Yvette's Whispers of Faith

When God interrupts an ordinary day The field stretched out in the early morning heat, the kind of day that asks nothing extraordinary of you. Just the work. Just the oxen. Just the rhythm of the Plow breaking familiar ground. Elisha had no reason to expect anything different. He was not in a temple. He was not on his knees in a sacred place with his hands folded and his heart prepared. He was working, dusty, ordinary, unremarkable. The twelfth pair of oxen ahead of him, and the long day still unfolding. And then a cloak fell across his shoulders. No announcement. No trumpet. Just the quiet, unmistakable weight of it. 1 Kings 19:19 — "Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him." I have to be honest with you. I almost missed it. I have been walking through a dry season lately. The kind where the ground of your soul feels cracked and the sky feels distant, and you find yourself searching your own heart with a fine-tooth comb. Wondering what you are missing. Wond...

by Yvette van Niekerk The Golden Silence of the Tomb "Can you see anything?" The whisper broke the heavy silence of the valley. Howard Carter’s eyes strained, adjusting to the ancient, velvet darkness. For a moment, the air seemed to hold its breath. Then, as the light of his candle flickered against the shadows, his voice failed him. Before him lay a dazzling array of gold, treasures untouched by time. For centuries, the sands of Egypt had swallowed the secrets of the Pharaohs. Grave robbers had come and gone; archaeologists had surrendered to the heat and the hopelessness. By all accounts, Howard Carter’s mission was doomed. He had only scraps of evidence and a decade of "no." But he did not turn back. On November 26, 1922, three thousand years of waiting ended. Because one man refused to stop digging, the world gazed upon the golden mask of Tutankhamun. A river does not cut through rock because of its power, but because of its persistence. The Weight of t...

by Yvette van Niekerk The air in the room felt heavy, thick with the kind of silence that isn’t peaceful, but guarded. I’ve spent years building a wall, brick by brick, prayer by silent prayer. Thinking I was protecting my heart from the sting of disappointment. I told myself it was safety. But God whispered a harder truth to my soul: it was a stronghold of pride. In the quiet pages of my Bible, I find women whose stories mirror the shadows of my own heart. I think of Michal, looking down from her window at King David. As he danced before the Lord, stripped of his royal dignity and clothed only in his joy, she didn't see a worshiper. She saw a fool. “She despised him in her heart” (2 Samuel 6:16). That contempt wasn't just a marital spat. It was a spiritual barrenness that took root. I know that coldness. I remember a time in my own life, a moment in the sanctuary. Where I looked at another and thought, “Hypocrite.” I judged the outward show and ignored my own inward decay. T...

"Am I a prisoner of my own dismal predicament, or am I allowing the LORD God to utilise this trying season for His divine purposes?" Perhaps my chains are not a sentence, but a calling? As it is written in Ephesians 3:1-13, even a prison can be a platform. A Petition from a Stubborn Heart Dearest Heavenly Father, I must confess, with a fair amount of chagrin, that I have entirely misinterpreted this difficult season. In my haste, I assumed I was being punished, or worse, abandoned in a dusty corner. Please forgive my audacity in assuming You were against me when, in truth, You were simply positioning me. Lord, do pry my eyes open! If there is refinement needed, then by all means, refine away. If there is preparation afoot, please prepare me. Help me to trust that You are Sovereign over my messy circumstances and intentional with my life. Teach me to see myself not as a captive to my pain, but as a servant of Christ, placed precisely where I am needed for Your glory. Ephesian...

by Yvette van Niekerk 29 March 2026 Honour God Dear Father God, Today, on this holy morning, I come before You with praise and honour. I worship You, LORD my God. Thank You for the gift of another day, and for welcoming me into Your presence. In humility, I lift up Your holy Name: Holy, Holy, Holy are You, God Almighty. All glory and honour belong to You. I praise You, LORD, in the mighty Name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Your Word reminds me: “For whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.” (1 John 3:20, ESV) LORD, You know all things. You are the Creator of all, and You see me El Roi, the God who sees. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, ESV) Father, I come before You this morning with a heart that longs to be aligned with Yours. Draw me near again. Where I feel distant, remind me of Your nearness. Where I feel uncertain, anchor me in Your truth. Teach me to guard my hear...

