2026-07-12
Psalm 5:3 NKJV
How do you start your day with God? If you’re not a “morning person,” don’t put pressure on yourself to have an extended time of reading Scripture and praying first thing in the morning. Frank Laubach, a modern-day master of practicing the presence of God, said, “If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are.” Instead of forcing yourself in the morning, try to arrange – as early as you can after you wake up – to have just a few minutes alone with God. Do three things:
First, acknowledge your dependence on God.
Second, tell Him about your concerns for the day.
Third, invite God to spend the day with you.
The Psalmist said, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord… I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” Then he added, “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word” (Psalm 119:147 NKJV).
So how can you start your day with God? Don’t attempt to do a lot of new or heroic things. Just do the things you normally do – only do them with God. In our culture, we often talk about embracing the moment and seizing the day. But we are not meant to embrace moments; we are meant to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything but good. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” (Psalm 118:1 NKJV).
Remind yourself that today God is with you, and that He will be good to you and for you.
Soul food: Matt 5:9; Rom 12:17-21; Jam 3:17-18
2026-07-11
Jakobus 5:11 NLV
Jakobus het geskryf: ‘Liewe broers en susters, neem die profete wat namens die Here gepraat het, as ‘n voorbeeld van geduld in swaarkry. Ons gee met reg eer aan dié wat in swaarkry uithou. Job is ‘n voorbeeld van iemand wat geduldig volhard het. Uit wat uiteindelik met hom gebeur het, sien ons dat God se einddoel goed is. Die Here is mos vol innige meelewing en Hy gee onverdiend sy liefde’ (Jakobus 5:10-11 NLV). Hier word ons herinner om terug te kyk en bemoedig te word deur diegene wat ons vooraf gegaan het terwyl ons wag vir die Here se wederkoms.
Kyk na Hosea: Sy vrou het hom verlaat, maar hy het getrou volhard en God het hul huwelik herstel (sien Hosea 3:1-3). Kyk na Daniël: Hy is in ‘n leeukuil gegooi omdat hy standvastig in sy geloof gestaan het, maar God het hom verlos en bevorder (sien Daniël 6:1-28). Kyk na Jeremia: Hy is gearresteer, daarvan beskuldig dat hy ‘n verraaier is en in ‘n put gegooi om te sterf (sien Jeremia 37-38). Hy het egter opgekyk en God het hom verlos.
Dan is daar die lys van die geloofshelde wat in Hebreërs 11 genoem word! Diegene van ons wat deur familielede verwerp is, kan na Abel terugkyk (vers 4). Diegene wat misverstaan word, kan na Noag terugkyk (vers 7). Diegene wat ‘n krisis van geloof ervaar en voel of hulle teen die onmoontlike te staan kom, kan na Abraham terugkyk (vers 8-10). As jy misbruik of mishandel is, kan jy na Josef terugkyk (vers 22). Diegene wat met struikelblokke in die lewe gekonfronteer word, kan na Josua terugkyk (vers 30). Diegene wat ‘n sondige verlede wil oorkom, kan na Ragab terugkyk (vers 31).
Die woord vir jou vandag is dus: Kyk terug en word bemoedig.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 109:16-31; Spr 18:1-3
James 5:11 NKJV
James wrote: “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:10-11 NKJV). Here we are reminded to look back and be challenged and encouraged by those who went before us as we await the Lord’s coming.
Look back at Hosea: His wife deserted him, but he faithfully hung in there and God restored their marriage (Hosea 3:1-3). Look back at Daniel: He was thrown into a lions’ den for standing firm in his faith, but God delivered and promoted him (Daniel 6:1-28). Look back at Jeremiah: He was arrested, accused of being a traitor, and thrown into a well to die (Jeremiah 37-38). But he looked up, and God delivered him.
Then there’s the roll call of the faithful listed in Hebrews eleven! Those of us who have been rejected by family members can look back to Abel (v. 4). Those who are misunderstood can look back to Noah (v. 7). Those battling a crisis of faith and who seem to be up against the impossible can look back to Abraham (vv. 8-10). If you’ve been used or abused, look back to Joseph (v. 22). Those confronted by seemingly insurmountable obstacles in life can look back to Joshua (v. 30). Those seeking to move beyond a sinful past can look back to Rahab (v. 31).
So, this is the word for you today: Look back and be encouraged.
Soul food: 2 Sam 20:1-22:30; Matt 26:14-25; Ps 109:16-31; Pro 18:1-3
2026-07-10
1 Korintiërs 11:24 NLV
Hier is drie redes waarom jy nagmaal moet gebruik:
1) Om jou bewus van die grootheid van God se genade te maak. Niemand gaan ooit in die hemel aankom en sê: ‘Kyk wat het ek en Jesus bereik!’ nie. As jy een sent van jou sondeskuld betaal het, sou dit jou ‘n mede-verlosser met Christus gemaak het. Wat ‘n bespotting van die kruis! (sien Efesiërs 2:8-9). Die gesangeskrywer Horatio Spafford het geskryf: ‘My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!’
2) Om jou sensitief vir sonde te hou. ‘Dit is waarom julle julleself moet ondersoek voordat julle van die brood eet en uit die beker drink. Want as julle sommer so op ‘n onbedagsame manier van die brood eet en uit die beker drink, drink en eet julle ‘n oordeel oor julleself’ (1 Korintiërs 11:28-29 NLV). Jy vra: ‘As ek sondig en nagmaal gebruik, beteken dit dat ek myself dan verdoem?’ Nee, die manier waarop jy God nader, is wat belangrik is. Jy hoef nie die nagmaalbeker te vermy nie; maar jy moet jou sondes bely en dan met dankbaarheid drink.
3) Om jou op Christus se wederkoms gefokus te hou. ‘…Ek [sal] nie weer wyn drink nie tot op daardie dag wanneer Ek opnuut die feeswyn sal drink in die koningkryk van God’ (Markus 14:25 NLV). Elke nagmaaldiens bring jou een stap nader aan die grootste nagmaaldiens van almal: die bruilofsmaal van die Lam in die hemel (sien Openbaring 19:7). Beplan jy om daar te wees?
Sielskos: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:1-15; Spr 17:27-28
1 Corinthians 11:24 NKJV
Here are three reasons you need to partake of Holy Communion:
(1) To make you grace-minded. No one will ever stand in heaven and say, “Look what Jesus and I have accomplished.” If you had to pay one penny of your debt of sin, it would make you a co-redeemer with Christ. What an offence to the cross! (Ephesians 2:8-9.) Hymnist Horatio Spafford wrote: “My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!”
(2) To keep you sensitive to sin. “… Let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself… ” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29 NKJV). You say, “If I sin and take communion, does that mean I’m drinking liquid damnation?” No, it’s the “manner” in which you approach God that counts. You don’t have to avoid the communion cup; you need only confess your sin, then drink deeply with gratitude.
(3) To keep you focused on Christ’s return. “… I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25 NKJV). Every communion service brings you one step closer to the greatest communion service of all: the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 19:7). Are you planning on being there?
Soul food: 2 Sam 17:14-19:43; Matt 26:1-13; Ps 109:1-15; Pro 17:27-28
