Vers-n-dag -
Day 11: Live worry-free - 15 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
All of us have been worried at some point in our lives. We worry about our children's safety, the future of our country, a challenge in the workplace, perhaps an operation we need to undergone or a decision that may affect our futures.
The enemy's strategy is to get us to focus so much on the "giants" in our lives that it becomes all we think and talk about. Without noticing, the worry or “giants” become like idols, taking the place that is reserved for God alone.
Jesus understood the impact of worry in our lives. In Matthew 6: 25-27,33 He said: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? . . . But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
The Psalmist also writes about worry in Psalm 55:22: “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” And in Philippians 4: 6-7 we find tips on how we can better deal with this worry: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Let's take our concerns to God. Let's talk to Him about the "giants" that are paralyzing us. And let's thank Him in advance for being in control of our lives. He knows and determines the future and only He can fill us with peace that transcends all understanding. God bless.
Father God, thank you that I am allowed to cast all my burdens onto You. I specifically bring (name the thing that worries you) to you today. Forgive me if I have allowed it to consume me. Please fill me with wisdom, discernment and peace. I pray for this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Dag 11: Leef vry - van bekommernis! - 15 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Ons almal was al een of ander tyd in ons lewens bekommerd. Ons raak bekommerd oor ons kinders se veiligheid, die toekoms van ons land, ’n uitdaging by die werk, ’n operasie wat ondergaan moet word of selfs groot besluite wat ons toekoms kan affekteer.
Die vyand se strategie is om ons só op die bekommernisse of “reuse” in ons lewens te laat fokus dat dit al word waaroor ons dink en praat. As ons nie pasop nie word dit as’t ware afgode in ons lewens omdat dit die plek begin inneem wat vir God gereserveer behoort te wees.
Jesus het die impak van bekommernis op ons lewens verstaan. In Matteus 6:25-27,32,33 sê Hy: “Moet julle nie bekommer oor julle lewe, oor wat julle moet eet of drink nie, of oor julle liggaam, oor wat julle moet aantrek nie. . . Kyk na die wilde voëls: hulle saai nie en hulle oes nie en hulle maak nie in skure bymekaar nie; julle hemelse Vader sorg vir hulle. Is julle nie baie meer werd as hulle nie? Trouens, wie van julle kan deur hom te bekommer sy lewe met een enkele uur verleng? . . . Julle hemelse Vader weet tog dat julle dit alles nodig het. Nee, beywer julle allereers vir die koninkryk van God en vir die wil van God, dan sal Hy julle ook al hierdie dinge gee.”
Ook die Psalmdigter skryf oor bekommernis in Psalm 55:22: “Laat jou sorge aan die Here oor, Hy sal vir jou sorg. Hy sal die regverdige nie in die steek laat nie.” En in Filippense 4:6-7 vind ons wenke oor hoe ons hierdie bekommernis in ons lewens beter kan hanteer: “Moet oor niks besorg wees nie, maar maak in alles julle begeertes deur gebed en smeking en met danksegging aan God bekend. En die vrede van God wat alle verstand te bowe gaan, sal oor julle harte en gedagtes die wag hou in Christus Jesus.”
Is bekommernis besig om jou te verswelg? Kom ons neem dit na God. Kom ons praat eerlik met Hom oor die “reuse” wat ons lamlê. En kom ons sê by voorbaat vir Hom dankie dat Hy die situasie namens ons sal uitwerk. Hy ken en bepaal die toekoms en slegs Hy kan ons vrede gee wat alle verstand te bowe gaan. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie dat ek al my sorge aan U kan oorlaat. Ek bring spesifiek vandag (noem die bekommernis) na U toe. Vergewe my vir elke keer wat ek toegelaat het dat dit my oorweldig in die verlede. Vul my asseblief met wysheid en onderskeiding om te weet hoe om die uitdagings te hanteer. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
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Day 10: Forgiveness sets us free - 14 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
On September 6 last year, Amber Guyger, an off-duty police officer in Dallas, America shot and killed a young man, Botham Jean, in his apartment. She made a mistake, thinking she was in her own apartment. She thought Jean was a burglar and shot him dead. Guyger was convicted of murder in October this year and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
During the testimony for aggravation, Jean's youngest brother, Brandt, surprised the courtroom when, instead of telling about the hurt they were as a family suffered (because they did), he said: "I forgive you. I know if you go to God and you ask Him, He will forgive you too. I love you like anyone else and I want the best for you. . . This is what my brother would want for you. . . That you give your life to Christ." He even went a step further and with a cracking in his voice asked the judge if he could hug Guyger. This behavior caused tears throughout the court room.
