2026-08-08
Proverbs 19:11 NLT
Anger scares many of us because we’ve been harmed by it. But anger can be evidence that a person cares about someone or something. Nothing wrong is ever made right without someone becoming angry about it. If you shut down all anger, you eliminate passion, intimacy, and love. Here are two ways to make anger work for you:
(1) Direct your anger at the right target. Your spouse is not the enemy; Satan is. He comes to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 KJV). He’s the one trying to drive a wedge between you. Consciously move your focus from your spouse to the problem. For example, get angry at your lack of finances, not your spouse’s spending. Get angry at demands pulling you in different directions, not your spouse staying late at work. Get angry at the limitations on intimacy, not your spouse saying no to sex. Put the problem “out there,” separate from you and your spouse. See yourselves as fighting the problem together. Attack the problem, not each other.
(2) Look for the pain. Find the pain that triggered the anger; it’s almost always there. Look for it in your spouse and in your own heart. What need isn’t being met? What wound has been exposed? What shame or fear is aroused? When you identify the pain, you’ll be miles closer to the solution. But beware! By being vulnerable, you may end up wounding each other sometimes; acknowledge it and forgive quickly. Staying engaged while risking vulnerability will increase intimacy more than anything else.
So, embrace anger as God’s gift, and learn how to make it work for you.
Soul food: 1 Chr 26:20-29:30; Mark 4:26-41; Ps 119:25-32; Pro 20:25-27
2026-08-07
Jakobus 1:19 NLV
Jy kan woede gebruik om die band en intimiteit tussen jou en jou eggenoot te verdiep. ‘n Mens doen dit as volg:
1) Erken die woede. ‘n Persoon wat deur woede beheer word, is nie veilig, gesond of wys nie. ‘Iemand wat homself nie in bedwang kan hou nie, is soos ‘n stad sonder ‘n muur wat beskerming bied’ (Spreuke 25:28 NLV). As jy en jou eggenoot kan leer om woede te beheer, in plaas daarvan om deur dit beheer te word, kan dit van onskatbare waarde wees. Vind ‘n manier om julle gevoelens te erken. As jy sukkel om jou woede te beheer, neem eers ‘n tree terug en word kalm. Kom dan terug en hanteer die probleem.
2) Moenie weghardloop nie. As jy werklik in gevaar is, moet jy na veiligheid vlug. As jy egter nie in gevaar is nie, sal jy julle beide se gevoelens bevestig deur te bly en die probleem met jou eggenoot te bespreek. Dis die enigste manier om ‘n oplossing te kry. Besluit om julle kwessies te hanteer wanneer julle kwaad raak.
Julle moet dalk ‘n tyd afspreek om dit te doen as julle nie dadelik kan nie, maar moenie te lank wag nie. Probeer ten minste om die probleem aan te spreek voor julle daardie aand gaan slaap. Julle mag dalk nie ‘n oplossing vir die hele probleem vind nie, maar kom ooreen om die situasie te ontlont voor die dag verby is. ‘…Moenie tot die aand toe kwaad bly, en die duiwel so ‘n houvas gee nie’ (Efesiërs 4:26-27 NLV). Indien nodig, maak ‘n tyd vas om die probleem aan te spreek. Julle verdien dit albei, en julle huwelik is dit werd.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 23:21-26:19; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 119:17-24; Spr 20:22-24
James 1:19 NLT
You can use anger to actually deepen the bond and intimacy between you and your spouse. Here’s how:
(1) Acknowledge the place of anger. A person ruled by anger is not safe, healthy, or wise. “Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls” (Proverbs 25:28 NKJV). But if you and your spouse can learn to rule anger instead of letting it rule you, it can be invaluable. Think of the emotion as a flare sent up by your brain telling you there’s something you need to deal with. Find your own way to acknowledge your feelings. If you struggle to control your anger, take a walk and let the temperature decrease. Then come back, re-engage, and deal with the issue.
(2) Don’t run away. If you’re truly in danger, you need to get somewhere safe. But if not, staying engaged with your spouse validates the feelings of both of you. It’s the only way to get a solution. If either of you is angry, agree to deal with it.
