The people whose God is their LORD, will prosper!

 Ps. 144 v 15 HCSB

Happy are the people with such blessings. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.

 Hierdie dagstukkie is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

Psalm 144 is a prayer for deliverance and blessing. It consists of a song of praise from a king, a song of praise to the Creator God, a prayer that the LORD will make an appearance as God, a prayer for deliverance from enemies and blessing on the home front.

 Here we hear again how the Psalmist comes to the LORD in prayer asking for deliverance. In this prayer he acknowledges that only God can save him and therefore he sings the Praise of God.

 When you approach God in your need, do you understand who He really is? Do you believe that He and no one else can give victory over enemies? Do you believe that He is immortal? Do you believe that only He can save people? Do you believe that you can only approach God on the basis of Jesus Christ's merit He earned on the cross? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your only Savior and Redeemer?

 Do you believe that only God gives prosperity? Do you believe that all the blessings with which you are so richly blessed comes only from the hand of God? Do you believe that your prosperity is a testimony of God and do you give Him recognition for it?

 We may pray that the LORD will bless us and our children. Draw near to God in prayer and acknowledge who He really is. Raise your need and worries to Him and thank Him for the blessings He gives you so generously. Do not just see at the problems in your life, but also see God's blessings in your life.

 Let your life be a song to the LORD, because the people whose God is their LORD, will prosper!

Amen

Sing van die Here se liefdesdade

 Ps. 89 v 2 - 3

Ek sal altyd sing van die Here se liefdesdade, sy trou verkondig aan komende geslagte. Ek sê: “U liefde en u trou wankel nooit, dit hou vir altyd stand in hemel en op aarde.”

This devotional is also available in English 

Hierdie Psalm is 'n gedig van Etan die Esragiet en die grootste deel van sy gedig bestaan uit 'n lofsang vir die Here. Dit is wat dit beteken om die Here te aanbid, lofsang tot sy eer.

 Mens sal nou dink (met reg ook) dat ons die Here moet aanbid, loof en prys omdat Hy ons so ryklik seën. Maar as ons so deur die Psalms blaai, dan sien ons dat dit nie net in tye van voorspoed is dat die Psalmdigters die Here loof en prys nie. Dit is juis ook in tye van hul diepste nood dat hulle die Here met lofprysing aanbid.

 Daar is 'n baie goeie rede daarvoor. Hierdie lofprysing gaan nie daaroor sodat die Here goed moet voel oor Homself nie. Hy het nie ons lofprysing en aanbidding nodig nie. Ons het dit wel nodig, net soos wat ons die lewensasem nodig het wat ons aan die lewe hou.

 Mens sal nou wel kan redeneer dat dit moeilik is om die Here te loof en te prys wanneer dit swaar met jou gaan en dit is so, dit is nie altyd maklik nie. Dit is veral moeilik, bykans onmoontlik wanneer jy net teen jou omstandighede wat jou so platdruk vaskyk.

 Die Here nooi jou uit om verby dit te kyk na Hom wat iets daaraan kan doen en wat jou daardeur kan dra. Wanneer jy die Here loof en prys midde in jou swaarkry, dan sien jy waar jou redding lê.

 Sing van die Here se liefdesdade want dit herinner jou van wie jy op staatmaak om jou te red. Dan kom jy ook op daardie punt om te sê: “wys my hoe groot jou probleem is, dan wys ek jou (deur my lofprysing en aanbidding) van hoe groot die Here is op wie ek staatmaak om my deur my swaarkry tye te help.”

 Onthou egter, dat jy net kan sing van die Here se liefdesdade wanneer jy in Jesus Christus glo. Wanneer jy jou voor Hom verootmoedig en glo dat net Hy jou van jou sonde en elende kan red.

 Sing van die Here se liefdesdade en leef vanuit sy genade.

Amen

Sing about the LORD’s faithful love

 Ps. 89 v 1 & 2 HCSB

I will sing about the LORD’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth. For I will declare, “Faithful love is built up forever; You establish Your faithfulness in the heavens.”

 Hierdie dagstukkie is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

This Psalm is a poem by Ethan the Ezrahite and most of his poem consists of a song of praise to the LORD. This is what it means to worship the LORD, bring praise to his glory.

