2025-09-05
1 John 3:21 NKJV
When you willfully do wrong, you experience anxiety, stress, and insecurity. “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked'” (Isaiah 48:22 NKJV). Whenever you choose a plan of action incompatible with what you believe to be right, you forfeit your peace of mind. For instance, a person may accept a job or duty that forces them to do something against their spiritual convictions, something that violates their conscience. Numerous women have faced the predicament of compromising their values so they can get a promotion or attain other advantages. To them at the time, it looked like their only option. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25 KJV).
This is when a strong spiritual foundation is essential. It takes faith and bravery to let your convictions direct your behaviour and your choices. The truth is that God is ultimately responsible for your advancement and promotion. His Word says, “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV).
Don’t think you can do right in your own power. Sometimes the temptation to manipulate or lie so that you can advance your career is just too much to withstand. That’s when you need to draw on God’s strength. David said, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NKJV). Prayer: “Father, please keep me from falling into temptation, and deliver me from the Evil One. Help me to do what’s right.”
Soul food: Eze 37:1-40:9; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 78:9-16; Pro 20:11-14
1 Johannes 3:21 NLV
Wanneer jy wetend iets verkeerds doen, ervaar jy angs, stres en onsekerheid. “‘Vir bose mense,’ sê die Here, ‘is daar geen vrede nie'” (Jesaja 48:22 NLV). Wanneer jy ‘n plan van aksie kies wat onversoenbaar is met dit wat jy glo reg is, gee jy jou vrede prys. ‘n Persoon kan byvoorbeeld ‘n werk of plig aanvaar wat hulle dwing om iets teen hul geestelike oortuigings te doen, iets wat hul gewete skend. Talle mense was al in die situasie waar hulle waardes gekompromitteer word, sodat hulle bevordering kan kry of ander voordele kan behaal. Vir hulle het dit destyds na hul enigste opsie gelyk. ‘Dit kan lyk of ‘n mens reg lewe. Agterna gesien is dit die pad van die dood’ (Spreuke 16:25 NLV).
Dis wanneer ‘n sterk geestelike fondament nodig is. Dit verg geloof en moed om jou oortuigings toe te laat om jou gedrag en jou keuses te rig. Die waarheid is dat God op die ou einde vir jou bevordering verantwoordelik is. Sy Woord sê: ‘Want uit die ooste of weste of selfs uit die woestyn, kom daar geen verheffing nie. Maar God is die regter wat verneder of verhef’ (Psalm 75:7-8 NLV).
Moenie dink dat jy uit jou eie krag reg kan optree nie. Soms is die versoeking om te manipuleer of te jok sodat jy jou loopbaan kan bevorder, net te veel om te weerstaan. Dis dan wanneer jy God se krag nodig het. Dawid het gesê: ‘…Die Here is my lewenstoevlug. Vir wie sal ek dan bang wees?’ (Psalm 27:1 NLV). Bid die volgende: ‘Vader, bewaar my asseblief dat ek nie in versoeking kom nie en verlos my van die Bose. Help my om te doen wat reg is.’
Sielskos: Eseg 37:1-40:9; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 20:11-14
2025-09-04
Prediker 9:9 ABA
Die volgende definisie van liefde en die huwelik is ‘n beproefde formule wat moeilik sal wees om op te verbeter: ‘Liefde is vriendskap wat vlam gevat het. Dit is stille begrip, wedersydse vertroue en vergifnis. Dis lojaliteit deur goeie en slegte tye. Dit is tevrede met minder as volmaaktheid en maak voorsiening vir menslike swakheid. Liefde is tevrede met die hede, hoop vir die toekoms en weier om oor die verlede te tob. Dit is dag na dag se irritasies, probleme, kompromieë, klein teleurstellings, groot oorwinnings en saamwerk na gemeenskaplike doelwitte. As jy liefde in jou lewe het, kan dit vergoed vir baie dinge wat jy kort.’
Die Bybel sê: ‘Jy moet die lewe geniet saam met die vrou vir wie jy lief is. Jy moet elke dag van jou lewe geniet… Dit is God wat vir jou elke dag gee… want dít is wat jy kry terwyl jy lewe en hard werk in hierdie wêreld.’ As jy jou huwelik wil laat werk, moet jy hierdie vyf reëls volg:
1) Moet nooit albei op een slag kwaad wees nie en moet nooit skree nie – tensy die huis aan die brand is.
2) Gee teenoor mekaar toe. As jy moet kies om jouself of jou maat goed te laat lyk – kies altyd jou maat.
3) Verwaarloos eerder die hele wêreld as mekaar en moet nooit ‘n dag eindig sonder om ten minste een kompliment vir die een vir wie jy lief is, te gee nie.
4) Verwelkom mekaar altyd met liefde en moet nooit kwaad bed toe gaan nie.
5) Wanneer jy ‘n fout maak, erken dit en vra om vergifnis.
Aangesien God met die idee van die huwelik vorendag gekom het, bid en vra Hom vir hulp met joune. Hy sal dit doen!
Sielskos: Eseg 34-36; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 78:1-8; Spr 20:7-10
Ecclesiastes 9:9-10 MSG
The following definition of love and marriage is a time-tested formula that would be hard to improve on: “Love is friendship that has caught fire. It’s quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing, and forgiving. It’s loyalty through good times and bad. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weakness. Love is content with the present, hopes for the future, and refuses to brood over the past. It’s the day in and day out chronicle of irritations, problems, compromises, small disappointments, big victories, and working together toward common goals. If you have love in your life, it can make up for a great many things you lack. If you don’t, no matter what else there is, it’s not enough.”
The Bible says, “Relish [enjoy, Savour, delight, and take pleasure in] life with the spouse you love… every day… Make the most of each one!” And if you want to make your marriage work, observe these five rules:
(1) Never both be angry at once, and never yell – unless the house is on fire.
(2) Yield to each other. If you have to choose between making yourself or your mate look good – always choose your mate.
(3) Neglect the whole world rather than each other, and never let a day end without saying at least one complimentary thing to the one you love.
(4) Never meet without an affectionate welcome, and never go to bed angry.
(5) When you make a mistake, talk it out and ask for forgiveness.
Now, since God came up with the idea of marriage, pray and ask Him for help with yours. He will do it!
Soul food: Eze 34-36; Matt 23:23-39; Ps 78:1-8; Pro 20:7-10
2025-09-03
Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV
Talking about the power behind the Reformation, Martin Luther said, “I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept… the Word so greatly weakened [the erroneous system] that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all.” Later, when Luther was asked about his preaching philosophy, he added, “I just threw the Bible into the congregation and the Word did the work!”
As human beings, we accomplish a lot with our words. For example, when we order something by phone, our words set a chain of events in motion, and in due course, what we want is delivered to our mailbox. Words perform, and that’s particularly true when it comes to God’s words. He said, “I am ready to perform My word.” God works through His words. Check these words out: “Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ to the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built’… who says to the deep, ‘Be dry!’… and to the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid'” (Isaiah 44:26-28 NKJV).
Things happen when God speaks, and things happen when people speak what God has already spoken. And what’s more, amazing things happen in those who receive what God speaks, namely “the word of God, which… effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV).
The fact is that God’s Word refreshes us, heals us, gives us wisdom and discernment, brings us joy and enduring hope by making us spiritually healthy, prevents foolishness and warns us of impending danger, and promises both earthly and eternal rewards when we obey its principles.
Soul food: Eze 31-33; Matt 23:13-22; Ps 27; Pro 20:5-6
