2025-12-29
Romans 8:37 NKJV
In some of the world’s greatest success stories, you will find chapters of failure and discouragement. Dr. Seuss’s first children’s book was turned down by twenty-seven different publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher sold six hundred million copies, and Dr. Seuss’s perseverance resulted in helping millions of children learn to read. In their first year of business, the Coca-Cola company usually sold only nine servings of its drink a day. But they persevered, and today they are the leading soft-drink seller in the world.
Henry Ford went bankrupt twice in his initial three years in the car industry. But he persevered, and today Ford is the second-largest American-based automobile company and the fifth biggest worldwide. In 1905 the University of Bern in Switzerland rejected a PhD dissertation by a student named Albert Einstein, describing it as “irrelevant and fanciful.” Was he disappointed? Sure – wouldn’t you be? Did he give up? No, he kept on writing.
And consider this: As a redeemed child of God, you have a plus factor; God is on your side. “God is for me” (Psalm 56:9 NKJV). That changes the equation and tilts the odds in your favour. Paul writes: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?… Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:35, 37 NKJV).
With God, despite whatever you’re facing, it’s always too early to quit. Hold on because His grace and strength are always on their way.
Soul food: 1 Thes 1-3; Matt 3:7-10; Ps 75; Prov 31:30
2025-12-28
1 Tessalonisense 5:24 NLV
Wanneer dit by jou lewensroeping kom, is hier nog twee mites wat jou kan saboteer:
1) Wanneer jy die verkeerde keuse maak, kan jy op een of ander manier God se wil dwarsboom. Jy hoef nie hieroor bekommerd te wees nie. Die Bybel sê vir ons: ‘Hy wat julle roep, is getrou. Hy sál dit doen!’ Dis altyd prysenswaardig om die beste besluit wat jy kan, te probeer neem. Die feit bly egter staan dat jy op ‘n punt gaan moet kom waar jy ‘n keuse gaan moet maak. Geen keuse wat jy maak is buite God se beheer nie. Selfs al weet jy nie waarheen die pad wat jy gekies het gaan lei nie, kan jy in die versekering rus dat: ‘…God alles ten goede laat saamwerk vir hulle wat Hom liefhet, hulle wat geroep is volgens sy doel vir hulle lewe’ (Romeine 8:28 NLV).
2) Jou roeping staan vas. Om jou roeping te vind is nie iets wat jy noodwendig een of twee keer in jou lewe doen nie. Dis nie iets wat jy van ‘n lysie kan afmerk en aanbeweeg nie. Die lewe van ‘n Christen is ‘n deurlopende proses waarin jy jou roeping ontdek. Net omdat God jou op ‘n spesifieke tyd vir ‘n spesifieke doel geroep het, beteken nie dat sy planne vir jou nie sal verander nie. Wie weet wat die volgende fase van jou lewe gaan inhou? Elkeen se roeping lyk uniek en elke hoofstuk van jou lewe sal ‘n nuwe proses van onderskeiding meebring. Die belangrikste is om te onthou dat God in beheer is, dat Hy jou liefhet en dat dit sy wil is om jou altyd nader aan Hom te bring.
Soul food: Heb 11:1-6; Matt 21:18-22; Matt 8:5-13; Mark 6:1-6
1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMPC
When it comes to your life’s calling, here are two more myths that can sabotage you: (1) Making the wrong choice can somehow thwart God’s will. You don’t have to worry on this score because the Bible tells us that the God “Who is calling you… will… [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].” It’s always commendable to want to make the best choice you can. But the fact remains that at some point you have to go ahead and make a choice, and no choice you make is outside of God’s control. Even if you don’t know where the path you have chosen will eventually lead, you can rest assured in the knowledge that “all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to… those who… are called according to [His] design and purpose” (Romans 8:28 AMPC).
