2026-04-13
Psalm 16:8 NKJV
Say these words aloud several times and let them roll around in your mind: “I have set the Lord always before me.” Take some time to imagine how this might actually be experienced in your life. What would it be like to wake up with God on your mind? What would it feel like at night if you were aware of Him as you fell asleep? What would your conversations be like with other people if God were the unseen third party present? What would work or school be like if you were continually aware of God and were communicating with Him as you sat in your office or at your desk, asking for His help and guidance, not carrying the burden by yourself?
After all, this is His promise to you: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall” (Psalm 55:22 NLT). Reflect on the idea that the Lord is at your “right hand.” In Scripture, the right hand is considered the hand of power and the one that does the work. Now reflect on these words: “I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8 NLT).
Picture yourself receiving bad news or facing opposition; picture someone important who doesn’t like you. Picture your work going badly – but it doesn’t shake you. Why? Because God has given you supernatural peace. Isn’t this the life you want? Then pray, “God, this is the life I choose; show me what I need to do so that it may be so.”
Soul food: Jer 51-52; Matt 1:7-17; Ps 56; Prov 10:14-16
2026-04-12
Luke 15:18 NKJV
The story of the prodigal son illustrates the meaning of true repentance. It’s about a young Jewish man who rebelled against all that he’d been taught, turned his back on his father, was lured by the bright lights of the big city, and ended up in a pigpen feeding swine. But he did three things that turned his life around.
First, he changed his mind. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!'” (v. 17 NIV). Second, he redirected his will. “I will… go back to my father and say to him: ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you'” (v. 18 NIV). Third, he took action. “So he got up and went to his father” (v. 20 NIV).
Repentance is a change of mind, which brings about a change of will, and results in a change of action. It led to the prodigal’s forgiveness and restoration to his family. Here are two things about sin you need to know:
(1) God will uncover every sin you try to cover up. “Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5 NKJV).
(2) God will cover every sin you uncover. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). Go ahead – confess and forsake your sin, and God will cover it with the blood of Christ. There is no good reason to wait. Do it now.
Soul food: Ps 23; Luke 15:1-7; Rev 7:13-17
Lukas 15:18 NLV
Die verhaal van die verlore seun illustreer die betekenis van ware berou en bekering. Dit gaan oor ‘n jong Joodse man wat in opstand teen alles wat hy geleer is, gekom het, sy pa die rug toegekeer het, deur die helder ligte van die groot stad verlei is en uiteindelik in ‘n varkhok beland het. Hy het egter drie dinge gedoen wat sy lewe omgedraai het.
Eerstens het hy van plan verander. “Toe hy uiteindelik tot sy sinne kom, het hy vir homself gesê: ‘By die huis het selfs die gehuurde werkers meer as genoeg kos, en hier is ek besig om van honger dood te gaan!'” (vers 17 NLV).Tweedens het hy sy wilskrag verander. ‘Ek sal huis toe gaan na my pa toe en sê: Pa, ek het gesondig teen sowel die hemel as teen Pa’ (vers 18 NLV). Derdens het hy opgetree. ‘Hy het dus teruggekeer huis toe na sy pa toe…’ (vers 20 NLV).
Bekering is ‘n verandering van denke, wat ‘n verandering van wilskrag teweegbring en lei tot ‘n verandering van optrede. Hier is twee dinge wat jy oor sonde moet weet:
1) God sal elke sonde wat jy probeer toesmeer, openbaar. ‘Julle moet dus nie voortydig ‘n oordeel vel voordat die Here kom nie. Hý sal sy lig laat skyn op die dinge wat in die donker verborge lê, en Hý sal die motiewe van ons harte aan die lig bring…’ (1 Korintiërs 4:5 NLV).
2) God sal elke sonde wat jy openbaar, bedek. ‘Wie sy oortredings verswyg, sal nie voorspoedig wees nie. Wie sy sonde bely en daarvan afsien, sal genade ontvang’ (Spreuke 28:13 NLV). Gaan dus voort en bely en laat vaar jou sonde, want God sal dit met die bloed van Christus bedek. Daar is geen rede om te wag nie. Doen dit nou.
Sielskos: Ps 23; Luk 15:1-7; Op 7:13-17
2026-04-11
Efesiërs 5:21 NLV
Paulus het geskryf: ‘Omdat julle respek het vir wat Christus vir julle gedoen het, moet julle aan mekaar onderdanig wees.’ Satan is die huwelik se vyand. Om hom te verslaan, moet jy eers weet hoe om te identifiseer waar, wanneer en hoe hy aan die werk is. Solank as wat julle daarop fokus om met mekaar te baklei of mekaar te blameer, sal julle huwelik aanhou om met elke mislukte versoek tot intimiteit, elke onvervulde verwagting en elke dag wat jy hopeloos wens dat jou eggenoot sal verander, in verdere ellende verval.
Ja, jy moet beter kommunikasiepatrone aanleer, leer hoe om te vergewe en hoe siekte of finansiële probleme hanteer moet word. Wanneer jy egter besef dat hierdie dinge hul ontstaan by dieselfde bose bron het, kan jy dit soveel effektiewer beveg. Doen die volgende twee dinge:
1) Fokus eers op jouself. Jy kan niemand anders as jouself verander nie. In baie opsigte kan jy selfs dit nie eers doen nie. Jy het God se ingryping in jou eie lewe nodig (sien 2 Korintiërs 3:18). Jy moet verstaan wie God jou roep om in jou huwelik te wees.
(2) Bid vir en saam met jou eggenoot (sien Matteus 18:19). Gebed is onontbeerlik om die vyand in jou huwelik te verslaan. Bid vir leiding in wat God wil hê jy moet doen. Indien jou eggenoot gewillig is, bid saam en hardop. Nooi God om by jou huwelik in te gryp en dit ‘n voorbeeld van die werk wat slegs Hy in twee mense se lewens kan teweegbring, te maak. Jy kan Christus se oorwinning in jou huwelik ervaar.
Sielskos: Jer 49-50; Matt 1:1-6; Ps 50:16-23; Spr 10:11-13
1 Peter 3:1 NIV
Paul wrote: “Submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.” Satan is the enemy of marriage. In order to defeat him, you must first know how to identify where, when, and how he’s at work. As long as you focus on fighting each other or blaming yourself, your marriage will continue to slide into further misery with each failed request for intimacy, each unmet expectation, and each day spent hopelessly wishing your spouse would change.
Sure, you need to learn better communication and learn how to forgive, and sickness or money problems need to be dealt with. But when you see these things as being sent from the same evil source, you can fight them so much more effectively. Do these two things:
(1) Focus first on yourself. You know you can’t change anyone but yourself. And in many ways, you can’t even do that. You need God’s intervention in your own life right now (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). And you need to understand who God is calling you to be in your marriage.
(2) Pray for and with your spouse (see Matthew 18:19). Prayer is indispensable in defeating the enemy of your marriage. Pray for direction in what God would have you to do. If your spouse is willing, pray together and aloud if possible. Invite God to intervene in your marriage and to make it a demonstration of the work only He can do in two people’s lives. The truth is that you can experience Christ’s victory in your marriage.
Soul food: Jer 49-50; Matt 1:1-6; Ps 50:16-23; Prov 10:11-13
