Earthly beings. Mostly self centred and worry about our own needs. I saw a clip about people putting out food for the people in need. It has a board stating it was free, and who ever needs food, they must take and eat. Very few in need came as they seemed unsure, when suddenly two wealthy guys came and took almost everything, including the baskets.
Isn’t our sinful nature the same, to take what we want when it’s free and not even consider our family, neighbour or stranger – that they might be in actual need.
Jesus gives freely and we take that for granted. We keep to ourselves because maybe next time we would have to pay for it. Well, guess what, we are going to pay for our actions. Maybe not in this life time, but definitely in the next.
Jesus performed a lot of miracles and mostly, only because of that, people came to believe.
John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders.” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
Let our hearts not be hardened by this fact, because that is what the world wants. God is performing miracles every day, but sins prohibits us from seeing the truth.
Let our eyes be opened by the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Hoeveel van ons wil werklik vervul word deur Jesus Christus wat ons gered het?
Ons is dikweos so besig met ons eie lewe en probeer ons eie uitdagings uit sorteer. Maar later vind ons onnsself om alleen te voel, leeg en eensaam. Die lewe se laste raak swaarder en ‘n uitweg tot verligting en vrede, raak skraler.
Die boek Romeine is ‘n baie goeie padjaart om rigting te soek. Jy moet dit net bestudeer en inneem.
Romeine 15v13 (onder andere) “En mag die God van die hoop julle vervul met alle blydskap en vrede deur geloof dat julle oorvloedig kan wees in die hoop deur die krag van die Heilig Gees.”
Staan vas in gebed, want daarin lê krag. Ons mag soms voel dat ons gebede dalk te kort is, dalk nie kragtig genoeg is nie, maar God hoor elke stem wat na Hom uitroep.
Hou aan. Volhard in gebed, dit word verhoor deur die Een wat ons liefhet.
So deur die loop van die vroeë oggend ure, voel ek die ysige koue van die jaarlikse winter. Ek dink aan my voëltjies in die hok buite, asook al diea nder diere en selfs mense wat koud kry.
Met ‘n sagte sug sê ek vir my self dat die seisoen ook sal verby gaan. Ons beleef die koue elke jaar. Die natuur is mooi groen wanneer die tyd reg is, kom die winter om skoon te maak wat klaar is. Blare wat hul tyd gehad het, sny af van die takke en land op die grond. Blomme se bloeisels wat klaar geblom he, gaan af en word ‘n faal keur. Tog het die winter ook sy mooi kant, ons sien dit net nie altyd raak nie.
Dit het my gebring tot die gedagte van my en jou , se lewe. Die seisoene waardeur ons gaan. Elke punt in ons lewe het ‘n doel en ‘n fase in die hoop dat ons God se Wil sal vind. Ons sal dit nooit êrens neergeskryf vind nie, maar soos die seisoene elke jaar, kan ons ingestel wees op die tekens. Elke dag het ons ‘n keuse waar ons kan kies om die tekens te lees of om agteroor te sit en sien wat gebeur.
God het ‘n doel met elkeen van ons, maar Hy is ‘n regverdige God en het ons die mag gegee om te besluit. Natuurlik is Sy grootste begeerte om ons harte te wen, want Hy het ons lief.
Wanneer ons Jesus aanneem as ons Verlosser en Saligmaker, en ons harte oorgee aan Hom, moet ons verstaan en onthou dat die seisoen vir ons nie altyd somer, vol sonskyn sal wees nie. Ons gaan vreugde beleer, hartseerm verwarring, opwindenheid. Ons gaan dae hê waar ons die gevoel en krag sal bevind om enige iets te oorwin, en ander dae wat dit voel of niks wil uitwerk nie, waar ons moedeloos sal verkeer en dink dat ons die stryd verloor het.
Maar hou moed.
Die struikelblokke wat ons op ons paaie kry, moet ons gebtuik as bou blokke om te leer. Juis in sulke tye wat ons die Naam van die Here moet aanroep om hulp.
Psalm 116:1-5 “Ek het die Here lief, want Hy verhoor my smeekgebede. Hy het na my geluister toe ek Hom aangeroep het. Bande van die dood het my omsluit, doodsangs het my aangegryp, ek het benoud en bekommerd geword. Toe het ek die Naam van die Here aangeroep: ,, Here, red my tog!. Die Here is genadig en regverdig, ons God ontferm Hom oor ons.”
Jou struikelblom mag dalk nie voor die dood omdraai nie, en jou lewe mag dalk nie in gevaar wees nie, maar vir Jesus is elke aspek van jou lewe net so belangrik, ongeag hoe groot die probleem is, of hoe klein.
