2025-01-24
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
Solomon says there is “a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace” (vv. 2-8 NKJV).
That’s a total of twenty-eight different “times.” But notice what Solomon does not give us – a time to quit! As long as you stay on the battlefield, God can turn your situation around and give you victory. If you’re worried today about your marriage, your children, your health, your finances, your job, and your future, here is a promise you can stand on: “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17 NKJV). God didn’t say that the weapon wouldn’t be formed against you, but He said it wouldn’t prosper. So don’t quit!
Soul food: Rom 12-14; Luke 6:1-16; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 3:9-10
2025-01-23
Psalm 105:19 NLV
Toe Josef se broers hom van sy kleurvolle jas, wat sy vader se guns verteenwoordig het, gestroop het, wat het hom standvastig gehou? Die belofte wat God aan hom gegee het. Toe hy in ‘n put gegooi is en in slawerny verkoop is, wat het hom standvastig gehou? Die belofte wat God aan hom gegee het. Toe die skinker met wie hy in die tronk bevriend geraak het, vergeet het om sy saak voor farao te bepleit, wat het hom standvastig gehou? Die belofte wat God aan hom gegee het.
‘Hy het iemand vooruitgestuur: Josef, wat verkoop is as slaaf. Sy voete het hulle in boeie gedwing, en sy nek in ‘n ysterhalsband gesit tot sy woorde waar geword het, en die Here se woorde bevestig is. Toe het Farao hom vrygelaat; die heerser oor volke het hom bevry. Hy het hom aangestel oor sy huis, met gesag oor al sy eiendomme’ (verse 17-21 NLV).
God se Woord sal die toets van tyd deurstaan, maar vir dit om te gebeur, moet jy gedurende jou tye van beproewing sterk in geloof staan. Jy sal deur die houding en aksies van jou familie getoets word. Jy sal deur die ontrouheid en verraad van vriende wat jy vertrou het, getoets word. Jy sal deur omstandighede van teëspoed en swaarkry wat die teenoorgestelde is van wat God aan jou belowe het, getoets word.
Jy sien, God is meer in jou karakter as in jou gemak geïnteresseerd. Hoekom toets mens iets? Om uit te vind of dit betroubaar is. Wanneer jy jouself betroubaar bewys, kan jy op die volgende belofte staan: ‘…Wees seker dit gaan gebeur…’ (Habakuk 2:3 NLV). Staan dus vandag op die belofte wat God vir jou gegee het.
Sielskos: Rom 9:17-11:36; Luk 5:27-39; Ps 100; Spr 3:7-8
Psalm 105:19 NKJV
When Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his coat of many colors which represented his father’s favour, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When he was thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery, what held him steady? The promise God gave him. When the butler he befriended in prison failed to speak on his behalf to Pharaoh, what held him steady? The promise God gave him.
“Joseph… was sold as a slave… He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let him go free. He made him lord of his house” (vv. 17-21 NKJV).
God’s Word will stand the test of time, but in order for it to come to pass, you must stand strong in faith during your times of testing. You will be tested by the attitudes and actions of your family. You will be tested by the unfaithfulness and betrayal of friends you trusted. You will be tested by living in circumstances of adversity and hardship that seem opposite to what God promised you.
You see, God is more interested in your character than He is in your comfort. The New Living Translation says, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character” (v. 19). Why test anything? To find out if it’s trustworthy. And when you prove trustworthy, you can stand on the promise, “It will certainly come to pass” (Habakkuk 2:3 NET). So, stand on the promise God gave you.
Soul food: Rom 9:17-11:36; Luke 5:27-39; Ps 100; Prov 3:7-8
2025-01-22
Handelinge 9:6 AFR53
Paulus se lewe is vir ewig verander toe hy die volgende vraag gevra het: ‘…Here, wat wil U hê moet ek doen?..’ Let op wat God hom geantwoord het: ‘Staan nou op en gaan die stad in. Dáár sal vir jou gesê word wat jou te doen staan’ (vers 6 NLV). God se wil word in stappe ontdek.
Stap een is bewustheid. Jy kan nie van rigting verander as jy onbewus is dat jy in die verkeerde rigting op pad is nie, neem dus tyd om te dink waarheen jy tans op pad is. As dit nie is waarheen jy moet gaan nie, skryf dan die stappe neer wat jy moet neem om te gaan waarheen jy wil gaan, om te bereik wat jy wil bereik. Maak hierdie stappe so konkreet as moontlik. Sal dit heeltemal die regte stappe wees? Miskien, miskien nie. Jy sal egter nie vir seker weet voordat jy vorentoe begin beweeg nie.
Stap twee is aksie. Jy kan nie wen as jy nie begin nie! Neem die inisiatief. Doen elke dag iets spesifieks wat jou een stap nader aan jou doelwit sal bring. Hou dan aan om dit elke dag te doen.
Stap drie is verantwoordbaarheid. Min dinge sal jou so inspireer om jou doelwitte deur te sien as verantwoordbaarheid. Een manier waarop jy dit kan bereik is om jou doelwitte te deel. Wanneer jy vir mense vertel wat jy beoog om te doen, sal jy gedruk voel om aan te hou werk daaraan. Gee daardie mense toestemming om jou oor jou vordering uit te vra. Dis soos om jouself ‘n sperdatum te gee sodat jy aanhou daaraan werk. Nog ‘n vorm van verantwoordbaarheid is om dinge neer te skryf.
Wil jy God se wil doen? Begin dit deur hierdie stappe te doen.
Sielskos: Rom 7:1-9:16; Luk 5:12-26; Ps 96; Spr 3:5-6
Acts 9:6 NKJV
Paul’s life changed forever when he asked the question, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Note how God answered his question: “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (v. 6 NKJV). Discovering God’s will takes place in steps.
Step one is awareness. You cannot change direction if you’re unaware you’re headed in the wrong direction, so spend some time thinking about where you’re presently headed. If it’s not where you need to go, then write down the steps you must take to go where you want to go, to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Make them as concrete as you possibly can. Will they absolutely be the right steps? Maybe they will, maybe they won’t. But you won’t know for sure until you start moving forward.
Step two is action. You can’t win if you don’t begin! Take initiative. Do something specific each day that will move you one step closer to your goal. Then, continue to do it every day.
Step three is accountability. Few things will inspire you to see your goals through like accountability. One way you can do that is to share your goals. When you tell people what you plan to do, you feel pressure to keep working at it. Give those people permission to ask you about your progress. It’s like giving yourself a deadline so that you keep moving toward it. Writing things down gives you another form of accountability.
Do you want to do God’s will? Then start with these steps.
Soul food: Rom 7:1-9:16; Luke 5:12-26; Ps 96; Prov 3:5-6
