Radio Pulpit

‘You have promised these good things to your servant.’ 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV

Believe God for ‘Good Things’

We strive each day to ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV). But it doesn’t come easily. It takes a mind saturated in scripture to make a faith choice when you’re staring down the barrel of a situation that seems impossible. So how do you develop that kind of faith? For a relationship to thrive, both parties must invest time and energy into getting to know one other. Lasting connections are based on trust, and an intimate knowledge of the other person’s habits and character. And it’s the same with God. Over time, as you prove His faithfulness it becomes easier to let go of your fear and replace it with trust. One author writes: ‘Getting to know God means walking with Him, spending time in His Word, getting to know His spotless character and the countless examples of His unfailing love illustrated in His ironclad promises. It means praying, talking, sharing all the details of your life and the inner workings of your heart. He knows it all already, but He enjoys the intimacy of the conversation. And like any balanced relationship, we can’t always be the one talking. We have to make time to listen, to come before the Lord and get quiet, by silencing the noise of our thoughts and the rush of our emotions.’ Remember, the only place fear has to work is in the empty space where your faith should be. Fear is based on what you see and hear. Faith is based on knowing that God’s Word is reliable, and that He has promised ‘good things’ to those who believe Him for them!

“…U het hierdie goeie dinge aan u dienaar belowe.” 2 Samuel 7:28 NLV

Vertrou God vir ‘Goeie Dinge’

Ons streef elke dag daarna om te ‘...leef deur te glo en nie deur te sien nie’ (2 Korintiërs 5:7 NLV). Dit is egter nie maklik nie. Dit verg gedagtes wat deur die Skrif deurdrenk is om ‘n geloofskeuse te maak wanneer jy ’n situasie in die gesig staar wat onmoontlik lyk. Hoe ontwikkel jy daardie soort geloof? Vir ‘n verhouding om te floreer, moet beide partye tyd en energie belê om mekaar te leer ken. Blywende verbintenisse word op vertroue en ‘n intieme kennis van die ander persoon se gewoontes en karakter, gebaseer. Dit is ook dieselfde met God. Met verloop van tyd, soos jy sy getrouheid ervaar, word dit makliker om jou vrees te laat vaar en dit met vertroue te vervang. Een outeur skryf: ‘Om God te leer ken, beteken om saam met Hom te wandel, tyd met sy Woord deur te bring en om sy vlekkelose karakter en die tallose voorbeelde van sy onfeilbare liefde, te leer ken. Dit beteken om te bid, te praat en al die besonderhede van jou lewe en die innerlike werking van jou hart te deel. Hy weet dit alles reeds, maar Hy geniet die intimiteit van die gesprek. Soos enige gebalanseerde verhouding, kan ons egter nie altyd die een wees wat praat nie. Ons moet tyd maak om te luister, om voor die Here te kniel en stil te word en die geraas van ons gedagtes en die gejaag van ons emosies stil te maak.’ Onthou, die enigste plek waar vrees kan werk is in die leë ruimte waar jou geloof moet wees. Vrees word op die dinge wat jy sien en hoor gebaseer. Geloof word op die wete dat God se Woord betroubaar is en dat Hy ‘goeie dinge’ belowe aan diegene wat Hom daarvoor glo, gebaseer!

‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’ Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Put the past behind you

After falling twice in the 1988 Olympic speed-skating races, Dan Jansen sought out sports psychologist Dr Jim Loehr, who helped him find a new balance between sport and the rest of his life and to pay more attention to the mental aspects of skating. Peter Mueller became his coach, putting him through workouts that he described as ‘the toughest I’ve ever known’. By the time the 1994 Olympics arrived, Jansen had more confidence than ever. He had set a 500-metre world record just two months previously, so that race seemed to be all his! Then the unimaginable happened, and he fell during the 500-metre race. Dr Loehr advised him, ‘Start preparing for the 1000-metre race. Put the 500-metre race behind you immediately. Stop reliving it. Think 1000!’ For years Jansen didn’t believe he could win that distance, as he had always considered it his weaker event. Now it was his last chance at an Olympic medal. As the race began, Jansen said, ‘I just seemed to be sailing along,’ and then he slipped and came within an inch of stepping on a lane marker. Still, he didn’t panic; he raced on and recorded a world-record time that won him the gold medal. There’s an important lesson here for you. Put the past behind and believe that God has greater days in store for you – because He does. So the word for today is this: ‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!’

Blessing Ndabula joins Lukho Mkwedi for another edition of Financial Conversations, unpacking the topic of Dumping Debt. In this practical teaching, she walks listeners through a clear process for tackling and eliminating debt, while grounding the conversation in what Scripture teaches about financial freedom and stewardship. An empowering and faith-rooted discussion for anyone ready to break free from the weight of debt.

