Yvette's Whispers of Faith

December 2 Good gifts. Luke 11: 13 (NIV) 13 "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." It's my hearts desire, that you may receive the Holy Spirit when you seek Him with all your heart. In receiving the Holy Spirit into your own life, you now have the opportunity of magnifying the Lord. In what way, by making the Lord Jesus manifested in our lives. How? We must become obedient, and we must stay loyal to the Lord Jesus. In Psalm 34 verse 3, we reminded to magnify the Lord and exalt His name together. You will receive good gifts from the Lord when you ask Him. As you focused on these words today, may the Holy Spirit touch your heart and soul. With praises and worship we are able to draw near to the Lord. One of the gifts I would love to have is a gift of prophetic messages. So that I may encourage other people on my way. In 1 Corinthians 14 vers...

December 1 A Spirit-Filled Life. John 14:18 (NLV) Jesus Tells of His Death 18 “I will not leave you without help as children without parents. I will come to you.” We need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. The best way to know Him is through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one with the Father God and the Lord Jesus, and forms part of the Godhead. When we know the Lord Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit is with us and He is our helper. In difficult times the Holy Spirit is with us and is our comforter. A spiritfilled life is what we all are striving for. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot function as mature christians. In studying the Word of God each day, we was our souls with the Word. It cleanse us and gives the Holy Spirit the ability to speak to us. Stay connected by ready and studying the Bible. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you today. Prayer Thank You, Father God, for the Word that is available to us each day. Thank You, God that we can come to You in prayer. We...

November 22 I am confirmed, anointed and sealed in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:21 (ISV) 21 "Now the one who makes us—and you as well—secure in union with the Messiah and has anointed us is God." God gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can build a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus. We are now able to spend time with Him. To be anointed means we apart from others, the Holy Spirit covers us and helps us with our work going forward. We equipped to spread the Good News. God also sealed each one of us with His Holy Spirit, a mark and God set the Holy Spirit inside of each one of us. Bearing the mark (Holy Spirit) in our own lives proves that God is with us. If you do not have the Holy Spirit, pray and ask the Lord to anoint you with His Spirit. Speak to Your Pastor or Minister. Prayer Our Father; in heaven, hallowed be your name. Please help me bring my prayers in alinement with Your Word today. Thank You, Father, for Your loving kindness and Your mercy new every day....

November 21 I'm free from charges of condemnation. Romans 8:33-34 (TLB) 33 "Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honour next to God, pleading for us there in heaven." Lord God, thank You that we are free from any charges of condemnation against us. You have chosen us for Your own. We want to take this time in worshipping You and praising Your Name. You have given us the assurance we are free in Jesus Holy Name. If you have feelings of condemnation, shake them off, it's not coming from God or the Lord Jesus. Meditate on the scripture today. Psalm 143: 10 (NRSV) "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path." I am waiting expectantly to be taught by God...

November 20 All things, we love God. Romans 8:28 (TLB) 28 "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans." Sometimes life takes us to unexpected places, and we may feel it cannot be right. We know God lets all things happen for the good of those who love Him. Looking at it from my perspective, I had a contract job for ten months; I was so unhappy that I could not say on. Then I reminded myself, all things work together for the good of those who love God. So, going forward, I wait on the Lord when the time is right He will open the right doors for me to work again. Don't despair; God knows best. I encourage you today, trust in God. I am grateful that the LORD, is true and faithful, all thing work for those who love God. It's been two years since I have worked and I am happy to say, God opened a shut door. I am returning to work in 2022 for another year. Glory and honor to the Lord God. It's d...

Square leaf knitting Mom used to knit these little squares and she made a beautiful bedspread for her double bed. I loved the little leaves sticking out. I lost my pattern for the square leaf blanket and I tried to knit this out of my head. To my surprise, I remembered the pattern. I am still tweaking it here and there. When knitting it seems your brain remembers a lot more than you think. As I was knitting I picked up the pattern and have completed a couple of squres. I showed the pattern to my mom and I hope she understands my thinking. I sat behind my PC and typed each row. I would knit one-row type the pattern on the page. It's my best effort, and we hope she can knit a blanket going forward. The challenge was the ending but I realised I should have kept to my original stitches. I got this down now.

