2026-02-16
Psalm 147:3 NKJV
There are times when we all experience rejection, betrayal, and disappointment. But if we hold on to those experiences, we can remain in a state of perpetual hurt. Indeed, when we refuse to forgive and move on, we place a weapon into Satan’s hands that he will use against us at every opportunity. It’s not what has happened to us, but how we respond that matters. If we allow the hurt to gain control of our thoughts, it can undermine our emotional wellbeing.
Jesus doesn’t want us to go through life carrying old wounds; He wants to heal us. This is why He gave us the precious promises in His Word. Regardless of how badly we’ve been hurt, God always has our complete restoration in mind. “‘For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV). If you have spent years wrestling with unresolved hurt, God has provided a way out. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
When He was on earth, Jesus was constantly healing people’s pain and comforting them in their sorrow. And when He left earth, He didn’t leave us high and dry. He sent the eternal source of comfort to live inside of each of us – the Holy Spirit, who is our comforter, helper, and friend (see John 14:16).
The hurts you’ve experienced are real, but God doesn’t want them to be your greatest reality. His Spirit is always with you and will never leave you (see Hebrews 13:5). And you can draw from His strength through every painful circumstance and find healing when you’ve been hurt.
Soul food: Heb 5-8; Luke 10:1-12; Ps 5; Prov 5:1-2
2026-02-15
Isaiah 64:1 NKJV
Jesus told the disciples just before He left this earth to return to heaven: “I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 KJV). As a redeemed child of God the Holy Spirit lives in you (see Ro 8:9). But this promise indicates that you can also have the Holy Spirit resting upon you and empowering you. How did the disciples respond to this promise? “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14 ESV).
Author Larry Sparks says, “For too long, the Western church has tolerated a prayer culture defined by lack of results.” Then he gives us this strategy for a divine visitation: “Review God’s promises for a Holy Spirit outpouring. Become possessed by them. And ‘tarry’ in devoted, sustained, persevering prayer until revival promises become revival realities. That’s exactly what the disciples did.”
We make the mistake of assuming that outpourings of the Holy Spirit are sovereignly fixed dates in heaven’s calendar. One of the great promises God made to us is this: “In the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Acts 2:17 ESV). As long as “all flesh” has not experienced this outpouring of God’s Spirit, we must continue to pray, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens [and] come down!” You say, “What can I do?” Do what the disciples did: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.” Begin to pray each day for a divine visitation of God’s Spirit.
Soul food: Gal 5:22-23; Deut 7:9; Prov 3:3-4; Luke 16:10-12
Jesaja 64:1 NLV
Jesus het die volgende vir die dissipels gesê net voordat Hy hierdie aarde verlaat het om terug te keer hemel toe: ‘En kyk, Ek sal die belofte van my Vader aan julle stuur. Julle moet in die stad bly totdat julle van God af met krag bemagtig is’ (Lukas 24:49 NLV). As verloste kind van God woon die Heilige Gees in jou (sien Romeine 8:9). Hierdie belofte dui egter daarop dat jy ook die Heilige Gees wat jou rus en jou krag gee, op jou kan hê. Hoe het die dissipels op hierdie belofte gereageer? ‘Hulle het almal saam aanhou bid…’ (Handelinge 1:14 NLV).
Larry Sparks sê: ‘Vir te lank duld die Westerse kerk al ‘n gebedskultuur wat deur ‘n gebrek aan resultate gedefinieer word.’ Dan gee hy ons hierdie strategie om ‘n goddelike besoek te ontvang: “Hersien God se beloftes wat handel oor die uitstorting van die Heilige Gees. Word daardeur beheers. Talm in toegewyde, volgehoue, volhardende gebed totdat herlewingsbeloftes herlewingswerklikhede word. Dis presies wat die dissipels gedoen het.”