#DumpingDebt #BlessingNdabula #LukhoMkwedi #FinancialFreedom #KingdomFinance #WordOfGod #BiblicalTruth #RadioPulpit Heart to Heart

“Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het… Ek gaan iets nuuts doen. Dit het alreeds begin gebeur!..” Jesaja 43:18-19 NLV

Laat die verlede met rus

Nadat hy twee keer tydens die Olimpiese spoedskaatswedlope van 1988 geval het, het Dan Jansen die sportsielkundige, dr Jim Loehr, begin spreek, wat hom gehelp het om ‘n nuwe balans tussen sport en die res van sy lewe te vind en om meer aandag aan die geestelike aspekte van skaats te gee. Peter Mueller het Dan se afrigter geword en hom deur oefensessies gelei wat hy as ‘die moeilikste wat ek nog ooit moes deurmaak,’ beskryf het. Teen die tyd dat die Olimpiese Spele van 1994 aangebreek het, het Jansen meer selfvertroue as ooit gehad. Hy het net twee maande tevore ‘n wêreldrekord oor die 500 meter opgestel, dus het almal voorspel dat hy goud in daardie wedloop sou wen. Toe gebeur die ondenkbare - hy val tydens die 500 meter-wedloop. Dr Loehr het hom aangeraai: ‘Begin nou voorberei vir die 1000 meter-wedloop. Trek onmiddellik ‘n streep deur die 500 meter-wedloop. Hou op om dit te herleef. Dink aan die 1000!’ Jare lank het Jansen nie geglo dat hy daardie afstand kon wen nie, aangesien hy dit nog altyd as sy swakker item beskou het. Nou was dit sy laaste kans op ‘n Olimpiese medalje. Toe die wedren begin, het Jansen gesê: ‘Dit het gevoel of ek goed aan die gang is, toe het ek gegly en amper uit die baan getree.’ Tog het hy nie paniekerig geraak nie; hy het aangehou en ‘n wêreldrekordtyd aangeteken wat hom die goue medalje besorg het. Daar is ‘n belangrike les hieruit te leer. Laat die verlede met rus en glo dat God beter dae vir jou in gedagte het - want Hy het. Die woord vir vandag is dus: ‘Vergeet al die dinge wat in die verlede gebeur het… Ek gaan iets nuuts doen. Dit het alreeds begin gebeur!..’

‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’ Joshua 24:15 NKJV

Honour God in your home

Joe was a carpenter who worked for a building contractor. One day, the contractor said to him, ‘Joe, I’m putting you in charge of the next house we build. I want you to order the materials and oversee the job.’ Joe accepted the assignment with great enthusiasm. He studied the blueprints and checked every measurement and specification. Then he had a thought: ‘If I’m really in charge, why couldn’t I cut a few corners, use less expensive materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who will know? Once the house is painted, it will look great.’ So Joe ordered second-grade lumber and inexpensive concrete, put in cheap wiring, and cut every corner he could. When the home was finished, the contractor came to see it. ‘What a fine job you have done!’ he said. ‘You have been faithful to me all these years, and I have decided to show you my gratitude by giving you this house that you just built as a gift.’ Night after night, as Joe lay in bed listening to the roof leaking and the floor creaking, the message came through loud and clear: The house you built is the house you will live in! Are you short-changing your spouse and your family in love, time, example, and instruction? Count on it: there will come a time when you will regret what you have done and have left undone. And depending on time and opportunity, you may or may not have a chance to undo it. So make this your prayer: ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.’

“…Ek en my huisgesin sal die Here aanbid.” Josua 24:15 NLV

Eer God in jou huis

Joe was ‘n skrynwerker wat vir ‘n boukontrakteur gewerk het. Eendag het die kontrakteur vir hom gesê: ‘Joe, ek stel jou in beheer van die volgende huis wat ons bou. Ek wil hê jy moet die materiaal bestel en toesig hou oor die werk.’ Joe het die opdrag met groot entoesiasme aanvaar. Hy het die bloudrukke bestudeer en elke meting en spesifikasie nagegaan. Toe het hy gedink: ‘As ek werklik in beheer is, hoekom kan ek nie ‘n paar kortpaaie vat nie, goedkoper materiale gebruik en die ekstra geld in my sak steek nie? Wie sal weet? Sodra die huis geverf is, sal dit fantasties lyk.’ Joe het toe tweedegraadse hout en goedkoop beton bestel, goedkoop bedrading ingesit en elke kortpad gevat wat hy kon. Toe die huis klaar was, het die kontrakteur dit kom besigtig. ‘Jy het ‘n goeie werk gedoen!’ het hy gesê. ‘Jy was al die jare getrou aan my en ek het besluit om my dankbaarheid te betoon deur jou hierdie huis wat jy so pas gebou het, as ‘n geskenk aan jou te gee.’ Nag na nag, terwyl Joe in die bed gelê en geluister het na die dak wat lek en die vloer wat kraak, het hy die boodskap hard en duidelik gehoor: Die huis wat jy bou, is die huis waarin jy sal moet woon! Skeep jy jou eggenoot en jou gesin af wat liefde, tyd, voorbeeld en onderrig betref? Jy kan maar weet: daar sal ‘n tyd kom wanneer jy spyt sal wees oor wat jy gedoen het en nagelaat het om te doen. Afhangende van tyd en geleentheid, mag jy dalk nie ‘n kans kry om dit ongedaan te maak nie. Maak dus die volgende jou gebed: ‘…Ek en my huisgesin sal die Here aanbid.’

