2025-06-25
Matthew 18:15 KJV
Few things in life cause more stress than unresolved conflict. It will elevate your blood pressure and consume your thoughts until you resolve it, so if you’re wise, you will deal with it right away. Not all people feel this way. Even though Jesus commanded us to deal with it, many Christians refrain from saying anything for the sake of peace. Not so. Unresolved conflict will affect your peace of mind, your productivity, and your attitude toward others, so it must be dealt with. Additionally, the problem with refusing to face an issue is that it will probably occur again. So, according to an interpersonal communications adviser, do these three things:
(1) “Ask God to give you His words to say so that His purpose will be achieved. ‘My word… will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11 NIV).
(2) Empty your emotions out to God before engaging the offender. Emotions tend to get in the way of facts and can hinder objective thinking. This isn’t as hard as it may sound once you decide you are going to make every effort to settle the issue in a harmonious way. ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’ (Romans 12:18 NIV).
(3) Be clear as to what you perceive the problem to be. Avoid vague arguments that leave room for misinterpretation. For example, ‘You need to do better’ does not really clarify the problem.” If your goal is to heal the relationship, God will work with you.
Soul food: Jer 25-27; Matt 2:16-3:10; Ps 64; Prov 14:25-28
2025-06-24
Psalm 40:2 NLV
Wanneer jy voor ‘n probleem te staan kom wat te groot vir jou voel of jou laat voel asof jy verdrink en nie weet wat om te doen of waarheen om te gaan nie, gebruik die wagstrategie. Dis die strategie wat Dawid gebruik het. Dit het vir hom gewerk: ‘Ek het met hunkering op die Here gewag. Hy het afgebuig en my geroep gehoor, en my opgetel uit die afgrond van die dood, uit die modder en die slym. Hy het my voete op ‘n rots laat staan en my op vaste grond laat loop. Hy het my ‘n nuwe lied gegee, ‘n lofsang om ons God te prys… Geseënd is die mens wat op die Here vertrou… U het my in staat gestel om te luister…’ (verse 2-5, 7 NLV).
Dis moeilik om te wag as mens angstig is. Om geduldig te wag, is nog moeiliker. Stop egter en dink op wie jy wag: die Here. Hy is die Here oor elke situasie, insluitend joune. Miskien sal die volgende illustrasie jou help.
Arthur McKinsey skryf: ‘Dink aan ‘n probleem asof dit ‘n middeleeuse ommuurde stad is. Baie mense sal dit direk probeer aanval. Hulle sal die hekke bestorm en probeer om die mure met pure intellektuele krag en briljantheid af te breek. Ek slaan egter buite die stad kamp op. Ek wag. Ek dink. Tot eendag – miskien nadat ek al met ‘n heeltemal ander probleem begin worstel het – word die valbrug laat sak en die inwoners sê: ‘Ons gee op.’ Die antwoord tot die probleem kom alles op een slag.’
Om op God te wag werk op hierdie manier. Terwyl jy wag, is Hy namens jou aan die werk.
Sielskos: Jer 22-24; Matt 2:1-15; Ps 59:9-17; Spr 14:23-24
Psalm 40:1 NKJV
When you’re up against a problem that seems too big for you or feel like you are “in over your head” and you don’t know what to do or which way to go, use the waiting strategy. That’s the one David the psalmist used. And it worked for him: “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-praise to our God… Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust… My ears You have opened” (vv. 1-4, 6 NKJV).
Waiting is hard to do when you are anxious. And waiting patiently is even harder. Stop and think who you are waiting for: the Lord. He is Lord of every situation, including yours. Perhaps this illustration will help you.
Arthur McKinsey writes: “If you think of a… problem as being like a medieval walled city, then a lot of people will attack it head on, like a battering ram. They will storm the gates and try to smash through the defences with sheer intellectual power and brilliance… just camp outside the city. I wait. And I think. Until one day – maybe after I’ve turned to a completely different problem – the drawbridge comes down and the defenders say, ‘We surrender.’ The answer to the problem comes all at once.”
