2022-12-02
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
When God gives you a vision, be prepared to shed some tears over it because every vision comes with a price tag. The road to triumph is through tests and trials. Nobody gets a free pass. But God has promised that there will be a harvest: “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest” (Psalm 126:5-6 NLT).
That Scripture teaches us two things: (1) There is a season for weeping. This is not an excuse for passivity, or a posture of weakness that reduces you to tears because life is not fair, and things are tough. Nehemiah was moved to tears over Jerusalem’s ruins. Then he developed a plan, put together a team, and rebuilt it. What moves you? What do you feel passionate about?
(2) There is a season for reaping. Everything in life has a reason and a season (See Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). When you understand the reason and maximize the season, you become “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season” (Psalm 1:3 NIV). Note the words “in season.” Fruit won’t grow before its time. That’s why you must discern your life’s changing seasons and adjust to them.
That’s particularly true when it’s harvest time. You need to know when it’s time to stop weeping and start reaping; otherwise, you will miss your harvest. Tears are for the sower, but joy is for the reaper. So, when your season changes, harvest your fields with joy. You have paid your dues; now it’s time to enjoy what God has promised you.
Soul food: 2 Chron 32-34; John 12:37-50; Ps 146; Prov 28:9-12
Prediker 3:1 NLV
Wanneer God vir jou ‘n visie gee moet jy voorbereid wees om ‘n paar trane te stort, omdat elke visie teen ‘n prys kom. Die pad na oorwinning is vol toetse en beproewings. Niemand word daarvan kwytgeskeld nie. God het egter belowe dat daar ‘n oes sal wees: ‘Hulle wat met trane saai, sal met vreugde maai. Hulle wat met trane die saadsak dra, sal sing van vreugde wanneer hulle die gerwe dra’ (Psalm 126:5-6 NLV).
Die Skrif leer ons twee dinge: 1) Daar is ‘n tyd om te huil. Dit is nie ‘n verskoning vir passiwiteit, of ‘n houding van swakheid wat jou tot trane reduseer omdat die lewe nie regverdig is en dinge moeilik is, nie. Nehemia is tot trane deur die puinhoop van Jerusalem gedryf. Toe het hy egter ‘n plan ontwikkel, ‘n span bymekaar gekry en dit herbou. Waaroor voel jy passievol? Wat dryf jou?
2) Daar is ‘n tyd om te oes. Alles in die lewe het ‘n rede en ‘n seisoen (sien Prediker 3:1-8). Wanneer jy die rede verstaan en die meeste uit die seisoen put, word jy ‘…soos bome geplant langs ‘n rivier, wat vrugte dra op die regte tyd…’ (Psalm 1:3 NLV). Let die woorde: ‘op die regte tyd,’. Vrugte sal nie voor hul tyd groei nie. Dis hoekom jy onderskeid tussen jou lewe se veranderende seisoene moet tref en by hulle moet aanpas.
Dis veral waar wanneer dit oestyd is. Jy moet weet wanneer jy moet ophou huil en begin oes; anders sal jy die oes misloop. Trane is vir die saaier, maar vreugde is vir die maaier. Wanneer jou seisoen dus begin verander, oes jou lande met vreugde. Jy het jou ledegeld betaal; nou is dit tyd om dit wat God vir jou beloof het, te geniet.
Sielskos: 2 Kron 32-34; Joh 12:37-50; Ps 146; Spr 28:9-12
2022-12-01
Galasiërs 5:22-23 NLV
Is jy selfbeheersd, of ‘n beheerder? Kom ons vind uit: Beheerders blameer dinge soos die duiwel, mense en omstandighede vir hulle probleme en reageer deur te blameer, wrokkig te wees of frustrasie te projekteer. Hulle manipuleer mense en omstandighede tot hul eie voordeel. Dit werk egter nie; hulle pogings verskerp hulle pyn en verander hulle verhoudings in ‘n magstryd. Hoe meer hulle probeer beheer, hoe slegter voel hulle; en hoe slegter hulle voel, hoe meer probeer hulle beheer. God wil nie hê dat jy so moet lewe nie.
