2025-09-07
Joshua 1:8 NIV
If you want to change your life, you must change how you think and what you think about. When you think about the wrong things, your life goes wrong. But when you think about the right things, your life goes right.
(1) Changing your thinking isn’t easy. It’s not automatic and doesn’t happen on its own. Good ideas seldom go out and bump into someone. If you want to discover a good idea, you have to look for it. If you want to improve your thinking, you need to work at it – and when you become a better thinker, good ideas will keep coming. Furthermore, the amount of good thinking you do at a specific time relies mainly on the amount of good thinking you’re engaging in already.
(2) Changing your thinking calls for commitment. Albert Einstein said, “Thinking is hard work; that’s why so few do it.” When someone says, “This thought is off the top of my head,” anticipate dandruff. Only people who believe thinking is easy are the ones who don’t participate in it. The media, the culture, and those around you will influence your thinking unless you decide to think for yourself.
(3) Changing your thinking brings great rewards. Paul writes, “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV). When you tap into the thoughts of God and make them your own, your potential is unlimited. Gold mines run out. Stock markets suddenly decline. Real estate investments go bad. But a mind transformed by the Spirit and Word of God is like a diamond mine that lasts. It’s invaluable.
Soul food: Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
2025-09-06
Spreuke 23:7 KAB
Goeie denkers is altyd in aanvraag. Hoekom? Omdat hulle probleme oplos, altyd idees het wat ‘n organisasie kan opbou en omdat hulle altyd hoop vir ‘n beter toekoms het. Goeie denkers bevind hulself selde onder die beheer van slegte denkers. Adolf Hitler het een keer gespog: ‘Wat ‘n geluk is dit nie vir heersers dat mense nie dink nie.’ Diegene wat die tegniek van goeie denke bemeester, kan hulself handhaaf – selfs onder ‘n onregverdige heerser of in ander uitdagende omstandighede. Goeie denkers is suksesvol.
Dr John Maxwell skryf: ‘Ek het suksesvolle mense vir veertig jaar lank bestudeer en alhoewel die diversiteit onder hulle verstommend is, het ek gevind dat hulle almal op een manier eenders is: hoe hulle dink! Dit is die een ding wat suksesvolle mense van onsuksesvolles onderskei. Die goeie nuus is egter dat jy kan leer om soos suksesvolle mense te dink. As jy jou denke kan verander, kan jy jou lewe verander!’
Die Bybel stel dit so: ‘Want soos hy in sy hart dink, so is hy…’ Dit beteken dat jy nooit hoër op in die lewe sal beweeg as jy nie jou denke verander nie. As jy die manier waarop jy dink verander, kan dit jou lewe verander! Dis moeilik om die waarde van denke wat verander, te oordryf. Goeie denke kan verskeie dinge vir jou doen, insluitend om nuwe geleenthede te laat realiseer, probleme op te los en inkomste te genereer. Dit kan jou na ‘n hele nuwe vlak, beide professioneel en persoonlik, lei.
Paulus skryf: ‘…beplan alles wat… lofwaardig is… Dan sal die God wat vrede gee, by julle wees’ (Filippense 4:8-9 NLV). Wil jy jou lewe verander? Die eerste stap is om jou denke te verander.
Sielskos: Eseg 40:10-42:20; Matt 24:15-25; Ps 78:17-31; Spr 20:15-19
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV
Good thinkers are constantly in demand. Why? Because they solve problems, always have ideas that can build an organization, and are hopeful for a better future. And good thinkers seldom find themselves under the control of bad thinkers. Adolf Hitler once boasted, “What luck for rulers that men do not think.” Those who build the technique of good thinking can manage themselves – even when under an unfair ruler or in other challenging circumstances. In summary, good thinkers are successful.
Dr. John Maxwell writes: “I’ve studied successful people for forty years, and though the diversity you find among them is astounding, I’ve found that they are all alike in one way: how they think! That is the one thing that separates successful people from unsuccessful ones. And here’s the good news. How successful people think can be learned. If you can change your thinking, you can change your life!”
