2026-03-09
James 5:11 NIV
We often think of great artists and musicians as having “bursts” of genius. But more often, they’re models of painstaking patience and perseverance. Their greatest works tend to have been accomplished over longer periods and through extreme hardships.
Beethoven is said to have rewritten each bar of his music at least a dozen times. Joseph Haydn produced more than 800 musical compositions before writing The Creation, the oratorio for which he is most famous. Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment is considered one of the twelve master paintings of the ages. It took him eight years to complete, producing more than 2,000 sketches and renderings in the process. Leonardo da Vinci worked on The Last Supper for ten years, often working so diligently that he forgot to eat.
When renowned pianist Paderewski was quite elderly, an admirer asked him, “Is it true that you still practice every day?” He replied, “Yes, at least six hours a day.” The admirer said in awe, “You must have a world of patience.” Paderewski said, “I have no more patience than the next fellow. I just use mine.”
It is said that in the Kentucky Derby, the winning horse effectively runs out of oxygen after the first mile and runs the rest of the way on heart. Basketball legend Michael Jordan says, “Heart is what separates the good from the great.”
In the Bible, James wrote, “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.” Those who are “blessed” with success are those who keep persevering and refuse to quit.
Soul food: 2 Ki 13-15; Luke 14:25-35; Ps 106:24-48; Prov 7:3-5
2026-03-08
Hooglied 8:6 KAB23
As jou maat onseker is, moet jy alles in jou vermoë doen om verantwoordbaar te wees. Dit is belangrik om vrywillig voldoende besonderhede te verskaf. Hy of sy soek immers gerusstelling. Leer om op ‘n informele maar deeglike manier te verduidelik waar en saam met wie jy is. Kort antwoorde sal meer onsekerheid veroorsaak en die persoon verskeie negatiewe scenario’s laat verbeel. ‘n Jaloerse persoon is onseker en twyfel dus oor wat nodig is om die verhouding te handhaaf.
Moenie die fout maak om te dink of te sê: ‘Ag, kom nou net oor jou onsekerheid en jaloesie!’ nie. As dit so maklik was, sou jou maat dit teen hierdie tyd al gedoen het. Hou aan om vir hul genesing van hierdie aftakelende ingesteldheid te bid, maar doen ook jou deel om nie die probleem met vae kommunikasie te vererger nie.
Moedig jou maat bowenal aan om oor sy of haar vrese te praat. Luister sonder om krities of veroordelend te wees. Probeer eers om te verstaan. Maak dit duidelik dat jy jou maat liefhet en suiwer bedoelings rakende jul verhouding het.
Hier is egter iets belangriks om in gedagte te hou: Jy moet jou interaksie gebalanseerd hou. Jy moet dit ook duidelik maak dat jy nie in ‘n emosionele tronk gedwing sal word deur vir elke oomblik van die dag rekenskap te moet gee nie. Dit kan die jaloesie vererger en onrealistiese verwagtinge skep.
Vertroue is ‘n tweerigtingstraat. Een manier om vertroue te bou, is deur saam te bid. In gebed word ons eerlik en deursigtig en besef ons dat God reeds elke detail van ons weet. Wanneer jou maat hoor dat jy jou hart in gebed deel, verlig dit ongegronde vrese en skep dit sekuriteit binne-in hulle.
Sielskos: Joh 1:1-5; Matt 5:14-16; 1 Joh 1:1-10
Song of Songs 8:6 NKJV
If you’re dealing with an insecure mate, you must make every effort to be accountable. It’s important to voluntarily provide adequate details. After all, he or she is looking for assurance. Learn to explain your whereabouts in a casual but thorough manner. Short, one-syllable responses will provide more insecurity and leave the person to imagine various negative scenarios. A jealous person is insecure and thus has doubts about having what it takes to maintain the relationship.
Do not make the mistake of thinking or saying, “Tough – you just need to get over your insecurity.” If it were that easy, your mate would have done it by now. Continue to pray for their healing from this debilitating mindset, but do your part not to exacerbate the problem with vague communication.
