Heavenly comfort

 Hierdie oordenking is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

Heavenly comfort

Isaiah 40 v 1 & 2 - HCSB

“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of forced labor is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”

 Every human being needs comfort in life. Comfort, with the quiet satisfaction and rest it brings, is the most important thing in the life and death of every human being.

 The question: "What is your only comfort in life and in death?" is a very personal question that can be uncomfortable. It's hard to look inside yourself. It's easy to spot other people's problems, but not so easy to look at yourself.

 True comfort can only be found in God, because the greatest reason for your unhappiness is the sadness that the sin that stands between you and God, causes.

 The content of the comfort that comes only from God involves in the first place that you must be delivered from the tyranny of your own self. That is, I do not belong to myself, but to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

 It means that I am the property of God with body and soul, in life and death, because Jesus bought me with his blood. He paid the full ransom with his life to deliver me from the power of evil.

 The comfort I find in this is the knowledge that the Father takes me under his very special care. He preserves me in such a way that everything that happens to me serves my own good.

 This comfort further involves the Holy Spirit dealing with me in a special way. He assures me through the word and sacraments of eternal life and He changes me so that I want to live for God. He replaces the selfishness, enmity, hatred, envy, and anger in my life with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.

How do I find this heavenly Comfort?

 The way to this comfort is the way of knowledge. It does not start with what I have to do, but with what I need to know. And even in that, I'm not on my own. The Holy Spirit brings me to what I need to know.

There are three things I need to know:

    i.    How great is my sin and misery.

     Like the prodigal son, I must repent.

ii.  How I am delivered from all my sin and misery.

      I must believe the gospel that Jesus Christ bore the death penalty in my place
      there on Calvary on the cross and that He overcame death so that I might live.

 iii.   How I should be thankful to God for such a salvation.

    I must let myself be led by the Spirit in a life characterized by love 
    for my neighbor and God.

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

My only comfort in life and in death is that I belong to Jesus Christ.

 Find your comfort with our Lord. Heed Jesus' invitation 
(Matt. 11 v. 28 - 30):

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Amen

Gebed 12 - Onse Vader

 

'n Reeks oordenkings oor gebed

These medetations are also available in English

Die 1ste oordenking: Gebed 01 - Hoekom moet 'n gelowige bid

Die vorige oordenking: Gebed 11 - Aan U behoort die koninkryk en diekrag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid – Amen

Hierdie is die laaste oordenking oor die reeks oor gebed

Gebed 12

Onse Vader

 

Onse Vader wat in die hemel is.

U is deur Christus ons Vader en daarom kom ons in geloofsvertroue na U toe met die wete dat U ons gebed verhoor en dat U in U almag in alles vir ons sal sorg wat ons vir liggaam en siel nodig het.

 

Laat u Naam geheilig word.

Help ons om U reg te ken sodat ons U kan heilig, roem en prys in al u werke waarin u almag, wysheid, goedheid, geregtigheid, barmhartigheid en waarheid so skitter.

Gee verder dat ons, ons hele lewe, gedagtes, woorde en werke daarop sal rig dat u Naam nie om ons ontwil gelaster word nie, maar geëer en geprys word.

 

Laat u koninkryk kom. 

Regeer ons so deur u Woord en Gees dat ons, ons hoe langer hoe meer aan U sal onderwerp.  Bewaar u kerk en laat dit groei.  Vernietig die werke van die duiwel, elke mag wat teen U opstaan, en alle kwaadwillige planne wat teen u heilige Woord bedink word, totdat die volkomenheid van u ryk kom, waarin U alles in almal sal wees.

 

Laat u wil geskied, soos in die hemel net so ook op die aarde. 

Gee dat ons en alle mense ons eie wil prysgee om aan u wil, wat alleen goed is, sonder enige teëpratery gehoorsaam sal wees, sodat elkeen sy amp en beroep net so gewillig en getrou kan beoefen en uitvoer soos die engele in die hemel.

