2025-06-23
John 15:11 NKJV
To keep from burning out, do this:
(1) Join a support group. Ask yourself, who fills the role of Paul to your Timothy? Who teaches you to pray like Jesus and John the Baptist taught their disciples? With whom can you share your struggles? The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron… a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17 NLT). Ministry peers understand your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and can suggest new, refreshing spiritual practices.
(2) Use the middle two letters of the alphabet – NO – without apology. Know your gifts and your limitations. Face your fears; don’t avoid them by burying them and pretending they don’t exist. And above all, try to avoid falling into a state of helplessness. Take time to develop beneficial coping strategies. Don’t imagine that ordinary events are catastrophes. “They’re out to get me” is a sure sign of burnout! And don’t adhere to a certain viewpoint just because you always have. Like outdated clothes, it can become ill-fitting and absurd.
(3) Realize it’s not wrong to have fun. Your body won’t allow you to laugh and develop an ulcer at the same time – and that’s a good thing! Jesus said, “These things I have spoken… that My joy may remain in you, and… your joy may be full.” He also said that unless you “become as little children, ye shall not enter… the kingdom” (Matthew 18:3 KJV). Kids don’t try to run the world single-handedly or obsess about the work that’s piling up; they live in the moment.
The only advantage to living with stress is you get to meet Jesus earlier – but given more time, your reward may have been even greater!
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Matt 1; Ps 59:1-8; Prov 14:21-22
2025-06-22
1 Timoteus 1:12 NLV
Het jy geweet dat mense in beroepe wat ander mense help ‘n hoër koers van dwelmmisbruik, alkoholisme en selfdood as ander beroepe ervaar? ‘n Groot bydraende faktor daartoe is die feit dat hulle net die probleme en negatiewe kant van mense se lewens hoor en sien. Om dus effektief te bly, moet jy leer om die volgende te doen:
(1) Kweek nuwe dissiplines. Maak die deur toe, laat jou telefoonoproepe na stempos gaan en ontspan. Moet bowenal nie verbaas wees wanneer probleme opduik nie. Jesus het gesê ons sal swaarkry beleef (sien Johannes 16:33). Die skrywer M. Scott Peck sê wanneer jy verwag dat die lewe moeilik gaan wees, blyk dit gewoonlik minder moeilik te wees.
(2) Neem gereeld tyd af. Doen iets anders op jou afdae. Jou Skepper het nooit bedoel dat jy meer ure moet insit as wat Hy het nie! Spurgeon het gesê: ‘Rus is so nodig vir die gees soos slaap vir die liggaam. As ons nie rus nie, breek ons af.’ Jesus het gesê: ‘…Kom julle nou self eenkant toe na ‘n stil plek en skep ‘n bietjie asem’ (Markus 6:31 NLV).
(3) Oefen en kry genoeg slaap. Stap, swem en haal diep asem. Dis goed vir jou! Dr Arch Hart sê: ‘Adrenale opwekking verminder ons behoefte aan slaap, maar dit is ‘n lokval en ons betaal uiteindelik die boete. Die meeste volwassenes benodig 8-9 uur se slaap per nag.’
(4) Leer om te ontspan. Om te ontspan is die teenoorgestelde van die veg-of-vlug reaksie. Die Bybel sê: ‘…’n getroue boodskapper is gesondheid’ (Spreuke 13:17 KAB23). So min as twintig minute ‘n dag kan die skadelike effek van ‘…ons vrees vir vandag of ons kommer oor môre…’ (Romeine 8:38 NLV), teëwerk.
Sielskos: Eks 20:17; Ps 10; Jak 4:1-3
1 Timothy 1:12 AMPC
Did you know that people in the helping professions experience a higher rate of drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide than other professions? A major contributing factor is they only hear and see the troubles and negative side of people’s lives. So in order to stay effective, you must learn to do these:
(1) Cultivate new disciplines. Shut the door, let your phone calls go to voicemail, and relax. Above all don’t be surprised when troubles come. Jesus said they would (See John 16:33). Author M. Scott Peck says when you anticipate that life will be hard, it usually turns out to be less so.