November 19 We have no Condemnation. Romans 8:1-2 (TLB) 1 "So there is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death." We are free from condemnation, and God convicts one and Satan condemns one. In John 3 verse 17, we see that God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Jesus is our redeemer, and with Him, we can face any circumstances. Today, you might be facing difficult circumstance. It may feel like you're condemned, shake it off. Remember who you are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Any evil thoughts spring to mind, remind yourself who you are in Christ. He has given us the life-giving Spirit, the power to free us from the vicious circle of sin and death. Embrace the Lord Jesus and draw near to Him each day. Be omindfulf the presence of the Lord. God's ...

November 18 "You have everything when you have Christ." Colossians 2:10 (TLB) 10 "So you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power." Everything we have in life is a gift from God. We first need to understand God's love for us. We need to experience God's love in our lives. We need to realise that God loves us completely; nothing we do can ever stop God from loving us. That is when we understand that when we have everything, we have Christ. We, though, are going to love - love and be loved. First, we where loved, now we love. He loved us first. 1 John 4, verse 19. We may not think about this, but we need to renew our relationships with ourselves. Why? We spend a lot of time with ourselves, and I need to to get along with me. In loving myself in a balanced way, I am affirming God as my creator. Prayer Abba Father, according to Your ...

November 17 Free and Forgiven. Colossians 1:14 (TLB) 14 "Who bought our freedom with his blood and forgave us all our sins." If we understand the scripture set before us today. If we do, Jesus should have a dramatic impact on the way we are living right now. The Lord Jesus is in a league of His own when it comes to forgiveness of sins. I doubt I have the same way of dealing with forgiveness as He does. I hope that I don't view this without know the implications for my sins. I reflect and meditate on what happened to the Lord Jesus. When Jesus Christ's aggressors committed the ultimate crime, they executed their holy Creator. I keep grudges against my fellow man, am I holding a horrible illegitimate grudge? If the Lord Jesus was able to forgive me of all my iniquities, then why do I still bear grudges against people who hurt me? So in all fairness do I emulate God's grace in my life? Prayer Abba Father, Lord it is by free grace that I have salvation thro...

November 16 "We may come to God the Father." Ephesians 2:18 (TLB) 18 "Now all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, may come to God the Father with the Holy Spirit's help because of what Christ has done for us." In the days of Moses,and Abraham, and even the Lord Jesus. There was a High Priest who went into the Holy of Holy on behalf of the people. This Priest needed to pray to God and bring the sin offerings of the people. It is possible to actually talk to God, the Holy Spirit, dwells insideoue hearts. As we pray, we are able to draw near to God. The Holy Spirit in us brings our thoughts into alignment with that of God's. When we study God's Word we learn to embrace God. God's heart is for his children to know him, understand him, and seek him. A balanced discipline of reading God's Word heps us recognize God's heart. The result of seeking God is finding God! In coming to the Lord and praying to the Lord we find the heart of God. When...

November 15 Adopted Child of God. Ephesians 1:5 (TLB) 5 "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!" It is so exciting knowing that I am so important to God that He made plans a very long time ago to adopt me into His family. I know the Lord Jesus Christ had to die for me. I now have the opportunity of being God's child. If the Lord Jesus didn't die on the cross for me, my life would not be worth living. Have you considered what has taken place? God has called us. We are His children, and He is our friend. We are the righteousness of God in Christ, He bought us with a high price, we are holy, and God has adopted us. Can you imagine what life would be if we did not know the Lord? My life would be an enormous big mess. I am so grateful that God gave me a second chance and third and fourth and so many chances, to keep on returning to God. His mercy is new every...

November 14 I am holy. Ephesians 1:1 (NIVUK) 1 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus." The Apostle Paul is writing to the people in Ephesus, reminding them that they are the holy people of God. I am blessed, are you? Of course, you are blessed. You are holy on the grounds of what you think. The Lord, Jesus Christ, and so do you otherwise you would not be reading this daily devotion today now, would you? If you do not think you are holy, then you should start by committing your life to the Lord Jesus. Take this time to reflect on where you stand in your relationship with the Lord Jesus. Prayer Abba Father, I pray Your Word from Leviticus 20 verses 7 "I consecrate myself, therefore, and I will be holy, for He is the Lord my God." Because I am set free from sin and have become the slave of God, I have my present reward in holiness, and its end is eternal life. I embrace You, Lord ...