Ons maak die fout om aan te neem dat die Heilige Gees slegs op vaste datums op die hemel se kalender uitgestort gaan word. Een van die grootste beloftes wat God aan ons gemaak het, is die volgende: “Só sal dit in die laaste dae wees, sê God: ‘Ek sal my Gees uitstort op elke mens…'” (Handelinge 2:17 NLV). Solank as wat ‘elke mens’ nog nie hierdie uitstorting van die Gees beleef het nie, moet ons aanhou bid: ‘As U maar die hemel wou laat oopskeur en afkom!..’ Jy vra: ‘Wat kan ek doen?’ Doen wat die dissipels gedoen het: ‘Hulle het almal saam aanhou bid…’ Begin om elke dag vir ‘n goddelike besoek van God se Gees te bid.
Sielskos: Gal 5:22-23; Deut 7:9; Spr 3:3-4; Luk 16:10-12
2026-02-14
Joshua 9:14 NKJV
Live with one ear toward heaven: “Is this opportunity from you, God?” “Are you in this venture, God?” “Should I take this road, God?” One time Joshua failed to do this and paid for it. Here’s the story. A group of strangers entered the camp of Israel saying, “From a very far country your servants have come” (v. 9 NKJV). Evidently, they knew God’s law had made special provisions for cities outside of Canaan (see Deuteronomy 20:10-12).
Any city that agreed to make peace with Israel would be spared. So, being afraid, they resorted to deception. Three days passed before Joshua realized he had been lied to. These people were not from a distant land; they were from Gibeon, only a day’s walk away. As a result, Joshua entered into an alliance with the enemy because he didn’t seek the counsel of God.
We do well to learn from his mistake. Our enemy enters our camp in disguise as well: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV). He’s crafty. That’s why it’s essential that we consult God in everything. In every decision and at each crossroad, acknowledge Him, heed Him, and ask Him: “Do I turn right or left?”
David said that God’s Word is a “lamp unto our feet” (see Psalm 119:105), not a spotlight into the future. He gives enough light to take the next step. When we pray, He speaks to our hearts: “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21 NLT). So consult God in everything.
Soul food: Heb 1-4; Luke 9:57-62; Ps 149; Prov 4:25-27
Josua 9:14 NLV
Leef met jou ore op die hemel gespits: ‘Kom hierdie geleentheid van U, God?’ ‘Is U betrokke by hierdie onderneming, God?’ ‘Moet ek hierdie pad neem, God?’ Eenkeer het Josua dit nie gedoen nie en duur daarvoor betaal. ‘n Groep vreemdelinge het die kamp van Israel binnegegaan en gesê: ‘…Ons kom van ‘n baie ver land af…’ (vers 9 NLV). Hierdie vreemdelinge het klaarblyklik geweet dat God se wet spesiale voorsiening gemaak het vir stede buite Kanaän (sien Deuteronomium 20:10-12).
Enige stad wat instem om ‘n vredesverdrag met Israel te sluit, sou gespaar word. Dus het hierdie vreemdelinge besluit om die Israeliete te mislei. Drie dae het verbygegaan voordat Josua besef het dat hulle vir hom gelieg het. Hierdie mense was nie van ‘n verre land nie; hulle was van Gibeon, net ‘n dag se stap weg. Josua het dus ‘n verdrag met die vyand gesluit, omdat hy nie eers vir God geraadpleeg het nie.
Ons moet uit Josua se fout leer. Ons vyand vermom homself ook om ons kamp binne te kom: ‘…Die Satan self gee immers voor dat hy ‘n engel van die lig is’ (2 Korintiërs 11:14 NLV). Hy is listig. Daarom is dit noodsaaklik dat ons God in alles raadpleeg. Ons moet God by elke besluit en kruispad erken, na Hom luister en vir Hom vra: ‘Moet ek regs of links draai?’
Dawid het gesê dat God se Woord ‘n lamp vir ons voete is (sien Psalm 119:105), nie ‘n kollig op die toekoms nie. Hy gee ons genoeg lig om die volgende stap te neem. Wanneer ons bid, spreek Hy tot ons harte: ‘Jy sal ‘n stem hoor sê: ‘Hier is die regte pad. Draai om en loop hierlangs’ (Jesaja 30:21 NLV). Raadpleeg God dus oor alles.
Sielskos: Heb 1-4; Luk 9:57-62; Ps 149; Spr 4:25-27