Brandt understood that forgiveness means surrendering judgment to God while you can walk away with freedom. In Colossians 3:13 we read: "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." In Matthew 6:14 it is written: "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. And in Ephesians 4: 31-32, we become recalls: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Who is that person that hurt you? A spouse who cheated on you? Someone who molested or raped you? Someone you trusted that turned on you and did the unthinkable?
Let's take the situation to God and surrender it to Him. Let us ask Him to enable us to forgive and acquit. When we do this, we do not say what happened was right. We simply choose to no longer allow bitterness to poison our lives. Let us trust God so we can taste freedom and healing in our lives. God bless.
Father God, thank you for forgiving me of my sin when I repent. Please help me to forgive (mention the situation) and to no longer keep a grudge. I want to live in freedom. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Dag 10: Vergifnis wat vrymaak - 14 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Op 6 September verlede jaar het Amber Guyger, 'n van diens af polisiekonstabel in Dallas, Amerika 'n jongman, Botham Jean in sy woonstel doodgeskiet. Sy het haar misgis en gedink dat sy in haar eie woonstel was. Sy het Jean as 'n inbreker aangesien en hom doodgeskiet. Guyger is in Oktober vanjaar aan moord skuldig bevind en tot 10 jaar tronkstraf gevonnis.
Gedurende die getuienis ter verswaring het Jean se jongste broer, Brandt die volgepakte hofsaal verras deur in stede daarvan om te getuig oor hoe seer hulle as gesin gekry het (want hulle het), het hy gesê: "Ek vergewe jou. Ek weet as jy na God gaan en jy vra Hom, sal Hy jou ook vergewe. Ek is lief vir jou soos enigiemand anders en ek wil die beste vir jou hê. . . Dit is wat my broer vir jou sou wou hê . . . Dat jy jou lewe vir Christus moet gee." Hy het selfs 'n stap verder gegaan en die regter gevra of hy Guyger 'n drukkie kan gee. Dié optrede het snikke regdeur die hofsaal laat opklink.
Brandt het verstaan dat vergifnis beteken om die oordeel aan God oor te gee terwyl jy wat seergekry het met vryheid kan wegstap. In Kolossense 3:13 lees ons: "Wees geduldig met mekaar en vergewe mekaar as die een iets teen die ander het. Soos die Here julle vergewe het, moet julle mekaar ook vergewe." In Matteus 6:14 staan geskryf: "As julle ander mense hulle oortredings vergewe, sal julle hemelse Vader julle ook vergewe." En in Efesiërs 4:31-32 word ons herinner: "Moet nooit verbitter of opvlieënd wees of woedend word nie; moenie vloek of skel nie; moet niks doen wat sleg is nie. Wees goedgesind en hartlik teenoor mekaar, en vergewe mekaar soos God julle ook in Christus vergewe het."
Wie is daardie persoon wat jou seergemaak het? 'n Huweliksmaat wat jou verneuk het? Iemand wat jou gemolesteer of verkrag het? Is dit dalk iemand wat jy vertrou het wat jou lelik te nagekom het?
Kom ons neem die situasie vandag na God en gee dit oor aan Hom. Kom ons vra Hom om ons in staat te stel om te vergewe en vry te spreek. Wanneer ons dit doen sê ons nie wat aan ons gedoen het, is reg nie. Ons kies bloot om nie langer toe te laat dat bitterheid ons lewens vergiftig nie. Nee, ons kies om God te vertrou terwyl ons vryheid en genesing in ons lewens smaak. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie dat U my volkome vergewe van my sonde wanneer ek waarlik berou het. Help my asseblief om (noem die situasie) te vergewe en nie langer 'n wrok te koester nie. Help my asseblief om ook in vryheid te leef. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
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Day 9: Faith moves mountains - 13 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
What causes God to stop and listen? What draws His attention and moves His hand?