(2) Your calling is settled. Finding your calling isn’t necessarily what you do once or twice in a lifetime. It’s not something you check off a list and move on. The life of a Christian is a continual process of discovering your calling. And because God has called you to a specific purpose at a specific time doesn’t mean His plans for you won’t change. Who knows what the next stage of your life will bring? Everyone’s calling is going to look distinct, and every chapter of your life will bring a fresh process of discernment. The important thing to remember is that God is in control, He loves you, and His will is always to draw you closer to Him.
Soul food: Heb 11:1-6; Matt 21:18-22; Matt 8:5-13; Mark 6:1-6
2025-12-27
Romeine 11:29 NLV
Indien jy jou roeping bevraagteken, identifiseer die skrywer Diane Paddison twee denkpatrone wat jou gedagtes mag saboteer.
1) Dit gaan alles oor jou. Jou roeping gaan nie oor selfvervulling nie; dit gaan daaroor om jou aan God se wil te onderwerp. Baie mense ervaar bevrediging deur hulle God-gegewe gawes uit te oefen. Dis egter ‘n resultaat van God se wil, nie die doelwit nie. Om God se wil te onderskei, moet jy deur gebed en Bybelstudie jou verhouding met Hom ontwikkel. Jy moet ook verhoudings met jou eweknieë en mentors ontwikkel wat vir jou sal bid en die waarheid in jou lewe sal spreek.
2) As dit ongemaklik is, is dit nie jou roeping nie. Om te weet wat jy veronderstel is om te doen, is dikwels net die begin van ‘n lang, veeleisende reis. Moses se roeping het nie vir hom baie wonderlik gelyk nie. Wat was sy reaksie daarop? ‘Wie is ek dat ek moet gaan?’ Hy het God bevraagteken, maar God het geantwoord: ‘Ek sal by jou wees.’ Tog het Moses aanhou vra: ‘Maar wat as hulle my nie glo nie?’ Selfs toe God hom van wonderbaarlike tekens voorsien het, was dit nie goed genoeg nie. Hy het weer gestry: ‘Maar ek kan nie goed praat nie.’
Moses was duidelik ongemaklik met die taak waarvoor God hom geroep het. Moses het alles probeer om God te oortuig dat hy die verkeerde man vir die werk was. Toe dit nie werk nie, het hy God gevra om iemand anders te stuur! (sien Eksodus 4). Kan jy jouself met Moses vereenselwig? Indien wel, hou die volgende in gedagte: Ongemak beteken nie outomaties dat jy op die verkeerde pad is nie. Die waarheid is dat ongemak gewoonlik groei vooruitgaan.
Sielskos: 1 Kor 15-16; Matt 3:1-6; Ps 116; Spr 31:29
Romans 11:29 AMPC
If you’re questioning your calling, author Diane Paddison identifies two thought patterns that may be sabotaging your thinking.
(1) It’s all about you. Your calling isn’t about self-fulfillment; it’s about submission to God’s will for your life. Many people experience satisfaction from exercising their God-given gifts. But it’s a result of being in God’s will, not the goal. To discern God’s will, you must develop your relationship with Him through prayer and Bible study. You must also develop relationships with peers and mentors who will pray for you and speak truth into your life.
(2) If it’s uncomfortable, it can’t be your calling. Knowing what you’re meant to be doing is often just the start of a long, demanding journey. Some of the most successful people in history endured overwhelming failure in pursuit of their paths. Moses’ calling didn’t seem all that wonderful to him. His response? “Who am I that I should go?” He questioned God, but God responded, “I will be with you.” Still, Moses continued to question: “But what if they don’t believe me?” Even when God provided him with miraculous signs, they weren’t enough. He came back with, “But I’m slow of speech.”
Clearly Moses was called to a task God designed for him – and it didn’t feel good to him. Moses tried every way he knew to prove to God that He had the wrong man for the job. And when that didn’t work, he asked God to send someone else! (See Exodus 4). Can you relate? If so, keep this thought in mind: Discomfort doesn’t automatically mean you’re on the wrong path. The truth is discomfort usually precedes growth.
Soul food: 1 Cor 15-16; Matt 3:1-6; Ps 116; Prov 31:29