November 11 "Joined together as one person." 1 Corinthians 6:17 (TLB) 17 "But if you give yourself to the Lord, you and Christ are joined together as one person." When you read this passage, have you noticed what it is stating? As I read it, this is what I understand if I give myself to the Lord, then Christ and I, together as one person. So, if we joined together as one person, that means that the Lord Jesus is one with me. Can you see the impact this can have on your life? What a remarkable understanding, we joined together with the Lord Jesus Christ. Both you and I are one with Christ. Let these words sink in and meditate on them today as you praise the Lord Jesus. God is so awesome that He gave Jesus to save both you and me from our sins. Now I know, and you know that we have been born again, we have surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus. We are friends, we are in right standing with God. The Lord Jesus and to make it even better we joined together wi...

November 9 Jesus' friend. John 15:15 (TLB) 15 "I no longer call you slaves, for a master, doesn't confide in his slaves; now you are my friends, proved by the fact that I have told you everything the Father told me." We are no longer slaves the Lord Jesus has confided in each of us, and we have a relationship with the Lord. As a friend, we can now come and sit with the Lord Jesus and talk to Him about everything in our lives. We know this because the Word states it, and we can come into His presence. Think about your friends around you, and you call them continually telling them little things of importance in your life. You share all the funny jokes and laugh about good things taking place, and when you feel sad, you also share with your friends. Hopefully, they are there to cheer you up again. Prayer Abba Father, I humbly get down on my knees before You Father God, You are the magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask You to strengthen ...

In my dream, I dreamt of my deceased Dad? Is there an interpretation to my dream? Dream: I was walking in a shopping centre with my sister, I didn't see her face but I know it was her. We walked into a coffee shop and I immediately turned around to leave the shop. I saw Coke A Cola bottles stacked against the back wall. She said: "no, wait look there's Dad." We walked into the shop and against the wall were 3 tables with two chairs. My Dad and his second wife were drinking coffee. All the chairs were against the wall standing on their heads and the feet of the chairs to the ceiling. We took chairs and placed them down in front of my Dad. On the coffee table were sweets that looked like little umbrellas but only the cane was visible. I picked one up and said: "I don't know why I'm so stingy lately." My Dad passed away on 31 March 2008 and I have never dreamt of him until this morning.

November 8 I am a Child of God. John 1: 11-12 (TLB) 11-12 "Even in his own land and among his own people, the Jews, he was not accepted. Only a few would welcome and receive him. But to all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them." The Lord Jesus was not accepted among His own people, the Jews but for a few who would welcome and receive Him. Now, as Christians, we have the honour and privilege to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour. The Lord Jesus gave us who believe in Him the right to become children of God. We need to trust in the Lord Jesus. I want to encourage you today to study and meditate on these words, think about the price that made for you and me. Take this opportunity to thank God for His only begotten son. Prayer Abba Father, as for me, I will enter the Lord's house through the plenty of His steadfast love and mercy. I will worship toward and at His holy temple in reverent f...

November 7 Teach me to live in an attitude of prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TLB) 18 "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." As part of our journey, we know life can bring challenges all the time. So to curb these challenges, we should start our day in prayer. We humble ourselves before our living God. We asking for what we need and thanking the Lord for what we have in Jesus name. Because we belong to Christ Jesus, we will be able to draw for the Holy Spirit in our lives. Our lives are in the Lord, and we will live according to it, choosing life each day. In humble prayer, we commit our lives to God, asking Him to teach us to live in an attitude of worship. Not acting all spiritual but actually living a spiritual experience. Prayer Lord, teach me an attitude of prayer, You Lord, are near to me and all who call upon Your Name. Who call on You and in truth. You, Lord, will fulfil the desires of th...

November 6 Am I walking in God's will? Romans 8:6 (TLB) 6 "Following after the Holy Spirit leads to life and peace, but following after the old nature leads to death." As a Christian, the Holy Spirit lives inside of me and when I come to an awkward situation, I can call on God. The Holy Spirit will help me, and I will have peace in my life. So, I am still human, and my flesh wants to have its way all the time. How do I know which one is the best option to go with? Because in Christ, I will follow my spiritual prompts and look for guidance in the Bible. The Lord Jesus told His disciples how He would die. Peter couldn't come to terms with this and he refused to accept it. Matthew 16 : 22 "Heaven forbid sir, this will never happen to you." Peter didn't think what would Jesus do, and he was thinking about what can I do. That's when the Lord Jesus said: "Satan get behind me." Am I walking with God? We all try and it's only t...