 

Gee ons vandag ons daaglikse brood.

Versorg ons met alles wat vir die liggaam nodig is, sodat ons daardeur erken dat U die enigste Bron is van alles wat goed is en dat al ons sorge en arbeid en ook u gawes sonder u seën ons nie kan baat nie. Gee daarom dat ons, ons vertroue van alle skepsele aftrek, en op U alleen stel.

 

Vergeef ons, ons skulde, soos ons ook ons skuldenaars vergewe.  

Reken ons, arme sondaars, al ons misdade asook die boosheid wat ons nog aankleef, ter wille van die bloed van Christus, nie toe nie.  Ons bid dit van U omdat ons hierdie bewys van u genade in ons vind. Gee aan ons die ernstige voorneme om ons naaste van harte te vergewe.

 

En lei ons nie in versoeking nie, maar verlos ons van die Bose.

Ons is in onsself so swak dat ons nie een oomblik staande kan bly nie.  Daarby hou ons doodsvyande, die duiwel, die wêreld en ons eie sondige natuur, nie op om ons aan te val nie.  Wil U ons tog deur die krag van u Heilige Gees staande hou en versterk, sodat ons teen hulle sterk teenstand kan bied en in hierdie geestelik stryd nie beswyk nie, totdat ons eindelik die oorwinning volkome behaal.

 

Want aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid.

Ons bid dit alles van U omdat U as ons Koning, wat mag oor alles het, ons alle goeie dinge wil en kan gee sodat ons nie vir onsself die roem toeëien nie, maar dat u heilige Naam ewig geprys sal word

Amen

Prayer 12 - Our Father

 

A series of meditations on prayer

Hier reeks oordenkings is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

The 1st Medetation Prayer 01 - Why should a believer pray?

The Previous Medetation: Prayer 11 - For Yours is the kingdom and thepower and the glory forever – Amen

This is the last Meditationin this series on prayer

Prayer 12

Our Father

Our Father in heaven.

You are through Christ our Father and therefore we come to You in faith knowing that You will hear our prayer and that You in Your omnipotence will provide for us in everything we need for body and soul.

 

Your name be honored as holy.

Help us to know You right so that we can sanctify, praise and glorify You in all Your works in which Your omnipotence, wisdom, goodness, justice, mercy and truth shine forth.

 

Grant that we, in our whole life, thoughts, words and deeds will focus on the fact that your Name is not blasphemed for our sake, but is honored and praised.

 

Your kingdom come.

Rule us so by Your Word and Spirit so that we will submit to You more and more. Preserve your church and let it grow. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that rises up against You, and every malicious plan devised against Your holy Word, until the perfection of Your kingdom comes, in which You will be all in all.

 

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Grant that we and all men may give up our own will to obey your will, which alone is good, without any contradiction, so that each may exercise and carry out his office and profession just as willingly and faithfully as the angels in heaven.

 

Give us today our daily bread.

Provide us with all that is necessary for the body, so that we thereby acknowledge that You are the only Source of all that is good and that all our worries and labors and also Your gifts can not benefit us without Your blessing. Grant, therefore, that we may diminish our confidence from all creatures, and place it on You alone.

 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Do not hold us, poor sinners, accountable for all our transgressions, and for the wickedness which we have committed, because of the blood of Christ. We pray this of You because we find this proof of Your grace in us. Give us the serious intention to forgive our neighbor wholeheartedly.

 

And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

We are so weak in ourselves that we cannot stand for one moment. In addition, our mortal enemies, the devil, the world, and our own sinful nature, do not stop attacking us. Keep us standing and strengthen us through the power of your Holy Spirit, so that we can offer strong opposition to them and not fail in this spiritual battle, until we finally achieve the victory completely.