‘Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Nehemiah 6:3 NIV

Be careful who you listen to

Like David’s older brother Eliab, there will always be people who try to discourage you from killing the giant in your life or taking on any other God-given assignment (see 1 Samuel 17:28). Their resistance could be due to the fact that ‘misery loves company’. Or that they’re projecting their fear and lack of faith onto you. Or it could be envy; they resent your attempt to do what they are afraid to do. And this is even more so when you succeed where they have failed. Whatever their motivation and intention may be, you may have to stand alone in your quest. Nehemiah’s enemies tried every trick in the book to deter him from rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. They were relentless. Notice how he handled their opposition: ‘Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together.”…But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent…this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer’ (Nehemiah 6:2-4 NIV). Nehemiah remained steadfast in what he knew God had called him to do, and you must too. You must be willing to take the put-downs, the envy, the distractions, the discouraging words, and all other opposition and stand on God’s Word: ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31 NIV). So the word for today is – be careful to whom you listen.

“…Ek is met ‘n groot taak besig, ek kan nie nou daarmee ophou en julle ontmoet nie.” Nehemia 6:3 NLV

Wees versigtig na wie jy luister

Soos Dawid se ouer broer, Eliab, sal daar altyd mense wees wat jou probeer ontmoedig om die reus in jou lewe dood te maak of enige ander Godgegewe opdrag aan te pak (sien 1 Samuel 17:28). Hul weerstand kan wees omdat hulle nie wil hê jy moet hulle agterlaat nie. Of dit kan wees dat hulle hul vrees en gebrek aan geloof op jou projekteer. Dit kan selfs afguns wees; hulle is wrokkig dat jy poog om dit te doen wat hulle te bang is om te doen. Hierdie weerstand mag dalk ‘n toppunt bereik wanneer jy slaag waar hulle misluk het. Wat ook al hul motivering en voorneme mag wees, jy sal dalk alleen in jou strewe moet staan. Nehemia se vyande het elke truuk in die boek probeer om hom te ontmoedig om die muur van Jerusalem te herbou. Hulle was meedoënloos. Let op hoe hy hul teenstand hanteer het: ‘Toe stuur Sanballat en Gesem vir my ‘n boodskap met die versoek dat ek hulle… moes ontmoet. Ek het besef dat hulle beplan het om my kwaad aan te doen. Ek het toe vir hulle ‘n boodskap teruggestuur: ‘Ek is met ‘n groot taak besig, ek kan nie nou daarmee ophou en julle ontmoet nie.’ Hulle het die boodskap vier keer vir my gestuur en elke keer het ek vir hulle dieselfde boodskap teruggestuur’ (Nehemia 6:2-4 NLV). Nehemia het standvastig gebly in dit wat hy geweet het God hom geroep het om te doen, en jy moet ook. Jy moet bereid wees om die afkeer, die afguns, die afleidings, die ontmoedigende woorde en alle ander teenstand te verduur en op God se Woord te staan: ‘…As God aan ons kant is, wie kan ooit téén ons wees?’ (Romeine 8:31 NLV). Die woord vir jou vandag is dus - wees versigtig na wie jy luister.

‘This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Psalm 118:24 NKJV

Live in day-tight compartments (2)

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis demonstrated that God wants humankind to attend chiefly to two things: ‘To eternity itself, and to that point of time, which they call the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity.’ In light of that truth, Screwtape, the veteran demon, advised a novice named Wormwood with these words: ‘Our business is to get them away from the eternal, and from the Present. With this in view, we sometimes tempt a human…to live in the Past.’ Screwtape then advised Wormwood about another demonic tactic – getting people to live in the future. ‘We want a whole race perpetually in pursuit of the rainbow’s end, never honest, nor kind, nor happy now, but always using as mere fuel wherewith to heap on the altar of the future every real gift which is offered to them in the Present.’ Whether we are overcoming lifelong addictions or going after life goals, one key to accomplishing things is breaking them down into manageable and measurable steps. A goal is a dream with a deadline. And without a deadline, the dream is dead in the water. Successful programmes that help alcoholics and addicts find sobriety and strength use the slogan: ‘One day at a time!’ If you want to break a habit, break it down into day-tight compartments. Just like boxing, you’ll win some rounds and lose some rounds. But you’ve got to fight one day and one round at a time. Before you know it, your winning streaks will get longer, and your losing streaks will get shorter.