2026-07-06
Jakobus 4:2 NLV
Van die begin tot aan die einde van die Bybel vind ons klinkklare bewyse dat God gebede verhoor. Dinge wat ons dink onmoontlik is, doen God wanneer mense daarvoor bid! Wanneer ons bid, vereenselwig ons onsself met God se doeleindes en maak van die krag van die Almagtige gebruik. Omdat ons bid, werk God deur ons op maniere wat Hy andersins nie sou doen nie. God het sekere dinge van gebed afhanklik gemaak, dinge wat nooit sal plaasvind tensy ons bid nie. Kan God doen wat Hy wil, sonder dat ons daaroor bid? Natuurlik. God het egter bepaal dat Hy die gebede van sy mense sal gebruik om sy doeleindes te bereik.
Wanneer ons nie bid nie, beperk ons dit wat God in ons lewens sal doen. Dit mag dalk vreemd klink, maar as dit nie waar was nie, hoekom sou Jakobus dan geskryf het: ‘En eintlik is die rede hoekom julle nie het wat julle wil hê nie, die feit dat julle God nie daarvoor vra nie’? Waarom sou Paulus sy vriende vra: “…bid vir ons sodat die woord van die Here vinnig mag versprei en net soos by julle met eerbied ontvang word. Bid ook dat ons bewaar sal word van slegte en bose mense….’ (2 Tessalonisense 3:1-2 NLV), as hy nie geglo het dat gebede die krag het om sy omstandighede te verander nie?
Omdat beide Jakobus en Paulus al die seën wat vir hulle beskikbaar was wou hê, het hulle nie net self gebid nie, maar ook ander gelowiges gewerf om vir hulle te bid. Hulle wou nooit dit wat God in en deur hulle wil doen beperk deur nie te bid nie. Indien jy al die seën wat God beskikbaar stel wil hê, moet jy ook bid.
Sielskos: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 110; Spr 17:15-17
James 4:2 NIV
From the beginning of the Bible to its conclusion, we see absolute evidence that God answers prayer. Things that we think are impossible, God does when people pray! When we pray, we align ourselves with the purposes of God and tap into the power of the Almighty. Because we pray, God works through us in ways He wouldn’t otherwise. God has made certain things dependent upon prayer, things that will never be done unless we pray. Could God do whatever He chooses without our prayer? Of course. But God has determined that He will use the prayers of His people to accomplish His purposes.
When we do not pray, we limit what God will do in our lives. Some may not like the sound of this, but if it were not true, what could James mean when he writes: “You do not have because you do not ask?” Why would Paul ask some friends to, “Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured… that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 NIV), if he did not believe their prayers had the power to change his circumstances?
Both James and Paul believed that God might well withhold His hand of blessing from them if they neglected to pray. Since they wanted all the blessing available to them, they not only prayed themselves, they recruited others to pray for them. They never wanted to limit what God might be pleased to do in and through them by failing to pray. And if you want all the blessing God has available, you too must pray.
Soul food: 2 Sam 3:22-7:17; Matt 24:36-51; Ps 110; Pro 17:15-17
2026-07-05
Psalm 127:2 NIV
In western culture, we think of a day beginning when the sun comes up. But the creation account says: “The evening and the morning were the first day” (Genesis 1:5 NKJV). Each day began with evening. Author Eugene Peterson noted that in this way, the biblical writers help us to remember: “Everything doesn’t depend on me. I go to sleep; God goes to work. It’s His day. The world keeps spinning, tides ebb and flow, lives begin and end even though I am not there to superintend any of it. God is present when I sleep.” So, the Psalmist wrote: “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves” (Psalm 127:2 NIV).
It’s estimated that each year in America, 24,000 people die in car accidents caused by sleep deprivation and fatigue. Lack of sleep causes people to argue with spouses and friends, do subpar work, be less loving and more irritable with children and friends, and generally feel miserable.
So, here’s how to “have a good day.” Before you go to sleep, take a few minutes to review your day with God. Seek to resolve any household conflicts before bedtime. Paul wrote: “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT). Confess any sin that comes to mind and ask for forgiveness. Where you were blessed today, take time to savour it and say thanks. In other words, give God the last word in your day.
Soul food: Matt 5:8; Ps 51:10; Tit 1:15
Psalm 127:2 NLV
In die Westerse kultuur dink ons dat ‘n dag begin wanneer die son opkom. Die Bybel sê egter: ‘…Dit het aand geword en dit het môre geword. Dit was die eerste dag’ (Genesis 1:5 AFR53). Elke dag begin met die aand. Die skrywer, Eugene Peterson, het opgemerk dat die Bybel op hierdie manier ons help om te onthou: ‘Alles hang nie van my af nie. Ek gaan slaap; God gaan werk. Dis sy dag. Die wêreld hou aan draai, die getye eb en vloei en lewens begin en eindig, selfs al is ek nie daar om enige iets daarvan te bewaak nie. God is teenwoordig wanneer ek slaap.’ Dus het die Psalmdigter geskryf: ‘Tevergeefs werk jy so hard, van vroegoggend tot laatnag, soos jy swoeg om te bestaan, maar vir hulle wat Hy liefhet, gee Hy dit in hulle slaap’ (Psalm 127:2 NLV).
Daar word beraam dat daar in Amerika 24 000 mense jaarliks in motorongelukke, wat deur slaapgebrek en moegheid veroorsaak word, sterf. Gebrek aan slaap veroorsaak dat mense met hul eggenote en vriende stry, minder goeie werk lewer, minder liefdevol en meer geïrriteerd met kinders en geliefdes is en oor die algemeen ellendig voel.
Hoe kan jy dus ‘n ‘goeie dag’ hê? Voordat jy gaan slaap, neem ‘n paar minute om jou dag met God te hersien. Probeer om enige huishoudelike konflikte voor slaaptyd op te los. Paulus het geskryf: ‘…Moenie tot die aand toe kwaad bly, en die duiwel so ‘n houvas gee nie’ (Efesiërs 4:26-27 NLV). Bely enige sonde wat by jou opkom en vra vergifnis daarvoor. Neem die tyd om aan die oomblikke wat jy seën ervaar het, te dink en daarvoor dankie te sê. Gee God met ander woorde die laaste sê in jou dag.
Sielskos: Matt 5:8; Ps 51:10; Tit 1:15
2026-07-04
James 5:7 NKJV
Patience, from the biblical perspective, embodies these four things:
(1) Confidence in God’s unfailing love and faithfulness to us: “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV).
(2) Confidence that He will keep His promises to us: “There has not failed one word… which He promised” (1 Kings 8:56 NKJV).
(3) Confidence that He has everything that concerns us under control: “The Lord will vindicate me” (Psalm 138:8 NIV).
(4) Confidence that even in the most difficult of circumstances, He is working for our good. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).
Confidence in God enables us to live by the Word: “He that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16 KJV). Impatience is at the root of so many of our failures. Hence the apostle James wrote: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” Look at Simon Peter: He came close to committing murder in the garden of Gethsemane in a vain attempt to protect Jesus (see John 18:10).
Look at Moses: His impatience caused him to strike the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded; hence he forfeited the Promised Land (see Numbers 20:1-13). Look at Abraham: His impatience while waiting for God’s promise of a son to be fulfilled led to the birth of Ishmael and serious complications in the family (see Genesis 16:1-16).
Hence Paul wrote: “Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NKJV). So, the word for you today is – exercise patience!
Soul food: 2 Sam 1:1-3:21; Matt 24:26-35; Ps 102:18-28; Pro 17:11-14