(2) Take time off regularly. And on your days off, do something different. Remember, your Creator never intended you to put in more hours than He did! Spurgeon said, “Repose is as needful to the mind as sleep to the body… If we do not rest, we shall break down. Jesus said, “Come… apart… and rest a while” (Mark 6:31 KJV) because people who don’t “come… apart” end up coming apart!
(3) Exercise and get enough sleep. Walk, swim, and breathe deeply. It’s good for you! Dr. Arch Hart says, “Adrenal arousal reduces our need for sleep – but this is a trap; we ultimately pay the penalty. Most adults need 8-9 hours a night.”
(4) Learn to relax. The relaxation response is the reverse of the fight-or-flight response. The Bible says, “A faithful ambassador is health” (Proverbs 13:17 KJV), and as little as twenty minutes a day without the tyranny of “things present, [and] things to come” (Romans 8:38 KJV) can counteract the damaging effect of stress.
Soul food: Exo 20:17; Ps 10; Jam 4:1-3
2025-06-21
Romans 4:22-24 NKJV
Picture a transfer of funds from one account to another. Banks do it every day. Now imagine yourself destitute and unable to pay your debts. Then in an astounding act of grace, someone assumes all your debts and then transfers to your account such abundance that you never have to work or worry for the rest of your life. That’s what happened at the cross when God imputed to Jesus all your sins from the cradle to the grave and imputed all His righteousness to you.
Mind-blowing, isn’t it? Would you say, “No thanks, I believe in paying my own way”? Would you say, “I can’t allow you to do everything while I do nothing, so I’ll work for the rest of my life to prove myself worthy of your love and grace”? Salvation is like health food that’s labelled “no man-made additives.” Understand this: The righteousness required for getting into heaven is not about behaving the right way, but believing the right way.
You say, “But I feel such guilt when I sin.” You’re supposed to! Your new nature is reacting to sin just as your body does to food poisoning. Your boundaries have been violated and your regenerate spirit is saying that you can’t indulge in that anymore; it’s not who you are!
Why did God arrange the plan of salvation in this way? Because any righteousness we could achieve falls far short of His standards. He actually calls it “filthy rags.” Understand this: Your rewards in heaven are based upon your behaviour, but your getting into heaven is based on trusting in Christ alone.
Soul food: Jer 14-17; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 21; Prov 14:17-20
Romeine 4:24 AFR53
Stel ‘n oordrag van fondse van een rekening na ‘n ander voor. Banke doen dit elke dag. Stel jou nou voor dat jy bankrot is en nie in staat is om jou skuld te betaal nie. Dan, in ‘n verstommende daad van genade, betaal iemand jou skuld af en betaal soveel geld in jou rekening oor dat jy vir die res van jou lewe nooit weer hoef te werk of bekommerd te wees nie. Dis wat by die kruis gebeur het toe God al jou sondes, van die wieg af tot by die graf, aan Jesus toegereken het en al sy geregtigheid aan jou toegereken het.
Dis verstommend, nie waar nie? Sal jy sê: ‘Nee dankie, ek glo daarin om op my eie manier te betaal’? Sou jy sê: ‘Ek kan U nie toelaat om alles te doen terwyl ek niks doen nie, so ek sal vir die res van my lewe werk om te bewys dat ek U liefde en genade waardig is’? Die geregtigheid wat nodig is om in die hemel te kom, gaan nie daaroor om op die regte manier op te tree nie, maar om op die regte manier te glo.
Jy sê: ‘Maar ek voel so skuldig wanneer ek sondig.’ Jy is veronderstel om so te voel! Jou nuwe natuur reageer op sonde net soos jou liggaam op voedselvergiftiging reageer. Jou grense is oortree en jou wedergebore gees sê dat jy dit nie meer kan doen nie; dit is nie wie jy is nie!
Waarom het God die verlossingsplan so gereël? Want enige geregtigheid wat ons kan bereik, skiet ver aan sy standaarde tekort. Jou belonings in die hemel is op jou optrede gebaseer, maar om in die hemel te kom is alleenlik op vertroue in Christus gebaseer.
Sielskos: Jer 14-17; Mark 16:1-20; Ps 21; Spr 14:17-20