Most of all, encourage your partner to talk about his or her fears. Listen without being critical or judgmental. Seek first to understand. Make it clear that you love your mate and have pure intentions regarding your relationship.
But here is something important to keep in mind: Stay balanced in your interaction. You must also make it clear that you will not be forced into an emotional prison by having to account for every moment of the day. This too could exacerbate the jealousy and set up unrealistic expectations.
Trust is a two-way street. And one way to build trust is by praying together. In prayer, we become honest and transparent, realizing that God already knows every detail about us. When your mate hears you share your heart in prayer, it relieves unfounded fears and creates security within them.
Soul food: John 1:1-5; Matt 5:14-16; 1 John 1:1-10
2026-03-07
1 Korintiërs 10:11 NLV
Egipte verteenwoordig ons dae as die slawe van sonde. Toe het Jesus ons bevry en vir ons ‘n nuwe lewe gegee. Ons Beloofde Land is nie ‘n fisiese gebied nie; dit is ‘n geestelike werklikheid. Dit is nie vaste eiendom nie, maar ‘n werklike toestand van hart en gees. Dit is ‘n lewe waarin ‘ons ten spyte van al hierdie dinge besig [is] om ‘n superoorwinning te behaal – oorwinnaars deur Christus wat sy liefde so duidelik aan ons bewys het’ (Romeine 8:37 NLV); ‘n lewe waarin ‘ons nie moed op[gee] nie’ (2 Korintiërs 4:16 NLV). ‘n Lewe waarin ons ‘vol moed en oorstelp van blydskap [is] ten spyte van ons swaarkry’ (2 Korintiërs 7:4 NLV); ons is ‘…oor niks bekommerd… nie’ (Filippense 4:6 NLV); waar ons ‘alles deur gebed en smeking [doen]’ (Efesiërs 6:18 NLV); en ‘n lewe waarin ons alles doen asof ons ‘dit namens die Here Jesus doen. Só is julle heeltyd besig om deur Hom dank aan God die Vader te bring’ (Kolossense 3:17 NLV).
Max Lucado het geskryf: ‘In Kanaän wen ons meer dikwels as wat ons verloor en gee net so oorvloedig as wat ons ontvang. Ons mag struikel, maar ons stort nie in duie nie. Ons mag sukkel, maar ons raak nie wanhopig nie. Ons roem slegs in Christus, vertrou slegs op God en steun geheel en al op sy krag. Ons geniet oorvloedige vrug en toenemende geloof.’ Kanaän simboliseer die oorwinning wat ons vandag kan ontvang. Daar is net een voorwaarde; ons moet ons rug op die woestynlewe draai.
Paulus het geskryf: ‘…God het julle as sy volk gekies… Dít het God bewerk sodat julle vir almal kan wys hoe goed Hy is. Dit is immers Hý wat julle uit die duisternis in sy wonderlike lig ingeroep het’ (1 Petrus 2:9 NLV).
Sielskos: 2 Kon 10-12; Luk 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Spr 7:1-2
1 Corinthians 10:11 NLT
Egypt represents our days in bondage to sin. Then Jesus liberated us and gave us a new life. Our Promised Land isn’t a physical territory; it’s a spiritual reality. It’s not real estate, but a real state of heart and mind. It’s a life in which “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NKJV); A life in which “we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV). A life in which we are “exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation (2 Corinthians 7:4 NKJV); we are “anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6 NKJV); we are “praying always” (Ephesians 6:18 KJV); and a life in which we “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17 NKJV).
Max Lucado wrote: [In Canaan]… “we win more often than we lose, forgive as quickly as we are offended, and give as abundantly as we receive. We serve out of our giftedness and delight in our assignments. We may stumble, but we do not collapse. We may struggle, but we defy despair. We boast only in Christ, trust only in God, lean wholly on his power. We enjoy abundant fruit and increasing faith.” Canaan symbolizes the victory we can have today, and God invites us to enter it. There is only one condition; we must turn our backs on wilderness living.”
Paul wrote: “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV).
Soul food: 2 Ki 10-12; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