 One will now think (rightly too) that we should worship, praise and glorify the LORD because He blesses us so richly. But as we flip through the Psalms, we see that it is not only in times of prosperity that the Psalmists praise and glorify the LORD. It is precisely in times of their deepest need that they worship the LORD with praise.

 There is a very good reason for that. This praise is not about making the LORD feel good about Himself. He does not need our praise and worship. We however, do need it, just as we need the breath of life that keeps us alive.

 One would now be able to argue that it is difficult to praise and glorify the LORD when things are going badly for you and it is so, it is not always easy. This is especially difficult, almost impossible when you just stare at your circumstances that keep you so flat.

 The LORD invites you to look beyond it to Him who can do something about it and who can carry you through it. When you praise and glorify the LORD in the midst of difficult times, you will see where your salvation lies.

 Sing about the LORD’s faithful love because it reminds you of whom you rely on to save you. Then you also come to that point to say: “show me how big your problem is, then I will show you (through my praise and worship) how big the LORD is on whom I rely to help me through my hardships.”

 Remember, however, that you can only sing about the LORD’s faithful love when you believe in Jesus Christ. When you humble yourself before Him and believe that only He can save you from your sin and misery.

 Sing about the LORD’s faithful love and live by His grace.

Amen

Die Here is net 'n gebedsoproep vêr

 Ps. 138 v 3

Toe ek na U geroep het,

het U my gebed verhoor

en my nuwe krag gegee.

This devotion is also available in Engels

Gisteraand het die president 'n verlenging die huidige inperkingsmaatreëls aangekondig. Baie gelowiges is ongelukkig omdat die kerkdeure al weer gesluit is. Ons moet egter onthou dat die ‘kerk’ nie gesluit is nie. Die wêreld kan nie die kerk toesluit nie.

 Dit is so dat ons weereens anders te werk moet gaan as wat ons gewoonte is, maar dit beteken nie dat die kerk gesluit is nie. Die huidige inperkingsmaatreëls is nie teen die kerk gerig nie.

 Nou nog meer as ooit tevore MOET ons kerk wees! Onthou, ons kerkgebou is nie die kerk nie. Ons IS die kerk en ons het 'n baie belangrike roeping. Wees lief vir God en jou naaste. Ons as kerk moet groei in geloof en nader aan God beweeg. Ons moet ons geloof uitleef deur in die wêreld in te gaan en vir die wêreld te wys hoe lyk God se liefde.

 En in hierdie tyd moet ons onthou dat God ons nie los om dit alleen te doen nie. Hy is maar net 'n gebedsoproep vêr. Dink net weer na oor wat God gedoen het om ons in staat te stel om kerk te kan wees. Hy het mens geword en onder ons kom woon. Hy het ons oortredinge op Hom geneem sodat ons nie die ewige dood hoef in te gaan nie.

 Word deel van die kerk. Erken en bely jou sondes teenoor Hom en glo dat Jesus Christus gekom het om jou daarvan te verlos sodat jy kerk kan wees. Gaan nou uit en WEES die kerk!

Amen 

Die volgende video gee in `n neutedop `n goeie beskrywing van wat kerk is  (met erkenning aan "Lifekids")

The Lord is just a prayer call away

 Ps. 138 v 3 HCSB

On the day I called, You answered me;

You increased strength within me.

 Hierdie dagstukkie is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

Last night, the president announced an extension of the current lockdown measures. Many believers are unhappy because the church doors have been locked again. However, we must remember that the "church" is not closed. The world cannot lock up the church.

 It is true that we must once again act differently from what we are accustomed to, but that does not mean that the church is closed. The current restraining measures are not directed against the church.

 Now more than ever before we, MUST be church! Remember, our church building is not the church. We ARE the church and we have a very important calling. Love God and your neighbor. We as a church must grow in faith and move closer to God. We must live out our faith by entering the world and showing the world what God's love looks like.

 And in this time we must remember that God does not leave us to do it alone. He's just a prayer call away. Just think again about what God has done to enable us to be a church. He became man and came to live among us. He took our transgressions upon Himself so that we would not have to go into eternal death.

 Become part of the church. Acknowledge and confess your sins to Him and believe that Jesus Christ came to save you from it so that you can be a church. Now go out and BE the church!

