2023-12-17
2 Timoteus 1:6 NLV
Paulus het vir Timoteus gesê: ‘Dit is waarom ek jou daaraan herinner om die geestelike gawe, wat God jou gegee het toe ek jou die hande opgelê het, soos ‘n vuur aan te blaas.’ Hierdie Skrifgedeelte beteken dat, selfs as jy talentvol is, jy apaties kan word as jy nie aanhou om die regte dinge te doen nie. ‘Ons moet dus baie styf vashou aan die boodskap wat ons gehoor het sodat ons tog nie dalk wegdryf nie’ (Hebreërs 2:1 NLV). Kom ons kyk na twee dinge wat jou passie, entoesiasme, motivering en fokus by jou kan steel:
1) Gebrek aan doelwitte. ‘Wanneer ‘n volk nie duidelikheid het oor die wil van God nie, word hulle koersloos…’ (Spreuke 29:18 NLV). Wat het jou altyd opgewonde gemaak? Wat het jou belangstelling daarin vernietig? Is dit ‘n begeerte wat jy weer kan laat oplewe? Skryf dit neer. Ignoreer die potensiële koste daaraan verbonde of redes hoekom dit dalk nie mag werk nie. Gee net jou gedagtes die geleentheid om optimisties en opgewonde oor iets te voel.
2) Verkeerde doelwitte. Streef jy ‘n doel na wat deur iemand anders op jou afgedwing is? Of roei jy dalk teen die gety van God se wil vir jou lewe, soos Jona voor hy deur die groot vis ingesluk is? Vra Hom om seker te maak wat die geval is. Het God jou werklik gelei om jouself met daardie buitensporige item te bederf wat nou van jou vereis om twee werke te behartig? Of dalk het die tyd vir ‘n doelwit wat deel was van God se plan vir ‘n spesifieke seisoen van jou lewe, tot ‘n einde gekom. Om aan te beweeg is soms moeilik, maar o, die vreugde en vrede om te weet dat jy in die middel van God se volmaakte wil is!
Sielskos: Jona 2; Luk 11:29-36
2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV
Paul told Timothy, “Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” That Scripture means, even though you’re gifted, you can become apathetic if you don’t keep doing the right things. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1 NKJV). The word “drift” is not only slow and subtle, it’s deadly. Let’s look at two of the things that can rob you of your passion, enthusiasm, motivation, and focus.
(1) Lack of goals. “Without a vision the people perish” (See Proverbs 29:18). What used to enthuse you? What destroyed your interest in it? Is it a desire you could revive? Put it down in writing. Ignore the potential cost or reasons it might not work. Just indulge your mind in the luxury of feeling optimistic and excited about something, even a small thing.
(2) Wrong goals. Are you pursuing a goal you feel was imposed upon you by someone else? Or like Jonah before he was swallowed by the whale, possibly you’re rowing against the tide of God’s will for your life. Check with Him and see if this is so. Did God really lead you to pamper yourself in that extravagant item that’s now requiring you to work two jobs? Or maybe the time has come to an end for a goal that was part of God’s plan for a specific season of your life. Moving on is sometimes difficult, but oh, the joy and peace of knowing that you are in the center of God’s perfect will!
Soul food: Jonah 2; Luke 11:29-36
2023-12-16
Psalm 37:8 NKJV
Your anger may or may not hurt the person toward whom it’s directed, but it can definitely hurt you. Prolonged anger releases toxic chemicals into your body that elevate your blood pressure, create cholesterol, and increase your risk of stroke and heart attack. Every minute given to anger is a minute taken away from joy. And it can hurt you personally and professionally. Everybody gets upset from time to time. But when you walk around with your anger barely concealed, people avoid you. Plus, you’re giving whoever angers you power over your attitude and your responses. That’s too much power to give anybody! God wants you to live in peace. Here is how to let go of your anger:
(1) Recognize the main hurt and emotion at the root of your anger. (Pride?).
(2) Become mindful of how your anger is exhibiting itself (such as surliness or profanity).