November 5 We are finding out God's will. Proverbs 3:6 (TLB) 6 "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Daily, we need to come to the Lord first thing each morning and pray about the day ahead of us. By dedicating our day into God's hand, we are asking Him for guidance, protection, and wisdom for the day ahead of us. God directs the steps of a godly person; He delights in every detail of their lives (Psalm 37 verse 23). We have some direction; each time we are facing a challenge we are able to bring this to the Lord in prayer. Nothing is too small or too big for the Lord, He can and will solve it for us. What is holding you or I back from finding out God's will for our lives? Come to think about it, and I would say my own will. When I decide on a matter I act on it, and there is no place for God to intervene, I made my decision. We need to step back and trust God and let his will prevail. Remember ob...

November 4 "If anyone loves God." 1 Corinthians 8:3 (NKJV) 3 "But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." God is awesome and beautiful, He is our counsellor and our friend, and He loved each one of us before we loved Him. As I ponder on the words I read here, I want it to take root in my heart. If "I" love God, then "I" will be known by God. Does God know you? Yes, you, and I are. Remember, God knows your name (Isaiah 43 verse 1); God even knows where you live (Psalm 139). God called you by name. These couple of verses reminds me that from the minute of my birth to the day I lay my head down; God knows me. He is omnipotent, all around us, we are His. I remind myself always that I am here for a reason and a purpose. John 3 verse 16 reminds me of God's unfailing love towards me. Today, I want to challenge you to meet Good in the pages of Scripture. Let the Word of God wash over you, cleanse you, and heal you. When we focus on Go...

November 3 Where does your strength come from? Psalm 46:1 (NKJV) God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. 1 "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." Where does your strength come from? One day I experienced a total melt down at home. Covid 19 has taken it's toll on my life. I was standing washing dishes in my kitchen and I had experienced a feeling of total dread. I thought something terrible was going to happen to my family. This fear was so real I cried for days. The only confidence and peace of mind I could find is God. My little boat was sailing in stormy seas. I was uncertain and so afraid it seemed difficult and I was out of sorts. I prayed and in that time I was feeling emotions of being so much alone. My battle with fear was real. The only way I got out of this dark and lonely place was to find my strength in God. I run to the Lord, Jesus...

November 2 As long as I live, I will serve. God Psalm 91:16 (NKJV) 16 “With long life, I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” It's something we all are facing, aging isn't negotiable. I am in my late fifties and approaching sixty. It's clear I cannot do everything I did when I was in my thirtys. Facing my sixties is something I have to do. I don't look the same and my body is changing. These days I am living my life to the fullest. Focusing my time and attention on the Lord Jesus. My mom phoned me last Monday in tears, her brother passed away. He was 79 years of age. She feels sad and realised that she's the last of her family. We spoke about her brother and then I reminded her that on one is leaving earth alive. The only person I recall leaving earther alive was Enoch who lived for 365 years. Enoch and walked off with God into heaven. We need a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Study your Bible make time to come into the presence of...

November 1 Are you standing on your soapbox? Nehemiah 8:4a (NKJV) 4 "So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose." As a priest and scribe, Ezra requested to read the Word of God to the people. On hearing the Word, some of the people wept, but to sing praises to the Lord God. Are you standing on your soapbox today? Where are you giving your impromptu speech? Is it on the Internet ~ your Blog spot, your Facebook account or Instagram? We have the ability to spread the Word of God to so many people over the Internet, let us make use of it. On this medium, we can teach people, counsel people and encourage people. Take a moment and think of how many people you can reach? So many are on the Internet today, let us use this platform and spread the Word of God. Prayer Abba Father, You are the glory of my strength and Your favour is exalted in my life. Lord thank You for establishing me today. Thank You for granting me a life of support with...