Daar is ‘n tyd vir alles.
God het reeds ons doel en tyd bepaal. Hy het geweet waar ons sal wees en wat ons sal doen nog voordat ons bestaan het.
Psalm 139:13-14 “U het my gevorm, my aanmekaargeweef in die skoot van my moeder. Ek wil U loof, want U het my op ‘n wonderbaarlike wyse geskep”.
Wanneer ons dieper delf in God se Woord, meer tyd spandeer in Sy teenwoordigheid, hoe duideliker sal Sy plan vir ons uitstaan.
Die Woord is nie bymekaar gesit sodat dit op ons bedkassie of boekrak kan lê en stof optel nie, maar dat ons dit sal bestudeer soos ‘n padkaart, ‘n instruksie boek om ons deur die lewe te lei. Met die doel gerig om God se WIl uit te leef sodat ons eendag Sy belofte kan ontvang.
Ons mis baie kere God se seisoen vir ‘n sekere situasie omdat ons nie geestelik ingestel is op Hom nie. Ongelukkig sal ons nooit daardie geleentheid kan oordoen nie, maar ons kan leer en oefen om Sy seisoene raak te sien.
Geduld – een van die moeilikste aksies wat ons as mens kan doen; wag. Wag vir God se tyd. Wag op Sy Woord, wat op Sy wil. WAG.
Onsa as mens, is baie ongeduldig, ek weet ek is. Dis juis deur ongeduld en selfug wat ons, ons doel mis in die lewe. Soek na die Koninkryk van God. Leef Sy wil uit elke dag, laat Hom toe om jou menswees en gedagtes te vervul met Sy genade en wysheid, en die seisoene waardeur jy gaan, sal nie alleen en nutteloos wees nie. Jy sal die leiding en potensiaal sien om die regte saad te plant, sodat wanneer die oes seisoen kom, jou vrugte van top-Jesus gehaldte sal wees.
Matthëus 6:33 “Nee, beywer julle allereers vir die Koninkryk van Good en vir die wil van God, dan sal Hy julle ook al hierdie dinge gee.”
God weet wat ons nodig het, en wanneer, Hy ken ook ons begeertes. Soek eers na die wil van Hom en vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus en hê geloof dat jy dit sal ontvang.
Johannes 14:13-14 ” Wat julle ook al in my Naam vra, sal ek doen, sodat die Vader deur die Seun verheerlik kan word. As julle My iets in my Naam vra, sal Ek dit doen.”
Laat ons deur gebed en lofprysing vra vir wysheid sodat ons die seisoene kan deur leef op die regte tyd soos die wil van die Here dit vir ons bestem.
Colossians 3:12 ” Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS and PATIENCE.”
Apostle Paul gives a quick list in Colossians 3 of the things we should take off and get dressed in the good things. If you have given your life to Jesus, you can’t wear the outfit the world has given you. In fact, you wouldn’t want to wear it, because it is dirty.
Your new clothes are washed clean by the blood of Jesus and ironed by His love. You would strive to wear what he has in the cupboard for you. During this time, the enemy will present specials to you, but stay strong and keep faith because the quality of the clothes Jesus gave you, didn’t come cheap. He gave his life, paid the whole amount so He could open a store for you in Heaven.
Earthly things are temporary, work to build up riches in eternity. Don’t let the world pull you down and forget God’s promise.
Build a solid foundation now based on God’s truth and your house will stand firm forever.
Giving thanks to the Lord for blessing you, not forgetting what He has done for you.
Through that, you can help other to restructure their house and lead them to the quality God has in store for them.
Pray continuously for one another. Build one another up with encouraging words and affirmation and remind them, that they are not alone and loved dearly.
It is very easy to complain about our shortcomings. To complain about the trials and tribulations we experience in our lives. I myself am sitting in a position where I feel negative because no progress according to my liking has happened. Maybe not yetm I heard the Holy Spirit vaguely saying and repeating scripture to me, 2 Corinthians 13. But being so clouded by my own selfishness, I have become deaf towards God’s voice. I have broken the curiosity to find out if it really was the Holy Spirit talking to me or did I think and scratced out the scripture myself. Reading it – made me realize – it was God talking to me. You can’t ask God to give you word or direction and when you receive it, you doubt the power of prayer.
2 Corinthians 12;8-10 “ “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladlu about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, for hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong.”