Die selfbeheersde verstaan dat die duiwel niks sonder jou samewerking kan doen nie en dat jy dit nie hoef te gee nie (sien Lukas 10:17). Hulle verstaan dat mense en omstandighede ook nie die probleem is nie – hoe ons dit hanteer is egter wel. Hulle reageer dus deur hulself aan drie dinge te herinner:
1) Die persoon wat ek moet beheer, is myself.
2) Soms moet ek mense en omstandighede aan God oorgee en Hom toelaat om hulle te hanteer.
3) Ek moet daagliks krag uit die Heilige Gees put sodat ek my reaksies kan beheer en die Skrif se beginsels toe te pas om in beheer van my lewe te bly (sien 2 Timoteus 1:7).
Gevolglik vermy die selfbeheersdes dit om by blaamspeletjies en selftoegediende pyn betrokke te raak en om verhoudings in gevegsones te verander. Deur te weet dat as ‘die Gees ons lewe beheer, is die gevolg… selfbeheersing…,’ verstaan hulle dat die Gees hulle nie sal beheer, of hulle sal help om ander te beheer nie, maar dat Hy hulle sal bemagtig om hulself te beheer. Mense wat deur die Gees bemagtig word, word vry van die probleem en word deel van die oplossing.
Sielskos: 2 Kron 29-31; Joh 12:20-36; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 28:5-8
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
Are you self-controlled, or a controller? Let’s find out: Controllers blame things like the devil, people, or circumstances for their problems and respond by blaming, resenting, or projecting frustration. They manipulate people and circumstances to their own advantage. But it doesn’t work; their attempts intensify their pain and turn their relationships into power struggles. The more they try to control, the worse they feel; and the worse they feel, the more they try to control. God doesn’t want you to live that way.
The self-controlled understand that the devil can do nothing to you without your cooperation, and you don’t have to give it (See Luke 10:17). They understand that people and circumstances aren’t the problem either – how we deal with them is. So, they respond by reminding themselves of three things:
(1) The person I need to control is myself.
(2) Sometimes I must turn people and circumstances over to God and allow Him to deal with them.
(3) I must draw daily on the Holy Spirit’s power in order to control my reactions and follow the “sound mind” principles of Scripture for staying in charge of my life (See 2 Timothy 1:7).
As a result, the self-controlled avoid engaging in blame games, self-inflicted pain, and turning relationships into battle zones. Knowing that “the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives… self-control,” they understand that the Spirit won’t control them, or help them to control others, but He will empower them to control themselves. Spirit-empowered people are freed from being part of the problem and become part of the solution.
Soul food: 2 Chron 29-31; John 12:20-36; Ps 118:19-29; Prov 28:5-8
2022-11-30
Luke 17:14 NLT
“Ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!'” (vv. 12-15 NLT).
There is a spiritual parallel between leprosy and life; both can consume you. Is that what’s happening to you today? If so: (1) Take your problem to Jesus. He can restore what you have lost and give you back your peace and joy. Cry out to Him. Forget about looking dignified; desperate people do desperate things, and God responds to desperate prayers: “You will… find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).
(2) Whatever He tells you, do it! Don’t lay down terms to God. And don’t seek an identical experience to somebody else. Jesus told these ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests. Why didn’t He just heal them like He did others? Faith doesn’t demand explanations!
(3) Be prepared to walk it out. “And as they went, they were cleansed.” Sometimes when God gives you the answer, you have to walk it out in faith, each step bringing you closer to your deliverance. But nothing happens until you take that first step.
(4) Don’t forget to thank Him. Only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks, and Jesus noticed it. He still does! You can go to Him with confidence for your next answer when you remember to give Him thanks for your last one.
Soul food: 2 Chron 25-28; John 12:12-19; Ps 118:10-18; Prov 28:1-4