October 31 Do not pay back evil for evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NLT) 15 "See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and all people." It's human nature to take revenge on someone who has hurt you. You would say haha, laughing at this statement. Do you know what so and so did to me yesterday? I am going to repay him or her back. It happens that we find people mistreat us and they think they can get away with it. So how can we change our reaction to this statement? The Apostle Paul lived 2000 years ago; he would not understand the people of today. Nothing has changed, people are people, and we tend to pay back evil for evil. How can we change this reaction? I know it will be hard to do this without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We need someone to help us stop acting out. How can we reverse this reaction? If we have to change our perspective on people, we need the help of the Holy Spirit today. With Him, we have the power to c...

October 30 "Don't give up." Galatians 6:9 (NLT) 9 "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." Most people get tired and are not in the mood for doing what is right. They sometimes do what is necessary because "no one cares." Today I want to encourage you not to give up. Yes, sometimes people take advantage of you, and you really go the extra mile, yet people misuse you and let you down. My suggestion to you is: take a break, take some time for being alone in the morning, relax a little and give yourself breathing space. Now, after this couple of minutes, hours or half-day go back and do your best. Remember that excellence is a state of mind; you are excellent. You know what is right and you have practiced it all year round, don't give up now. You don't know when you are going to reap your harvest of blessings. Stay focused on end. Prayer Abba F...

October 29 The righteous will "be long remembered." Psalm 112:6 (NLT) 6 "Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered." Matthew Arnold wrote, "Christ came to reveal what righteousness is." The Lord Jesus defends the defenseless and the beaten-down he comforts. Jesus Christ feeds the hungry and, healed the sick; touching the dirty and offensive, and He suffered for you and me, we didn't deserve it. Let us praise the Lord Jesus for His compassion and for demonstrating it to us today. We are trying to imitate Him, but still, we lack the kindness and love needed to grow. I still wonder how to live out a righteous life. Is it by acting and trying to be pure in heart? We need to do acts of kindness and love our enemies as we love ourselves. We know the Lord Jesus was very involved with the poor and sick people in His time. He cared for their wellbeing, are we doing the same? Can we say "I am the righteo...

October 28 "A godly life." 1 Timothy 6:11 (NLT) Paul's Final Instructions 11 "But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness." The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy that he is a man of God and that he should run from all the evil things in this world. Timothy was a young man and learning to live a "godly life," as do many of us these days. So exactly how do we pursue a holy life? To my thinking, one should always guard your heart because of it in our hearts that we allow things to take root. I love chocolates and can crave it all the time. We need to keep desiring the "Word of God." Invest in spending time in God's word, read and pray without stopping. We build our religion in attending church as often as we can, it keeps us connected to fellow believers. An example, if you take a burning coal from the fire and set is as...

October 27 Find Life? Proverbs 21:21 (NLT) 21 "Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor." Are you pursuing righteousness and unfailing love? Proverbs says we will find life when we pursue righteousness. We all are living according to some code or value system. We do things in a specific way believing it enriches out lives. Righteousness is the right standing with the Lord God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. To find life, we need to live righteous lives. By confessing the following "I am the righteousness of God in Christ." We start living our lives stretching out toward the Lord God. Our confession brings us into right standing with God. The Holy Spirit within us reminds us of our right standing with the Lord God through the Lord Jesus Christ. We make a 180 degree turn back to the Lord God, we are grabbing hold of the Lord God in repentance of our sin. I know the Lord Jesus Christ has been my salvatio...

October 26 "God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NLT) 7 "You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." The age we live in is very wealthy, people have many resources available to them. The challenge lays in giving when you know people are in need. Being generous seems to be a mind set. You are generous or you aren't. As simple as that. We read in todays scripture "decide in your heart how much to give." As a working person I gave my tithings and some to people I knew that were in need. Something that makes me angry is when pressured to give money and I wasn't prepared for it. I once came out of the shops and a beggar stood between me and my car begging for money, I felt pressured to give her money. She didn't allow me to get into my car. This made me angry, I decided that when someone puts pressure ...