I think if anyone reading this scripture would think they don’t want to endure issues in their lives and struggle through their daily tasks. Just before these verses, Paul tells us that we will have problems, Satan will make sure he does anything possible to keep is from becoming conceited with our lives. But God tells us that His grace will save us. That it is good to be weak because that creates an opportunity to seek God even more. Through the trials and tribulations we will find that God is the only one that can rescue us from ourselves and from the deceitful lies of the devil. Be content with god and thank Him for everyday. Keep faith and of good hope for His way and plans for your life is greater than the obstacles we face on earth. We might struggle now, and also miss the point why we are, but God is our breakthrough and His timing is perfect.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found: call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon”
This verse starts with an instruction; seek the Lord, it gives a time frame; while he may be found, it gives a ways ; call on him while he is near. Don’t wait until tomorrow, for tomorrow might be too late. Don’t keep quiet about God’s glory, but rather praise and worship him while he is near you to bless you.
Another instruction- to turn from your wicked ways and turn to him so that you may receive his mercy and be saved from destruction.
God is clear about his purpose for us, but firstly we must submit to Him.
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content wherever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength …. ¹⁹And ny God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
It is often so easy to read scripture and say ok God, this is what I am going to do. I don’t know how I will pay the bills or put food on the table, but Your Word tells me that You will take care of me and I believe you. But to really put your heart into it and leave your worries and anxieties at His feet is the real challenge. I often find myself in that position, thinking that my problems are not big enough. To me they seem huge, but comparing to other people, mine is like a drop in the ocean.
To God, a problem is a problem. We are all equal in His eyes and everything is just as important to Him as the next.
When I find myself in a difficult position, and I feel that my prayer isn’t strong enough, God provides me with a breakthrough and then I question myself and ask why I doubted God’s faithfulness in the first place.
This is one of Satan’s main priorities to make you question God’s love and care for us. Satan works on every stone to throw at us so that we lose our worth as children of Jesus and make us want to run to the easy part in life which is sin.
But God’s Word is reassuring, to remind us of His promise.
The Bible is one of the best examples, proof that God knew everything from the beginning and that He has a solution for every need.
Satan’s lies and solutions will last ypu a small tome with a painful payback forever. But God’s solution is now, tomorrow, in the futuee and into eternity. Let God be the referee to your life and commit to His will and rest in His promis
The Apostle Paul wrote so many books, making clear what we are facing and how we should go at war with our troubles.
In Ephesians 6:12 he tells us that the problems we face, the heartbreaks and worries, the broken relationships or loss pf loved ones, all bad things, doesn’t come from someone or something that we can see – but something behind the scene, a darkness, an evil spirit lurking from deeper within.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against prinicipalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
If our problems and issues came from a source that we can see and touch, we could put an end to it easily and remove it from our life. We would actually be able to break away from it when we find the starting point.
But unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Satan does use people, obstructions, turning of events to get to us. He sits around the whole day, looking at your actions, looking at your joy and love for those you care for.
He carefully plans his next move to break you so that you can lose faith in Jesus and move in with him.
Have heart and see the positive. Be encouraged by Jesus’ action and faith in His words. John 16:33 “In the world you will have tribulations: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”
Jesus already won. He already claimed victory, and that encourages us to know that we can too.
Do be a victim to the devils lies and cheats. He’s dirty words and hateful actions, but stand firm in faith and break the chains he has on you.
No earthly weapon can destroy the enemy as his origin is spiritual, and that is our war field.
We are fighting a spiritual war with earthly goods and earthly solutions. Jesus Christ is your only solution. Bow a knee, be still and pray a mighty prayer. Ask God for wisdom to have the necessary equipment to fight this battle.
³By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
⁴And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/2pe.1.4.NLT
I would be to say I’d like to paste the whole chapter here – it is so catchy, and true, straight to the point, “this is what you have to do” kind of scripture.
It’s much easier said then done. Reading scriptures on your phone or booklet, but what do we actually do in our free time? How do we live outside the times when we are not reading the Word? Are we speaking and behaving like we ought to, or are we pushing God aside to suit our needs.
We should not be ashamed or give our everything to be like Jesus. Are we afraid of what people might think of us, or how they will judge us? Do we look around to see who and what we will lose if we choose Jesus.
I’d be more afraid of the day God judges me instead of now what people on earth are thinking. It is much easier said then done. We are human and it’s a natural reaction to be liked and accepted by othera, but at the end of the day, we are all working our own way to Heaven.
The best part is knowing that God’s promise is always the same. He never changes His mind or pulls back on His deal to us. How wonderfully happy we’ll make Him to show our appreciation and do His will.
Inspirational Phrases 