Waiting for God to work is that way. While you are waiting, He is working on your behalf.
Soul food: Jer 22-24; Matt 2:1-15; Ps 59:9-17; Prov 14:23-24
2025-06-23
Johannes 15:11 NLV
Om te voorkom dat jy uitbrand, moet jy die volgende doen:
1) Sluit by ‘n ondersteuningsgroep aan. Vra jouself af wie die rol van ‘n Paulus teenoor jou as ‘n Timoteus vervul? Wie leer jou om te bid soos Jesus en Johannes die Doper hulle dissipels geleer het? Met wie kan jy jou stryd deel? Die Bybel sê: ‘Yster slyp yster en so vorm vriende mekaar’ (Spreuke 27:17 NLV). Bedieningmaats verstaan jou fisiese, emosionele en geestelike behoeftes en kan nuwe, verfrissende geestelike praktyke voorstel.
(2) Gebruik twee letters van die alfabet – NEE – sonder om verskoning daarvoor te maak. Ken jou gawes en jou beperkings. Staar jou vrese in die gesig; moenie hulle vermy deur hulle te begrawe en voor te gee dat hulle nie bestaan nie. Bowenal moet jy probeer om te verhoed dat jy in ‘n toestand van hulpeloosheid verval. Neem tyd om voordelige hanteringstrategieë te ontwikkel. Moenie gewone gebeure as katastrofes sien nie. Moenie by ‘n standpunt hou net omdat jy dit nog altyd gehad het nie.
(3) Besef dat dit nie verkeerd is om pret te hê nie. Jou liggaam sal jou nie toelaat om te lag en terselfdertyd ‘n maagsweer te ontwikkel nie – en dis ‘n goeie ding! Jesus het gesê: ‘Dit het Ek vir julle gesê sodat julle my blydskap mag ervaar en julle blydskap volkome kan wees.’ Hy het ook gesê: ‘…As julle nie… soos die kindertjies word nie, sal julle beslis nie in die koninkryk van God ingaan nie’ (Matteus 18:3 NLV). Kinders probeer nie die wêreld eiehandig bestuur of raak obsessief oor die werk wat ophoop nie; hulle leef in die oomblik.
Die enigste voordeel om met stres te leef, is dat jy Jesus dalk vroeër kan ontmoet – maar as jy meer tyd gehad het, was jou beloning dalk selfs groter!
Sielskos: Jer 18-21; Matt 1; Ps 59:1-8; Spr 14:21-22
John 15:11 NKJV
To keep from burning out, do this:
(1) Join a support group. Ask yourself, who fills the role of Paul to your Timothy? Who teaches you to pray like Jesus and John the Baptist taught their disciples? With whom can you share your struggles? The Bible says, “As iron sharpens iron… a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17 NLT). Ministry peers understand your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and can suggest new, refreshing spiritual practices.
(2) Use the middle two letters of the alphabet – NO – without apology. Know your gifts and your limitations. Face your fears; don’t avoid them by burying them and pretending they don’t exist. And above all, try to avoid falling into a state of helplessness. Take time to develop beneficial coping strategies. Don’t imagine that ordinary events are catastrophes. “They’re out to get me” is a sure sign of burnout! And don’t adhere to a certain viewpoint just because you always have. Like outdated clothes, it can become ill-fitting and absurd.
(3) Realize it’s not wrong to have fun. Your body won’t allow you to laugh and develop an ulcer at the same time – and that’s a good thing! Jesus said, “These things I have spoken… that My joy may remain in you, and… your joy may be full.” He also said that unless you “become as little children, ye shall not enter… the kingdom” (Matthew 18:3 KJV). Kids don’t try to run the world single-handedly or obsess about the work that’s piling up; they live in the moment.
The only advantage to living with stress is you get to meet Jesus earlier – but given more time, your reward may have been even greater!
Soul food: Jer 18-21; Matt 1; Ps 59:1-8; Prov 14:21-22