October 23 "Let your eyes observe my ways." Proverbs 23:26 (RSV) 26 "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes observe my ways." Son or daughter; did you read today? O dear Lord, as we meditate and focus on Your Words of wisdom today, here are our hearts. We are people with many exciting lives, and sometimes we lose hope and sometimes we don't always come to You. As we reminded today to give You our hearts, we also want to ask You to help us in observing Your Ways. There are so many things keeping us busy that we lose sight of what is essential. Lord, sometimes we need You to come closer to us so that we can observe Your ways. Today is one of those days, help us understand Your word and help us to live the lives You have planned for us. As little children, we sit and wait for Your guidance, and we are eager to learn from You today. As we train our eyes to stay focused on You today, we pray to ask for the right attitude with You Lord as well as with p...

October 22 "Clean hands and a pure heart." Psalm 24:3-5 (RSV) 3 "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive a blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of his salvation." Who can stand in the presence of the Lord? David reminds us that the person with clean hands and a pure heart can come before the Lord. Do you want to come before the Lord our God today? Scripture reminds us that we must not come with falseness before the Lord. If there is deceitfulness in our hearts, confess it and ask God to forgive us today. Why hold onto bitterness and stay angry? Let it go, make allowance for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Are your hands clean? Do you cuss underneath your breath? Today consider giv...

October 21 "I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10 (RSV) 10 "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Lessons learned throughout my life span; nothing stays the same even if you don't do anything to change it. It's silly to think this way. The fact is things happen, circumstances change all the time. As a person I change my mind all the time. What might be very important yesterday is another something today. What is on my mind right now, what should I be doing today? Working all day long, getting home and preparing dinner for my family? After the dinner, we get the dishes washed and sit down to watch something on TV, take a bath and go to bed. The circle of my life seems so mundane, constant repetition. Reading the book of Job, I noticed he went through so much. He lost everything, even his children. Then I see Job states "I shall come forth as gold." Prayer Father God, I have not gone throug...

October 20 The Lord is Good. Lamentations 3:25 (RSV) 25 "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him." How to wait on the LORD? I pose the question? Sitting here in my study waiting for the LORD, I wait in a quiet place. Considering my surroundings and all the people in my space. Staying focused is a problem I seem to get bored and start playing around. I never learned how to meditate on the Word. I have experienced God's presence many times and yet I struggle to draw near to Him. I have learned that I want a specific answer and God doesn't give it the way I want it. It is compelling how awesome and beautiful our Lord is when we wait on Him. He will reveal Himself to you. The way to draw near to God is to open your Bible to your reading for the day. Take time in reading and allowing God to speak to you. Now look for a verse that speaks into your heart. Write it down in your journal. What caught your attention in what you read? What...

October 19 A new Challenge. Joshua 14:12 (RSV) 12 "So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day; for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities: it may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out as the Lord said." Facing new challenges can be daunting, and as I grow older, I realize that it can throw me off at the time. I say, "Lord God, give me this hill country." I have the necessary strength; I have the knowledge and know-how. I feel that I am still able to make a difference. I want to be like Caleb, not afraid of going for the next challenge, climbing the mountain as they present themselves to me. I believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If you need a new challenge, ask the Lord to give it to you, young or old you are able. God will equip you for the next job. Lord, I know You have a good plan for my life, and I want to be part of the new challenge show me h...

October 8 You are my shelter. Psalm 73:28 (NKJV) 28 "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all Your works." Picture this: you phone your mom, and she is crying on the other side of the line. The feeling of helplessness falls onto you. As you try and console her, you pray you to hope prayers will be heard. Finally, after speaking to my mom, I humbly pray to ask the Lord my God to please intervene for her and my stepdad. Just before I knock off, I receive a call concerning my work and the way I have done the job. It sounds like I am just not capable of doing a good job, and the manager on the other side feels that I should have gone the extra mile. I feel taken aback and hurt because I felt that I have been doing more than a good job. As I walk out of the office, one of my colleagues tell me the manager escalated the matter, but that I should not worry I was to the right. Praise God! Prayer Lord, God, I want ...

October 7 "You don't have to fight this battle." 2 Chronicles 20:1 (NKJV) 17 "You will not need" to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! "Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." Companies retrench people when they feel you are redundant. It's hard when you lose your work it can be trying. I remember when my husband came home, telling me they retrenched him. I felt our lives would fall apart. The Lord God is always watching, and He never let any harm come our way. Yes, my husband didn't have a steady job, but at least he received a contract to work for five years. God said that God would never leave us or forsake us. He provided an income for the next five years. We hoped for a permanent job, and we wanted all the benefits. My husband still has a job, and we are living in our house. God supplies acco...