You may need to plan a time to do so, but don’t wait long. If nothing else, determine to deal with it before going to sleep that night. You may not find a solution to the whole problem, but make a pact to defuse the situation before the day ends. “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT). If necessary, schedule a time to address the issue. You both deserve it, and your marriage is worth it.
Soul food: 1 Chr 23:21-26:19; Mark 4:13-25; Ps 119:17-24; Pro 20:22-24
2026-08-06
Psalm 119:25 KJV
The Bible was meant to be prayed through, meditated on, and lived out. The key is the quickening of the Holy Spirit. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he… shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit” (Romans 8:11 KJV).
In this instance, “quickening” refers to our bodily resurrection from the dead. But the Holy Spirit quickens us in more ways than one. Sometimes it’s a God-given idea that fires across our synapses. Sometimes it’s a prompting to step up, step in, or step out in faith. Sometimes it’s a word of wisdom in a difficult situation. When the Holy Spirit quickens you in that way, don’t hesitate. Act on the idea, seize the opportunity, and speak the Word. This word quicken has several meanings. Let’s look at three of them:
(1) To quicken means to catalyze. Think chemistry. Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word is living and active. The same Spirit that inspired the writers in Scripture also inspires you as you read it. And when the Living Word is catalyzed by faith, a supernatural reaction takes place that forgives sin, relieves fear, heals sickness, inspires ideas, and births dreams.
(2) To quicken means to transfer possession. Think of real estate. You just can’t put a contract on a home; you have to go to settlement. By faith, we take ownership of the Word, and the Word takes ownership of us. When the Word is quickened, it seals the deal.
(3) To quicken also means to conceive. When the Word is conceived, it impregnates you with possibilities, changes your desires, eradicates your fears, and forms the mind of Christ in you.
Soul food: 1 Chr 19:1-23:20; Mark 4:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Pro 20:19-21
Psalm 119:25 AFR53
Die Bybel is bedoel om oor gebid, gemediteer en uitgeleef te word. Die sleutel daartoe is die lewendmaking van die Heilige Gees. ‘Julle weet baie goed dat God Jesus uit die dood laat opstaan het. Daarom is dit vanselfsprekend dat Hy wat nou deur sy Gees in julle bly, eendag ook elkeen van julle se sterflike liggaam met die hulp van sy Gees lewend sal maak’ (Romeine 8:11 DB).
In hierdie geval verwys ‘lewendmaking’ na ons liggaamlike opstanding uit die dood. Die Heilige Gees maak ons egter op meer as een manier lewend. Soms is dit ‘n Godgegewe idee wat deur ons sinapse vuur. Soms is dit ‘n aansporing om in geloof op te tree, in te tree of uit te tree. Soms is dit ‘n woord van wysheid in ‘n moeilike situasie. Die woord ‘lewendmaking’ kan na verskillende dinge verwys. Kom ons kyk na drie daarvan:
1) Om lewend te maak, beteken om te kataliseer. Dink aan ‘n chemiese reaksie. Hebreërs 4:12 sê dat die Woord vol lewenskrag en energie is. Dieselfde Gees wat die skrywers van die Skrif geïnspireer het, inspireer jou ook terwyl jy dit lees. Wanneer die Lewende Woord deur geloof gekataliseer word, vind ‘n bonatuurlike reaksie plaas wat sonde vergewe, vrees verlig, siekte genees, idees inspireer en drome laat waar word.
2) Om lewend te maak beteken om eienaarskap oor te dra. Deur geloof neem ons eienaarskap van die Woord en die Woord neem eienaarskap van ons. Wanneer die Woord lewend gemaak word, beklink dit die ooreenkoms.
3) Om lewend te maak beteken ook om swanger te raak. Wanneer die Woord verwek word, bevrug dit jou met moontlikhede, verander dit jou begeertes, roei dit jou vrese uit en vorm dit Christus se denke in jou.
Sielskos: 1 Kro 19:1-23:20; Mark 4:1-12; Ps 119:9-16; Spr 20:19-21