A paralyzed man on a stretcher and a centurion. What do these two men have in common?
When the paralyzed man and his four friends saw that the crowds around Jesus were too big, they devised a plan. They climb up on the roof and lowered the paralyzed man on his mat through the tiles right in front of Jesus. In Luke 5 we read that the men's faith touched Jesus. Listen to His reaction in Luke 5:24: "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." The paralyzed man was healed immediately. He got up and left while praising God.
In Matthew 8 a centurion came to Jesus with a request that He would heal his servant in pain. When Jesus offered to go with the centurion to his house, he said: "Lord, I am not worthy of You coming under my roof. Just say a word, and my servant will be healed." Jesus marveled at the man's faith. In Matthew 8:10 He replied: "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." The centurion's servant was healed at that moment.
Faith draws God's attention. In 2 Chronicles 16: 9 we read: "For the eyes of the Lordrange throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." Also in Matthew 17:20, Jesus says: "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
God sees when we take a step of faith. He also sees if we continue to trust Him for that impossible breakthrough we need. Truly, nothing is impossible to Him. God bless.
Father God, thank you for your love and grace. Today, I choose to put my faith in You with regards to (name the specific area in your life). Please strengthen me through Your Holy Spirit that doubt andfear no longer paralyze me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Dag 9: Geloof wat berge verskuif - 13 November 2019
Benescke Janse van Rensburg
Wat is dit wat veroorsaak dat God by sommige van ons gaan stilstaan? Wat trek sy aandag en beweeg sy hand?
'n Verlamde man op 'n draagbaar en 'n offisier in Kapernaum. Wat het hierdie twee mans in gemeen?
Toe die verlamde man en sy vier vriende sien dat die skare mense rondom Jesus hulle gaan verhoed om by Hom uit te kom, het hul 'n plan bedink. Hulle het bo-op die huis se dak geklim, die dakteëls verwyder en hul vriend met toue op sy mat tot voor Jesus afgesak. In Lukas 5 lees ons dat hierdie mans se geloof Jesus diep geraak het. Luister na sy reaksie in Lukas 5:24: "Staan op, vat jou draagbaar en gaan huis toe." Die verlamde man is in daardie oomblik van sy verlamming genees. Hy het opgestaan en huis toe vertrek terwyl hy aangehou het om God te prys.
In Matteus 8 lees ons van 'n offisier in Kapernaum wat na Jesus kom om hom te vra om sy slaaf in pyn te genees. Toe Jesus aanbied om saam met hom na sy huis te gaan, antwoord die offisier: "Here, ek is nie werd dat U onder my dak inkom nie. Sê maar net 'n woord, en my slaaf sal gesond word." Jesus was verwonderd deur die man se geloof. In Matteus 8:10 sê Hy: "Ek het nog by niemand in Israel so 'n groot geloof teëgekom nie." Die offisier se slaaf was in daardie oomblik genees.
Geloof trek God se aandag. In 2 Kronieke 16:9 lees ons: "Die Here het sy oë oral op die aarde sodat Hy dié kan help wat met hulle hele hart op Hom vertrou." Ook in Matteus 17:20 sê Jesus: "As julle maar geloof het so groot soos 'n mosterdsaadjie, sal julle vir hierdie berg sê: 'Gaan staan daar anderkant!' en hy sal gaan. Niks sal vir julle onmoontlik wees nie."
God sien raak wanneer ons 'n stap van geloof neem. Ook sien Hy raak as ons Hom bly vertrou vir 'n deurbraak omdat ons weet dat niks vir Hom onmoontlik is nie. Geloof laat God stilstaan en dit beweeg sy Hand. Sterkte.
Vader God, baie dankie vir u liefde en genade. Ek kies vandag om my geloof in U te plaas sonder om toe te laat dat twyfel of vrees my lamlê nie. Beskerm my en bewaar my en hou my veilig. Ek vra dit in die Naam van Jesus Christus. Amen.
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