October 5 You are not forsaken. Deuteronomy 31:8 (Revised Edition) (NABRE) 8 "It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed." On a personal note, I am grateful for these words of encouragement. The Lord says that He goes before us. We are encouraged that He will be with us and will never fail or forsake us. We should not fear nor be dismayed. As I grow older, I feel uncertain and worried about my future, but I must be honest and tell you on a personal note, God has not forsaken me. There are days when I feel uncertain, but in those moments, I turn my heart to the Lord God, calling out "Please don't forsake me, Lord." I believe God hears me. He will be with me and will never forsake or leave me. I know life can be full of uncertainty, but there is someone that I can turn. I want to encourage you today that God can comfort us wherever we find ourselves in this world. Prayer ...

October 4 It was filled with laughter. Psalm 126:2 (AMPC) 2 "Then were our mouths filled with laughter and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, and The Lord has done great things for them." I don't know many people who can show appreciation and thankfulness on receiving gifts. Some will just smile and nod saying thank you and the others really appreciate their gifts. One of the things I cannot hide is my surprise and appreciation. My mom loves watching me when she gives me gifts. She tells me it's like watching a little child receive gifts. On receiving the gift, I would beam, my face lights up and I laugh, I really cannot help myself. On opening my gift, I will show my appreciation and my eyes, my lips and my whole coming to life. I love gifts even if they are small. I show my appreciation and love being spoilt. When the Lord sends me something unexpectedly, I do the same, I say, "Thank You Lord" loud and laugh and sing and da...

by Yvette van Niekerk October 3 The Lord answered. 1 Samuel 30:8 (AMPC) 8 "And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail to recover all." Picture this while you are down on your knees and in humble prayer, and everything seems to tumble around you. Tears are running down your cheeks, and you have no other resources available to you. You are sitting on the floor with your Bible in hand. You are reminded of something you're read in 1 Samuel. You are paging through the Book of 1 Samuel, and your eye catches verse 8. A sudden realization comes over you, God just answered you. The feeling of dread and fear depart from you as you focus and meditate on the words "pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail to recover all." God is so good and faithful to the extent of answered prayer. We hear His voice through the Word of God...

by Yvette van Niekerk October 2 Find strength in the Lord. 1 Samuel 30:6 (NIVUK) 6 "David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. King David faced death, and his men were angry with him for their wives and children had been abducted. They were talking about stoning King David. King David must have felt wretched, but he went to the Lord, his strength was in the Lord. Picture your struggling work, and your manager has been carrying on like a lunatic. Threats of dismissal are hanging around your head. Who do you call? The time to come in prayer before the Lord, looking to the Lord to help you and strengthen you. Because you and I have a personal relationship with the Lord, we can draw on His wisdom, insight, and knowledge and sort out the problem we are facing. Prayer Lord God, in humbleness we come to You this morning. You know our circum...