 

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

We pray all this of You, because You as our King, who has power over everything, wants to and can give us all good things so that we do not appropriate the glory for ourselves, but that Your holy Name will be praised forever

Amen

Gebed 11 - Aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid - Amen

'n Reeks oordenkings oor gebed

These medetations are also available in English

Die 1ste oordenking: Gebed 01 - Hoekom moet 'n gelowige bid

Die vorige oordenking: Gebed 10 - Laat ons nie in die versoeking komnie, maar verlos ons van die bose

Die laaste oordenking in hierdie reeks oor gebed: Gebed 12 - Onse Vader

Gebed 11

Aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid - Amen

Jer. 33 v 8 & 9

Ek sal hulle reinig van al die sondes waarmee hulle teen My oortree het en al hulle sondes vergewe waarmee hulle teen My oortree het, en in opstand gekom het. Dit sal my Naam groot maak en aan My blydskap verskaf, aan My lof en eer gee voor al die nasies van die aarde wanneer hulle hoor van al die goeie wat Ek vir my volk gedoen het. Die nasies sal bang wees en My dien oor al die goeie wat Ek doen en oor die vrede wat Ek vir Jerusalem gee.

 Ons sluit ons gebed af met: “Aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid – Amen” omdat ons Hemelse Vader so magtig is. Daarmee huldig ons die grootsheid van sy mag.

 Verder erken ons daarmee ook dat ons alles van ons Vader bid omdat Hy as Koning mag oor alles het en dat Hy ons alle goeie dinge uit sy ryke oorvloed wil en kan gee.

 Deur die grootsheid van ons Vader te besing word nie ons nie, maar sy heilige Naam ewig geprys.

 Wanneer ek ‘Amen’ sê dan erken ek dat dit baie sekerder en waar is dat my Vader my gebed verhoor as wat ek in my hart voel dat ek dit van Hom begeer.

 Nader tot jou Hemelse Vader in gebed met die sekere wete dat Hy op grond van die soen verdienste van Jesus Christus na jou sal en wil luister.

Amen

Prayer 11 - For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever - Amen

 

A series of meditations on prayer

Hier reeks oordenkings is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

The 1st Medetation Prayer 01 - Why should a believer pray?

The Previous Medetation: Prayer 10 - And do not bring us into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one

The last Meditation in this series: Prayer 12 - Our Father

Prayer 11

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever - Amen.

Jer. v 8 & 9 HCSB

I will purify them from all the wrongs they have committed against Me, and I will forgive all the wrongs they have committed against Me, rebelling against Me. This city will bear on My behalf a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I will do for them. They will tremble with awe because of all the good and all the peace I will bring about for them.

 We conclude our prayer with: "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever - Amen" because our Heavenly Father is so powerful. With that we pay homage to the greatness of his power.

 Furthermore, we also acknowledge that we pray everything from our Father because He as King has power over everything and that He wants and can give us all good things from His rich abundance.

 By praising the greatness of our Father, not we, but his holy name are praised forever.

 When I say ‘Amen’ then I acknowledge that it is much more certain and true that my Father hears my prayer than I feel in my heart that I desire it from Him.

 Draw near to your Heavenly Father in prayer with the certain knowledge that He will and wants to listen to you based on the redemption in Jesus Christ.

Amen

Gebed 10 - Laat ons nie in die versoeking kom nie, maar verlos ons van die bose

`n Reeks oordenkings oor gebed

These medetations are also available in English

Die 1ste oordenking: Gebed 01 - Hoekom moet 'n gelowige bid

Die vorige oordenking: Gebed 09 - Vergeef ons, ons oortredinge soos ons ook dievergewe wat teen ons oortree

Die volgende oordenking: Gebed 11 - Aan U behoort die koninkryk en die krag en die heerlikheid tot in ewigheid – Amen

Gebed 10

Laat ons nie in die versoeking kom nie, maar verlos ons van die bose

1 Pet. 5 v 8

Wees nugter, wees wakker! Julle vyand, die duiwel, loop rond soos ’n brullende leeu, op soek na iemand om te verslind.

