2026-08-05
Josua 5:14 NLV
Die Bybel sê: ‘Josua was in die omgewing van Jerigo toe hy skielik ‘n man voor hom sien staan met ‘n swaard in sy hand. Josua het na hom toe gegaan en vir hom gevra: ‘Is jy ons vriend of ons vyand?’ ‘Nie een nie,’ sê die man, ‘ek is die aanvoerder van die hemelse leër. Ek is nou hier vir julle.’ Josua het op die grond neergeval in aanbidding. Hy vra vir die man: ‘Wat wil Meneer vir sy dienaar sê?’ Die leëraanvoerder van die Here se mag sê toe vir Josua: ‘Trek uit jou skoene. Jy staan op ‘n heilige plek.’ Josua het so gemaak’ (verse 13-15 NLV).
Die boodskap hier is onmiskenbaar: Jerigo mag dalk sy mure hê, maar jy, Josua, het meer. Jy het God. Hy is by jou. Is dit nie presies wat jy nodig het nie – om te weet dat God naby is, dat jy nooit alleen is nie en dat die Here jou in jou donkerste uur, in jou diepste vrae, nooit sal verlaat nie?
Dawid het gesê: ‘Here, U alleen is my erfenis, my beker van seën. U waarborg my lotsbestemming… Ek prys die Here wat my insig gee… Die Here is altyd by my. Ja, Hy is aan my regterhand, daarom sal ek nie struikel nie. Hieroor is my hart vol vreugde. Ek besing sy lof en rus in veiligheid’ (Psalm 16:5-9 NLV).
Staan jy voor ‘n uitdaging van Jerigo-proporsies? Doen dan wat Josua gedoen het: ‘En toe Josua by Jerigo was, slaan hy sy oë op en kyk… daar staan ‘n man teenoor hom met sy ontblote swaard in sy hand…’ (Josua 5:13 KAB23). Jy het lank genoeg na die probleem gekyk. Slaan nou jou oë op na die probleemoplosser – Jesus!
Sielskos: 1 Kro 16-18; Mark 3:20-35; Ps 119:1-8; Spr 20:15-18
Joshua 5:14 NIV
The Bible says: “When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ‘Are you for us or for our enemies?’ ‘Neither,’ he replied, ‘but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’ Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, ‘What message does my Lord have for his servant?’ The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (vv. 13-15 NIV).
The message here is unmistakable: Jericho may have its walls, but, Joshua, you have more. You have God. He is with you. Isn’t that the word Joshua needed – a reminder of God’s almighty presence? Isn’t that what you need – to know that God is near, that you are never alone, and that in your darkest hour, in your deepest questions, the Lord will never leave you.
David said: “Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine… I will bless the Lord who guides me… I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice” (Psalm 16:5-9 NLT).
Are you facing a Jericho-level challenge? Do what Joshua did: “He lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him” (Joshua 5:13 NKJV). You’ve looked at the problem long enough. Lift your eyes to the problem solver – Jesus!
Soul food: 1 Chr 16-18; Mark 3:20-35; Ps 119:1-8; Pro 20:15-18
2026-08-04
Romeine 8:14 NLV
As jy ‘n verloste kind van God is, woon die Heilige Gees in jou. Hy sal jou na God se seëninge vir jou eie lewe en na geleenthede om ander te seën, lei. In sommige gevalle kan jou vermoë en bereidwilligheid om die goed bedoelde raad van ander te ignoreer en deur God se Gees gelei te word, ‘n wêreld se verskil vir iemand in nood maak.
Admiraal Sir Thomas Williams was in bevel van ‘n skip wat gereeld die Atlantiese Oseaan oorgesteek het. Sy roete het hom in sig van Ascension-eiland, wat grootliks onbewoon was, gebring. Dit was op ‘n keer skaars sigbaar op die horison toe sir Thomas ‘n groot drang gevoel het om sy skip daarheen te stuur. Hoe nader hy aan die eiland gekom het, hoe groter het die dringendheid wat hy gevoel het, geword.
Toe hy die bevel gee om na die eiland te vaar, het sy luitenant-offisier hom respekvol daarop gewys dat so ‘n verandering van koers hulle reis baie sou vertraag. Tog het die admiraal vasberade gebly. Die innerlike drang, wat hy as God se leiding herken het, was baie sterk. Toe die skip die eiland nader, het sy bemanning ‘n wit vlag gewaar. ‘Dit moet ‘n teken wees!’ het Williams afgelei.
Inderdaad, op die strand het hulle sestien mans, wat baie dae tevore skipbreuk gely het, gekry. Hulle was honger en het amper moed opgegee. Sestien lewens is daardie dag gered omdat ‘n man na die stem van die Heilige Gees in hom geluister en dit gehoorsaam het. Jy kan dit ook doen. ‘Want almal wat hulle laat lei deur die Gees van God – hulle is God se kinders.’
Sielskos: 1 Kro 12:23-15:29; Mark 3:1-19; Ps 78:65-72; Spr 20:11-14
Romans 8:14 NCV
If you are a redeemed child of God, then the Holy Spirit lives within you. And He will guide you toward God’s blessings for your own life and toward opportunities to bless others. In some cases, your ability and willingness to overrule reason, tune out the well-meaning advice of others, and be led by God’s Spirit can make a world of difference for someone in need.
Admiral Sir Thomas Williams was in command of a ship that routinely crossed the Atlantic. His course brought him in sight of Ascension Island, which was uninhabited most of the time. It was barely visible on the horizon during the crossing when Sir Thomas felt a great urge to steer his vessel toward it. The closer he came to the island, the greater the urgency he felt.
When he gave the order to head for the island, his lieutenant officer respectfully pointed out that such a course change would greatly delay them. Even so, the admiral remained intent. The inner urging, which he had come to recognize as God guiding him, was very strong. As the ship neared the island, his crew spotted a white flag. “It must be a signal!” Williams concluded.
Sure enough, on the beach were sixteen men who’d been shipwrecked many days before. They were starving and had nearly given up hope. Sixteen lives were saved that day because a man had learned to listen to and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit within him. And you can too. “The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.”
Soul food: 1 Chr 12:23-15:29; Mark 3:1-19; Ps 78:65-72; Pro 20:11-14
2026-08-03
Proverbs 31:18 NKJV
Let’s look at four liberating truths in this Scripture: (1) “She perceives that her merchandise is good.” She is not looking for validation or approval of her merchandise. When you’re insecure and don’t value what you have, others may be able to minimize it and convince you that it’s not worth much. This woman, like all of us, desires acceptance and validation, but she will not seek it or find herself debilitated if she doesn’t get it.
(2) “She perceives that her merchandise is good.” To perceive is to sense and know inwardly. She understands what she brings to the table and inwardly values it. She will not doubt the value of its worth; neither will she find it necessary to brag about the quality of her merchandise. She will not have her nose turned up in pride, but neither will she have her eyes cast down with false humility. She simply has a balanced and healthy view of her wares.
(3) “She perceives that her merchandise is good.” Here is someone who’s not intimidated by or unduly concerned about the goods of other merchants. Consequently, she doesn’t spend her energies comparing and competing.
(4) “She perceives that her merchandise is good.” She’s not stuck in the past, thinking about the good merchandise she used to have. Neither is she postponing the pursuit of her goals until her merchandise is perfect. She simply steps out in faith, having done the best she could. Her merchandise is good today; tomorrow is in God’s hands. Anxiety has no place in her life.
So the word for you today is – what you’ve got is good!
Soul food: 1 Chr 10:1-12:22; Mark 2:23-28; Ps 78:56-64; Pro 20:7-10