by Yvette van Niekerk October 1 Wisdom bestows well-being. Proverbs 3:21-22 (NIVUK) 21 "My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck." Pearls of wisdom are in the Book of Proverbs, and as I read these verses, I am so enthusiastic and looking forward to growing spiritually. We are encouraged to stay focused on wisdom and understanding and not letting it out of our sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion. Our lives will be worth living, and it can see as an ornament of grace around our necks. Don't stop now go and read Probers 3 and see from verses 26 to 31 the benefits of wisdom. The Lord will be at your side and keep your foot from being snared. We also are reminded to do good to our neighbours and to live in peace with them. Keeping our lives safe from harm and blessing our lives. Godly lives are what we all as Christians are striving for, an...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 30 Be Kind! Galatians 6:10 (TLB) 10 "That's why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christian brothers." I am one of those people who carry my heart on my sleeve, and if someone hurts or offends me, I show it. When I am hurt, I will either get revenge and get them back or avoid them. This process has been part of my life for a very long time; until my husband said to me to drop it. Life is complicated enough and stops being so childish. I was furious when he said that because I was dealing with the people in my way. The funny thing is the Holy Spirit works through many people, even your husband. I was reading this book and the person reminded me to pray about it, give the problem to God and leaves it with God. I still have some fits, I am still human, but I also was reminded that I would give an account one day to God about my bad behaviour. Let me encourage you to pray about the situation and ...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 29 1st Part of all your income. Proverbs 3:9-10(TLB) 9-10 "Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns with wheat and barley and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines." Tithing is something I have been practising for a couple of months, and to be honest, and I am blessed so wonderfully. When our resources run out, we have money come in, and we carry on. I have also been able to help my ageing mom. I do want to take a couple of minutes and ask you to give your first Part of all your income and see how God opens heaven for you too. I have found trusting in God all things work together for the good of my own family. I am excited and looking forward to a great future because God is good, and He is in control over my life. You too can experience God's goodness in tithing. Test God and see how He changes your life. Blessed be the name of the Lord, in obedience, I will tithe and trust i...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 28 Persevere Hebrews 10:36(TLB) 36 "You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised." Is there something you are waiting patiently for from God? We all have some needs and desires that we are trusting God will fulfil. For me, it is a permanent job, with benefits and a steady income. What are you waiting for patiently? We need healing in our bodies. We need the relief of our financial strains—restoration in our relationships with family and friends and God. The key to success is written "you need to keep on patiently doing God's will," being obedient and persevering. Patience isn't one of my strong suits, but for my success to come my way, I need to preserve patience and obedience. I need to stay focused on God's word even when I feel down and out. I have to keep Gods name alive within myself. We need to block out all negative thoughts that will break down o...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 27 We are Transformed. Romans 12:2 (ASV) 2 "And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Looking at myself I am always working on changing my appearance, a little night cream and you know cutting down on my intake of sweets and chocolates. Shedding some weight now and then, but when it comes to transforming my mind. I have to stay focused and study God's word. I have to read the word of God continually, guarding my mind and heart. The metamorphosis takes place the minute a caterpillar creates its cocoon, and after a couple of days, the envelope cracks open. The translucent wings are exposed and fill out with blood, and then the body emerges next and finally, the butterfly is holding onto the cocoon. As Christians, we need to also go through a metamorphosis, and we need to soak ourselves in the Word of God. ...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 26 God merely laughs! Psalm 2:4 (TLB) 4 "But God in heaven merely laughs! He is amused by all their puny plans." Picture this God, the creator of heaven and earth sitting on His throne looking down on the planet laughing at our puny plans. God knows the plans He has for each one of us, plans to prosper us and not to bring us harm. Here we see God laughing because the projects we are making are puny. Seriously, we think we can sort our lives out, and we believe we have all the answers. The question is, do we know the scope of the plans that God has for each one of us? We do, God said that He has a future planned for us, plans to prosper us and not to bring us harm. The other side of the coin is also evident in Psalms 37 we are reminded that the wicked would fade away in the scorching sun, like grass. Do not be envious of the wicked their days are numbered and they will be no more. You and I are encouraged to take delight in the Lord, and...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 25 You are marvellous! Psalm 139:14 (TLB) 14 "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvellous—and how well I know it." Isn't it wonderful to realize that we have been made wonderfully complex! The Lord had made each one of us individually different yet, we have beauty, we have talents and we have so much going for each of us. When looking in the mirror, the reflection staring back at you must remind you that God loved you before you were born. He has created someone amazing and beautiful. We are marvellous. My children address their daughters as gorgeous; this gives my grandchildren such confidence. If you are a woman and feeling a little down today, let me remind you 'you are beautiful, you are lovely, and you are gorgeous. God loves you. God valued you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you. As you go through your day, re...

by Yvette van Niekerk September 24 "He can hear you when you call!" Isaiah 59:1 (TLB) 1 "Listen now! The Lord isn't too weak to save you. And he isn't getting deaf! He can hear you when you call!" When I read this passage, I believe something was happening to me while I was still struggling to find my feet. I work for someone that was a perfectionist, and this manager of mine used to have me in tears every day. I used to cry all the time, my ex-husband was making my life difficult, and this man was even worse. One day I could not take it anymore, and I cried out to the Lord and asked Him, please help me. The pressure was getting to me; my hair was falling out, and I had become thin and miserable. As I sat in my car, reading God's word, I was praying for some relief. I went back to my office and in the bathroom, washing my face and back to my desk. Just as I sat down, I received a call, and someone was inviting me to come for an interview. Impressi...