2025-08-28
1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT
Physical exercise strengthens your immune system so that you can fight off heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, thyroid malfunction, impaired memory, and a host of maladies. The best kind of exercise is the one you like and is the most convenient. Here are the two biggest reasons we’re inconsistent in following an exercise program: First, we lose interest in it because we don’t get much satisfaction out of it. Second, it demands too much time or effort.
Whether you go for a fast-moving walk or attend a high-energy fitness class, almost any physical activity will relax and reenergize your body. Exercise at least thirty minutes a day, a minimum of five days a week. And the apostle Paul gives us the key to success in one word: discipline. “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should” (v. 27 NLT).
Additionally, physical activity can help you to reduce stress, lose weight and keep it off, and feel better about yourself. If you can’t find time for an official workout, try gradually growing the activity into your lifestyle. Park farther away from the store so you have to take more steps to enter it. Walk up the stairs instead of riding the elevator.
As a redeemed child of God, here is an all-important reason for staying physically fit: “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you… therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV). Prayer: “Father, help me to do some sort of physical activity regularly.”
Soul food: Eze 16:53-19:14; Matt 22:1-14; Ps 103:13-22; Pro 19:17
2025-08-27
Psalm 118:24 NLV
Wanneer dit moeilik gaan en jy in die versoeking kom om oor jou lot in die lewe te kla, stop en herinner jouself dat vandag ‘n gawe van God is, een wat jy nooit weer sal oorhê nie. Dink aan die volgende woorde wat jou sal help: Net vir vandag sal ek elke uur ten volle ervaar en geniet en nie al my probleme op een slag probeer oplos nie. Net vir vandag sal ek my kennis probeer verbreed deur iets nuuts te leer; ek sal iets lees wat inspanning, dinkwerk, konsentrasie en toewyding verg. Net vir vandag sal ek aangenaam wees. Ek sal probeer om op my beste te lyk, sag te praat en hoflik en bedagsaam teenoor ander te wees.
Net vir vandag sal ek nie probeer foutvind of enigiemand anders as myself probeer verbeter nie. Net vir vandag sal ek ‘n plan en ‘n doelwit hê. Ek sal dit dalk nie presies volg nie, maar ek sal nietemin een hê. Deur dit te doen, sal ek myself van twee vyande – haas en besluiteloosheid – red.
Net vir vandag sal ek my karakter ontwikkel. Ek sal iets goeds doen en dit vir myself hou; as enigiemand daarvan uitvind, tel dit nie. Net vir vandag sal ek iets doen waarvoor ek nie lus is nie. Sodoende sal ek my gees oefen om my vlees te oorheers en my wil om my emosies te oorheers. Net vir vandag sal ek nie bang wees om lief te hê of te waag nie; ek sal poog om al God se seëninge te geniet en glo dat elke saad wat ek in sy koninkryk saai, vermenigvuldig na my toe sal terugkom. Dis hoe ek sal lewe – net vir vandag!
Sielskos: Eseg 14:1-16:52; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 103:1-12; Spr 19:12-16
Psalm 118:24 KJV
When the going gets tough, and you’re tempted to complain about your lot in life, stop and remind yourself that this day is a gift from God, one you will never have again. Think about the following words and they will help you: Just for today, I will experience and enjoy each hour to the fullest and not try to tackle my whole life’s problems all at once. Just for today, I will try to improve my mind by learning more than I know; I will read something that requires effort, thought, concentration, and commitment. Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will try to look my best, speak softly, and be courteous and considerate to others.
Just for today, I won’t find fault or try to change or improve anyone but myself. Just for today, I will have a plan and a goal. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have one, nonetheless. By doing that, I will save myself from two enemies – hurry and indecision.
Just for today, I will develop my character. I will do a good turn and keep it a secret; if anyone finds out, it won’t count. Just for today, I will do something I don’t want to do. That way, I will train my spirit to overrule my flesh, and my will to overrule my emotions. Just for today, I won’t be afraid to love or to risk; I will endeavour to enjoy all God’s blessings and believe that every seed I sow in His kingdom will be multiplied back to me many times over. That’s how I will live – just for today!
Soul food: Eze 14:1-16:52; Matt 21:33-46; Ps 103:1-12; Pro 19:12-16
2025-08-26
Romans 8:37 NKJV
Have you heard of the principle of supercompensation? A pastor explains: “When an athlete is pushed beyond the threshold of pain and exhaustion, the body overcompensates. The more a muscle is broken down, the more it builds back up… The two hundred and six bones in the body are constantly going through a process called remodelling. They are being broken down by osteoclasts and built back up by osteoblasts. The process of remodelling is intensified when a bone is broken. Extra osteoblasts help rebuild the bone. There is a period of weakness where the bone is more vulnerable to re-injury. That is why we wear casts. But eventually the bone ends up stronger than it was to begin with because the body overcompensates. Very rarely does a bone break in the same place twice because the bone is thicker and stronger than it was before the break.
Almost like a broken bone that needs to be reset, God breaks us where we need to be broken. He fractures the pride and lust and anger in our lives, but He does it to remodel us into His image. and once we heal, we end up stronger than we were to begin with. [Paul writes,] ‘It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ… to suffer for him’ [Philippians 1:29 NIV]. The word ‘granted’ comes from [a] Greek root… which literally means ‘to grant a favour’… We tend to see suffering as a necessary evil at best, but Paul calls it a divine favour.”
So, maybe God is remodelling you. Perhaps the problem you thought you would never overcome will become your most effective ministry to others.
Soul food: Eze 10-13; Matt 21:18-32; Ps 84; Pro 19:11
Romeine 8:37 NLV
Het jy al van die beginsel van superkompensasie gehoor? ‘n Pastoor verduidelik dit as volg: ‘Wanneer ‘n atleet verby die drumpel van pyn en uitputting gedruk word, oorkompenseer die liggaam. Hoe meer ‘n spier afgebreek word, hoe meer bou dit weer op. Die tweehonderd-en-ses bene in die liggaam gaan voortdurend deur ‘n proses wat hermodellering genoem word. Hulle word deur osteoklaste afgebreek en deur osteoblaste opgebou. Die proses van hermodellering word intensiewer wanneer ‘n been breek. Ekstra osteoblaste help om die been te herbou. Daar is ‘n tydperk van swakheid waar die been meer kwesbaar vir ‘n herbesering is. Daarom dra ons gips. Die been is egter sterker as wat dit was om mee te begin, omdat die liggaam oorkompenseer. Baie selde breek ‘n been twee keer op dieselfde plek, omdat die been dikker en sterker is as wat dit voor die breuk was.
Amper soos ‘n gebreekte been wat herstel moet word, breek God ons waar ons gebreek moet word. God verbreek die trots en wellus en woede in ons lewens, maar Hy doen dit om ons na sy beeld te hervorm. Sodra ons genees, is ons sterker as wat ons was. Paulus skryf: ‘Aan julle is immers die voorreg gegee om Christus te dien, nie alleen deur in Hom te glo nie, maar ook deur vir Hom te ly’ (Filippense 1:29 NLV). Ons is geneig om lyding as ‘n noodsaaklike euwel te sien, maar Paulus noem dit ‘n goddelike voorreg.’
Miskien is God besig om jou te hervorm. Miskien sal die probleem wat jy gedink het jy nooit sal oorkom nie, jou effektiefste bediening word.
Sielskos: Eseg 10-13; Matt 21:18-32; Ps 84; Spr 19:11
