God is Lord over all – that is simply a fact. And if we would allow that truth to be our starting point, our middle, and our end in every season, it would spare us a great deal of exhaustion.

 

There was a time in my life when I was intent on understanding how prayer works, and why it matters. If God is God – sovereign and all-powerful – how do our prayers make a difference? In that season of questioning, I remembered something my confirmation teacher once said: while God is always watching over us, he is a gentleman. He waits to be invited in; He does not force open doors. Many years later, that image has stayed with me. CS Lewis echoes this truth when he writes, “I pray because I cannot help myself … It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

 

How often do we exhaust ourselves trying to solve problems, meet needs, and hold everything together in our own strength – only to grow weary when nothing seems to shift? All the while, the invitation remains simple: let God be God.

 

We serve a God who parted seas, moved mountains, and turned water into wine. Which one of us can do such things? Is it not pride, at times, that keeps us from surrendering and inviting him fully into our circumstances? The glory has always belonged to him – let him have the stage.

 

This is not a call to passive living. Rather, it is an invitation to alignment. God has the plan; he knows the beginning from the end. When we strive without him, we place ourselves above his wisdom and inevitably fall short.

 

If there is something you are holding onto too tightly, I invite you to release it. Through prayer, welcome God into that space. He waits – lovingly – to reveal his majesty.

 

Let God be God and let us bear witness to his greatness.

 

To him be the glory, in all things, for ever.

 

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I try to do life without you. Help me to surrender what I hold too tightly, and to trust you as Lord over every part of my life. Amen.

 

 

God is Here van alles – dit is eenvoudig 'n feit. Indien ons hierdie waarheid as die vertrek- middel- en eindpunt vir elke lewenseisoen beskou, kan dit baie uitputting voorkom.

 

Daar was 'n tyd in my lewe toe ek van voorneme was om presies te verstaan hoe gebed werk, en hoekom dit belangrik is. Indien God God is – soewerein en almagtig – watter verskil kan ons gebede maak? In daardie tyd vol vrae het ek iets onthou wat my katkisasieonderwyser op 'n keer gesê het: "Terwyl God altyd oor ons waak, doen Hy dit as 'n volkome heer. Hy wag om ingenooi te word; Hy dwing nie deure oop nie." Daardie beeld het my baie jare bygebly. CS Lewis beaam hierdie waarheid wanneer hy skryf: "I pray because I cannot help myself … It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”

 

Hoe dikwels vermoei ons onsself nie deur probleme te probeer oplos, in behoeftes te voorsien en in ons eie krag alles te probeer bymekaar hou nie – net om moeg te word wanneer niks blyk te verander nie? Die uitnodiging is egter heel eenvoudig: laat God toe om God te wees.

 

Ons dien 'n God wat die see oopgekloof het, berge beweeg en water in wyn verander het. Wie van ons kan dit doen? Is dit nie soms trots wat ons verhoed om volkome oor te gee en Hom ten volle in ons omstandighede binne te nooi nie? Die eer behoort nog altyd aan Hom – laat Hom die verhoog oorneem.

 

Hierdie is nie 'n oproep tot 'n passiewe lewe nie. Dit is eerder 'n uitnodiging om in ooreenstemming met God se wil te leef. God het die plan. Hy ken die begin en die einde. Wanneer ons probeer om sonder Hom te leef, plaas ons onsself bo sy wysheid en gaan onvermydelik tekort skiet.

 

Indien daar iets is waaraan jy te stewig vashou, wil ek jou uinooi om dit te laat gaan. Verwelkom God deur gebed in daardie spasie. Hy wag – liefdevol – om sy majesteit aan jou te openbaar.

 

Laat God toe om God te wees en laat ons van sy grootheid getuig.

 

Aan Hom behoort die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid!

 

Gebed: Here, vergewe my asseblief al die kere wat ek probeer om sonder U te leef. Help my om dit waaraan ek vasklou oor te gee en U as Heer van my lewe volkome te vertrou. Amen