Yvette's Whispers of Faith

by Yvette van Niekerk A long time ago, Augustine wrote: "You made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until it rests in You." I believe we all are longing to know God intimately, our deepest desire, is to learn more about our God. Many times, I don't understand, the longing inside of me, my simple feeling of dissatisfaction with my life, the unfulfilled expectations, feelings of dejection, and many time I feel isolated. Directing me, to my main focus, I am hungry for God's Word. When we develop our relationship with God; and realize more about His holy character, which illuminates my mind, heart and soul. Ezekiel 25: 6-7 MSG "God, the Master, says, Because you clapped and cheered, venting all your malicious contempt against the land Israel, I'll step in and, hand you out as loot - first come, first served. I'll cross you off the roster of nations. There'll be nothing left of you. And you'll realize that I am God." It's cl...

by Yvette van Niekerk 2 Timothy 1: 5-7 MSG "That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith - and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed - keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible." When I see fire, I am automatically interested and stare at it, the flames licking and flickering up and down. When we have a braai (barbeque) most of us like to gather around the fire and chat, it nice and warm and very inviting. Fire keeps us warm and illuminates our interactions, it is the focal point, that brings us together. Thinking of fire as a metaphor, it reminds of passion, burning and consuming desire, which is unquenchable. And fire can also be associated with our faith, burning and consuming desire to learn more of Gods word. I pray my heart and yours catches fire. ...

by Yvette van Niekerk 2 Chronicles 20 : 10-12 MSG "And now it's Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn't let Israel touch them when we got here at first - we detoured around them and didn't lay a hand on them. And now they've come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O, dear. God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you." I believe God, will move heaven and earth to show me His will. I believe God always wants the best for me, He has a specific plan for my life. I am were God, wants me to be right now. The minute I feel frustrated and confused I realize that I am wandering off my chosen path. God will take all kinds of protective actions to keep me from harm's way. I often suffer from a restless spirit, I just cannot seem to put my finger on it, but I'm uneasy with life at times. I feel I just can't quite identi...

by Yvette van Niekerk Romans 8: 1 - 2 MSG "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." I struggled to comprehend God does not remember my sins. It seemed impossible for my finite mind to see and understand. It blows my mind to think, God who is an omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, being doesn't remember my sins. He is the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present God, who can rightly know, every single detail of every sin, that I committed. God's declaration, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Hebrew 8 verse 12. I want to encourage...

by Yvette van Niekerk I think anger affects our lives, regardless of origin. When I’m angry I feel upset and under a lot of pressure. I’m not one to keep my anger locked up and pretend nothing is wrong, I explode there and then. My husband, on the other hand, suppresses his anger, I fear he might even have a stroke or heart tack. Ecclesiastes 7: 9 MSG “Don’t be quick to fly off the handle. Anger boomerangs. You can spot a fool by the lumps on his head.” I know it is important to look for a positive way in dealing with my anger and I really try but sometime I just can’t manage it. I submit my feeling to God and try and not take it back because it’s not under control right away. Taking responsibility for my anger is a way I feel I am managing my anger. I cry in the shower when very angry to relieve myself of the pain I feel at that time. I try to process my feeling and get closure but not always successful.  Angry people are destructive and can hurt themselves and others in the proc...

by Yvette van Niekerk Isaiah 64: 4 A Prayer for God’s Power “When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence. From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God buy you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him . You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sin.” When I say words like “I’ll never get through this situation or find that perfect job.” I have given into my fears and do not trust in God. I am the most negative person on this earth, so words spoken and said like “never” I try and avoid at all costs. I want to dream a dream and live my life fulfilled. It seems I’ll be taking action before I say never. Today I want to encourage you and me too, lets keep watching and waiting for God to come into our movie. I want His blessings in my life and I am trusting in Him. God gave me a wonderful...

by Yvette van Niekerk Psalm 37 verse 7 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him." When last have you visited your dr? I was there on Tuesday, many people sitting and waiting for their turn to see the dr. I wonder when looking at them what problems they have. Are they very sick, or are they just not feeling well. Then are there any people that go to the dr on a whim? Jesus said, "while we are waiting, God is working." My life has been hectic, and I am trying to accommodate everybody these days. There seems to be a lot going on, and tempers are flying off the handle left and right and centre. It frustrates me when people continuously bicker and carry on, not letting the thing go. It's like I all of a sudden have four small children in my home, two adult kids and two babies. The adult kids  should be at work, but because of lockdown, they stay home. They are driving me nuts. My husband is at his wit's end, and I have had it. Psalm 27 verse 14 "Wait on...

by Yvette van Niekerk Luke 10: 42 "There is only one thing worth being concerned about." I have been really very busy this past couple of weeks, I have been taking care of two little children, not making time to spend in the LORD’s presence. It struck me this morning that my time has been consumed by these two kids. I love the baby and little boy to bits. I do spend time at night reading, and then I wake up realizing I fell off to sleep and I don’t know what my devotions and my meditation were all about. Its time I need to do the most important thing first. I know Romans 7 verses 6 says that I am to be led by the prompting of the Spirit. I know I need to rest and take a break and sit down, which I never seem to do, and I suffer for it in the evening when going to bed. I realize that I am not bored, and I am busy to busy to think straight at times. I know it is most rewarding walking with God, so I have to make a decision, making time to spend with God. Psalm 16 verse 11 remin...

by Yvette van Niekerk Galatians 1: 10 Berean Study Bible "Am I now seeking the approval of men or God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Are you striving to please men, as Paul wrote to the Galatians? Or are you striving to live according to God's Word and be a God-Pleaser? Someone who chooses to be a person God created us to be - unique and different than most people; constant criticism is coming your way because of your peculiarity. It seems I have been going upstream my entire life, never going along with the rest of the crowd. I want to be different and be something God created me to be. I never knew my self-worth, and people could manipulate me to do things as they pleased, I was a people-pleaser. I was concerned that I didn’t make good decisions and people would think I was stupid. I wanted the approval of people constantly at any cost.   Proverbs remind us that the fear of people is a da...