 Met ons gebed het ons in ons binnekamer tot ons Hemelse Vader gebid. Ons het ons lewensnood en sondeskuld voor sy voete kom neerlê, maar nou moet ons verder gaan op die gevaarlike lewenspad en daarvoor bid ons ook.

 Ons bid hierdie bede omdat ons so swak is. Die gevaar van versoeking wag ons in soos 'n brullende leeu wat op soek is na iemand om te verslind en in onsself is ons so swak dat ons nie een oomblik staande kan bly nie.

 Daarom bid ons tot ons Vader dat Hy ons so in sy wyse beskikking moet lei en versterk deur die Heilige Gees sodat ons die sonde kan misloop, want ons vertrou ons in alles toe aan sy bewaring en leiding.

 Ons bid hierdie bede omdat ons vyande so gevaarlik en sterk is. Hulle is inderwaarheid doodsvyande, naamlik die duiwel, die wêreld en ons eie sondige natuur.

 Die duiwel is 'n leuenaar en moordenaar. Die Bybel beskryf hom in Open. 12 v 3 en 20 v 2 as 'n listige slang van verleiding en 'n draak van verwoesting.

 Die wêreld daarbuite ontken dat God bestaan en dit sluit al die sondige praktyke in wat in rebelse opstand teen God se gesag is.

 Ons eie sondige natuur is ons eie vyandskap teen God wat voortspruit uit die verwoestende rebelse opstand teen God deur ons eerste voorouers, Adam en Eva. Die kenmerke daarvan wat ons ook in ons eie lewens vind, is onsedelikheid, onreinheid, losbandigheid, afgodsdiens, towery, vyandskap, haat, naywer, woede, rusies, verdeeldheid, skeuring, afguns, dronkenskap, uitspattigheid en al dergelike dinge.

 Hierdie doodsvyande span saam om ons ondergang te bewerk en hulle hou nie op ons aan te val nie.

 Bid daarom in geloofsvertroue vir die leiding en beskerming van ons Hemelse Vader om jou te versterk in hierdie stryd (aangesien ons self so swak en ons vyande so sterk is) totdat ons eindelik die oorwinning volkome behaal.

Amen

 

Prayer 10 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

A series of meditations on prayer

Hier reeks oordenkings is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

The 1st Medetation Prayer 01 - Why should a believer pray?

The Previous Medetation: Prayer 09: And forgive us our debts, as we alsohave forgiven our debtors

The next Meditation: Prayer 10: And do not bring us into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one

Prayer 10

And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

1 Pet. 5 v 8

Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

 With our prayer, we prayed to our Heavenly Father in our inner room. We have come to lay our life's need and guilt of sin before his feet, but now we must continue on the dangerous path of life and for that we also pray.

 We pray this prayer because we are so weak. The danger of temptation awaits us like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour and in ourselves we are so weak that we cannot remain unconquered for one moment.

 That is why we pray to our Father that He will guide us in His wise disposition and strengthen us through the Holy Spirit so that we can miss sin, because we trust in everything in His protection and guidance.

 We pray this prayer because our enemies are so dangerous and strong. They are in fact mortal enemies, namely the devil, the world and our own sinful nature.

 The devil is a liar and murderer. The Bible describes him in Revelation. 12 v 3 and 20 v 2 as a cunning ancient serpent of seduction and a fiery dragon of destruction.

 The world outside denies that God exists and that includes all the sinful practices that are in rebellion against God's authority.

 Our own sinful nature is our own enmity against God that stems from the devastating rebellion against God by our first ancestors, Adam and Eve. The characteristics of it that we also find in our own lives are immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, hatred, jealousy, anger, quarrels, division, division, envy, drunkenness, extravagance and all such things.

 These mortal enemies team up to work our doom and they do not stop attacking us.

 Therefore, pray in faith for the guidance and protection of our Heavenly Father to strengthen you in this battle (since we ourselves are so weak and our enemies so strong) until we finally achieve victory.

Amen