Amen

The following video gives in a nutshell a good description of what church is (with recognition Lifekids)

My grace is sufficient for you

 Hierdie oordenking is ook in Afrikaans beskikbaar

My grace is sufficient for you

2 Cor. 12 v 7 – 9 - HCSB

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

 Sometimes the Lord says NO to us! Paul was here in a situation that was very difficult for him and he prayed that the Lord would take it away, but the Lord's answer to his prayer was "NO", but He also added: "My grace is sufficient for you.”

 Sometimes we have problems in life and then our solution is for the Lord to take away the problems. I am sure that the Christians who were thrown to the lions by Nero also prayed that the Lord would take them out of that situation.

 “Lord please take this incurable disease away from me. Make my circumstances easier, take away this problem.”

 The Lord sometimes works miracles and heals people of incurable diseases, but sometimes His answer is, "NO, My grace is sufficient for you." It is the Lord's grace that carries us through life, not the lack of problems.

 What is the Lord's grace? His grace is Jesus who died on a cursed cross so that everyone who believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ* can be reconciled to God again.

 The Lord's grace is that He does not leave you alone, especially when you have to go through difficult times in life. His grace is that He makes even what is bad work for your good.

 Do not pray that the Lord will take away your problems. Pray for his grace. Sometimes His grace means that He will indeed take away the problem, but sometimes it means He does not take away the problem because He carries you through it. His power comes into full effect when you cling to Him in faith.

Amen

* Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ involves that (1) you humble yourself before God by admitting you are a sinner, (2) have faith that you will be saved through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, his resurrection, (3) and a life of gratitude.

My genade is vir jou genoeg

This devotion is also available in English 

My genade is vir jou genoeg

2 Kor. 12 v 7 – 9

Daarom, sodat ek nie hoogmoedig sou wees nie, is daar vir my ’n doring in die vlees gegee, ’n boodskapper van Satan om my met vuiste te slaan. Drie maal het ek die Here gebid dat dit van my af weggeneem moet word. Sy antwoord was: “My genade is vir jou genoeg. My krag kom juis tot volle werking wanneer jy swak is.” Daarom sal ek baie liewer oor my swakhede roem, sodat die krag van Christus my beskutting kan wees.

 Soms sê die Here vir ons NEE! Paulus was hier in 'n situasie wat vir hom baie moeilik was en hy het gebid dat die Here dit moet wegneem, maar die Here se antwoord op sy gebed was “NEE”, maar Hy het ook bygevoeg: “My genade is vir jou genoeg.”

 Soms sit ons met probleme in die lewe en dan is ons oplossing daarvoor dat die Here die probleme moet weg neem. Ek is seker dat die Christene wat deur Nero vir die leeus gevoer was ook gebid het dat die Here hulle uit daardie situasie moes wegneem.

 “Here neem asseblief hierdie ongeneeslike siekte van my af weg. Maak my omstandighede makliker, neem hierdie probleem weg.”

 Die Here doen soms wonderwerke en genees mense van ongeneeslike siektes, maar soms is sy antwoord: “NEE, My genade is vir jou genoeg.” Dis die Here se genade wat ons deur die lewe dra, nie die gebrek aan probleme nie.

 Wat is die Here se genade? Sy genade is Jesus wat aan 'n vervloekte kruishout gesterf het sodat elkeen wat in die evangelie van Jesus Christus glo* weer met God versoen kan wees.

 Die Here se genade is dat Hy jou nie alleen laat nie, veral nie wanneer jy deur moeilike tye in die lewe moet gaan nie. Sy genade is dat Hy selfs dit wat sleg is vir jou ten goede laat meewerk.

 Moenie bid dat die Here jou probleme moet wegneem nie. Bid vir sy genade. Soms beteken sy genade dat Hy inderdaad die probleem sal wegneem, maar soms beteken dit Hy nie die probleem wegneem nie omdat Hy jou daardeur dra. Sy krag kom tot volle werking wanneer jy in geloofsvertroue aan Hom vashou.

Amen

* Geloof in die evangelie van Jesus Christus behels (1) verootmoediging voor God, (2) geloof dat jy gered word deur Jesus se offer aan die kruis, sy opstanding en (3) 'n dankbaarheidslewe.