy nie gereed is nie? Miskien is jy nie. Maar as jy wag totdat jy gereed is, mag jy dit dalk nooit doen nie. Jy word gereed deur te begin.
As jy gewillig is om te begin, is daar ‘n paar dinge waarop jy kan staatmaak: Eerstens, sal dit anders wees as wat jy gedink het. Tweedens, sal dit moeiliker wees as wat jy gedink het. Derdens, sal dit beter wees as wat jy gedink het.
Mark Twain het gesê dat die twee grootste dae in ‘n mens se lewe is die dag waarop mens gebore word, en die dag wanneer jy ontdek hoekom jy gebore is. As jy wil ontdek hoekom jy gebore is, moet jy tyd met God bestee. Sy Woord sê: “‘Ek weet wat Ek vir julle beplan het,’ sê die Here. ‘Ek beplan voorspoed vir julle, nie teëspoed nie. Ek wil hê dat julle hoop vir die toekoms moet hê. Julle sal na My roep en kom bid. Ek sal na julle luister. As julle heelhartig na My soek, sal julle My vind'” (verse 11-13 NLV).
Sielskos: Job 29-31; Luk 2:21-33; Ps 117; Pred 10:15-19
Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Paul was totally invested in what God had called him to do. Are you? When it comes to barriers to success, we are usually our own worst enemies. Taking the steps necessary to fulfill a God-given dream will cost you. You will have to work hard. You will have to make sacrifices. You will have to keep learning, growing, and changing. Are you willing to do that? Most people aren’t.
Ask people when they will do what they want to do, and most will answer that they hope to do it “someday.” Why not now? Because you’re not ready? Perhaps you’re not. But if you wait until you are, maybe you will never do it. You only get ready by starting.
And if you’re willing to start, here are some things you can count on: First, it will be different from what you imagined. Second, it will be more difficult than you imagined. Third, it will be better than you imagined.
Mark Twain said that the two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they were born and the day they discover why they were born. If you want to discover why you were born, spend time with God. His Word says, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me'” (vv. 11-13 NLT).
Soul food: Job 29-31; Luke 2:21-33; Ps 117; Ecc 10:15-19