(3) Restrain anger’s effect on your body by inhaling deeply and exhaling, adding an affirmation such as “Thank you, Father” or “I receive Your peace now.” Watch your tone of voice in all your communications, not just with someone who has angered you. Request rather than order. You will feel more in control, and people will be more inclined to cooperate with you.
(4) Decide to forgive. You will know you have forgiven when you no longer desire to see your offender penalized. Don’t mistake this with the reality that you still feel hurt. Feelings follow behavior. If you continue to reopen the wound by constantly talking about it, it will never heal. Just keep walking in love, and your emotions will fall into line with your decision.
Soul food: Neh 1-4; John 17:13-26; Ps 105:23-36; Prov 30:15-19
Psalm 37:8 NLV
Jou woede mag dalk of mag dalk nie die persoon teen wie dit gerig is, seermaak nie, maar dit kan jou definitief seermaak. Langdurige woede stel giftige chemikalieë in jou liggaam vry wat jou bloeddruk verhoog, cholesterol veroorsaak en jou risiko vir beroertes en hartaanvalle verhoog. Elke minuut wat aan woede bestee word, is ‘n minuut wat jou van vreugde ontneem. Almal raak van tyd tot tyd ontsteld. Wanneer jy egter met kwalik bedekte woede rondloop, vermy mense jou. Jy gee ook die persoon wat jou kwaad maak mag oor jou houding en reaksies. God wil hê dat jy in vrede moet leef. Hier is hoe jy jou woede kan laat gaan:
1) Herken die rede vir jou seer en emosie wat die wortel van jou woede is. (Trots?).
2) Wees bedag op hoe jou woede homself openbaar (soos ‘n nors gesig of vloektaal).
3) Beperk die effek van woede op jou liggaam deur diep in en uit te asem en voeg ‘n bevestiging soos: ‘Dankie, Vader,’ of ‘Ek ontvang nou u vrede,’ by. Let op na jou stemtoon, nie net met iemand wat jou kwaad gemaak het nie. Versoek eerder as om te beveel. Jy sal meer in beheer voel en mense sal meer geneig wees om saam met jou te werk.
4) Besluit om te vergewe. Jy sal weet dat jy vergewe het wanneer jy nie meer die begeerte het om te sien hoe jou oortreder gestraf word nie.
Moenie dit verwar met die realiteit dat jy steeds seergemaak voel nie. Gevoelens volg op gedrag. As jy aanhou om die wond weer oop te maak deur voortdurend daaroor te praat, sal dit nooit genees nie. Hou net aan om in liefde te loop en jou emosies sal in lyn met jou besluit kom.
Sielskos: Neh 1-4; Joh 17:13-26; Ps 105:23-36; Spr 30:15-19
2023-12-15
James 1:19 NLT
The Bible gives us three keys to handling our anger the right way. Let’s look at each one and see what we can learn:
(1) “Be quick to listen.” Don’t react, and don’t rush to judgment. Slow down and try to get the facts, then prayerfully and carefully consider how God wants you to respond.
(2) “Slow to speak.” If you’re unsure, or you don’t know, just say so. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “It’s better to say nothing and appear to be a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.” Your need to be in control, or to look like you have all the answers, can come back to bite you. What you don’t say, you won’t have to explain or apologize for later.
(3) “Slow to get angry.” Note, the Bible doesn’t say that you should never get angry. It says you should get angry about the right things, in the right way, at the right time. Solomon says, “Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool” (Ecclesiastes 7:9 NLT). That’s why it’s so important to deal with your hurts. An unhealed wound causes pain which often manifests itself in anger.
The trouble is, we carry our anger around with us and vent it on others. As a result, they distance themselves from us, or distrust us, or deny us the intimacy and closeness we desire with them. The Bible says, “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (Proverbs 19:11 NKJV). Christlike character grows through exercising patience, love, and restraint.
Soul food: Col 3-4; Philemon; John 17:1-12; Ps 105:16-22; Prov 30:10-14