The Bible puts it succinctly: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” That means you will never climb higher in life until you are ready to change your thinking. But if you change the way you think, you can change your life! It’s hard to exaggerate the value of changing your thinking. Good thinking can do several things for you, including generating opportunities, resolving problems, and producing revenue. It can lead you to an entirely new level, both professionally and personally.
Paul writes, “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise… Then the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NLT). Do you want to change your life? The first step is to change how you think.
Soul food: Eze 40:10-42:20; Matt 24:15-25; Ps 78:17-31; Pro 20:15-19
2025-09-05
1 John 3:21 NKJV
When you willfully do wrong, you experience anxiety, stress, and insecurity. “‘There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked'” (Isaiah 48:22 NKJV). Whenever you choose a plan of action incompatible with what you believe to be right, you forfeit your peace of mind. For instance, a person may accept a job or duty that forces them to do something against their spiritual convictions, something that violates their conscience. Numerous women have faced the predicament of compromising their values so they can get a promotion or attain other advantages. To them at the time, it looked like their only option. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25 KJV).
This is when a strong spiritual foundation is essential. It takes faith and bravery to let your convictions direct your behaviour and your choices. The truth is that God is ultimately responsible for your advancement and promotion. His Word says, “Promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6-7 KJV).
Don’t think you can do right in your own power. Sometimes the temptation to manipulate or lie so that you can advance your career is just too much to withstand. That’s when you need to draw on God’s strength. David said, “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1 NKJV). Prayer: “Father, please keep me from falling into temptation, and deliver me from the Evil One. Help me to do what’s right.”
Soul food: Eze 37:1-40:9; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 78:9-16; Pro 20:11-14
1 Johannes 3:21 NLV
Wanneer jy wetend iets verkeerds doen, ervaar jy angs, stres en onsekerheid. “‘Vir bose mense,’ sê die Here, ‘is daar geen vrede nie'” (Jesaja 48:22 NLV). Wanneer jy ‘n plan van aksie kies wat onversoenbaar is met dit wat jy glo reg is, gee jy jou vrede prys. ‘n Persoon kan byvoorbeeld ‘n werk of plig aanvaar wat hulle dwing om iets teen hul geestelike oortuigings te doen, iets wat hul gewete skend. Talle mense was al in die situasie waar hulle waardes gekompromitteer word, sodat hulle bevordering kan kry of ander voordele kan behaal. Vir hulle het dit destyds na hul enigste opsie gelyk. ‘Dit kan lyk of ‘n mens reg lewe. Agterna gesien is dit die pad van die dood’ (Spreuke 16:25 NLV).
Dis wanneer ‘n sterk geestelike fondament nodig is. Dit verg geloof en moed om jou oortuigings toe te laat om jou gedrag en jou keuses te rig. Die waarheid is dat God op die ou einde vir jou bevordering verantwoordelik is. Sy Woord sê: ‘Want uit die ooste of weste of selfs uit die woestyn, kom daar geen verheffing nie. Maar God is die regter wat verneder of verhef’ (Psalm 75:7-8 NLV).
Moenie dink dat jy uit jou eie krag reg kan optree nie. Soms is die versoeking om te manipuleer of te jok sodat jy jou loopbaan kan bevorder, net te veel om te weerstaan. Dis dan wanneer jy God se krag nodig het. Dawid het gesê: ‘…Die Here is my lewenstoevlug. Vir wie sal ek dan bang wees?’ (Psalm 27:1 NLV). Bid die volgende: ‘Vader, bewaar my asseblief dat ek nie in versoeking kom nie en verlos my van die Bose. Help my om te doen wat reg is.’
Sielskos: Eseg 37:1-40:9; Matt 24:1-14; Ps 78:9-16; Spr 20:11-14