A powerful morning prayer for surrender and strength. If you are struggling with anxiety, feeling distant from God, or seeking direction, use these words to repent, find peace, and ask for God's guidance in your daily life. You don't have to walk alone. A Most Earnest Petition: A Morning of Surrender By Yvette van Niekerk An Adoration of the Almighty Heavenly Father, I must confess, as I cast my gaze upon the splendour of Your creation this morning, I am quite struck by the sheer magnitude of Your greatness. It is, in a word, overwhelming. Your power is etched into every leaf and gust of wind, and I find myself quite convinced that You are worthy of far more praise than my humble lips can manage. Lord, do help me to simply hush for a moment. In this bustling world, grant me the grace to be still and truly notice You. I wish to offer You my undivided worship today. The State of My Rather Disheveled Heart "What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man t...

A personal look at what happens when we wander out of God's best, and how we find our way back. Can I be honest with you for a moment? Like, genuinely, pull-up-a-chair honest? Because I've been sitting with something that has been quietly, and not so quietly, getting my attention lately. It started with a verse I've read a hundred times. Romans 12:2 tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can know God's "good, acceptable, and perfect will." But in another translation, that word "acceptable" becomes "permissive." And that one little word? It stopped me cold. Permissive will vs perfect will, do we really know the difference? My pastor used to say we often live in God's permissive will rather than His perfect will. I'd nod along like I fully understood. Turns out, I understood it in my head a whole lot better than I was living it in my life. God's permissive will is what He allows. His perfect will is ...

Honestly, Sarah’s email this morning gave me goosebumps. Real ones. If you know me at all, you know that doesn’t happen over just anything. Sarah sends out a daily email, and today this is what she shared: "I had a dream: A woman was being gently positioned on the ground — unconscious but alive. She is the Bride of Christ. She is alive and beautiful, but needs to arise, whole and well. ARISE, my beautiful bride, ARISE. My beloved spoke, and said to me: Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. Awake, Church, Awake — for the time is at hand to minister, to preach the Gospel, to stand against the enemy. ARISE." Now, this stopped me cold. On Sunday (22 March), our pastor spoke about the Church being asleep. Then Sarah, who hadn’t heard the sermon, used the word unconscious. Same message. Different messenger. Different day. You really cannot make this up. I think the message is clear, and it’s for all of us. We’ve become so paralysed by the noise of this world, so desens...

“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Hebrews 4:9 (ESV) Go ahead, take a deep breath. Inhale slowly, and as you let it out, whisper a word of thanks. Let the worries that have been clinging to your thoughts drift out with that breath. They don’t get to stay. Not right now. I’m sitting here in my study. If you were with me, I’d turn your chair toward the window so you could see what I’m seeing. The pool is still, and the lawn is busy with the gathering this morning. There’s a new little fellow, a white bunny, just hopping across the grass like he owns the place. The birds are playing, no other word for it, really, they’re playing, and the sun is doing something rather uncharacteristic for this time of year: it’s being gentle. There’s a soft breeze, and the air feels a touch cooler than it has any right to. Honestly, it’s as if the whole world has decided to take a collective sigh and slow down just enough to be noticed. I sit here watching it all, and a tho...

Joel 1:12 (AMP) “The vine is dried up, and the fig tree fails; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple or quince tree, even all the trees of the field are withered, so that joy has withered and fled away from the sons of men.” THOUGHT Can you imagine standing there… looking at once-beautiful trees, now dry, empty, and lifeless? The vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, the palm… all of them withered. What once brought life and nourishment now looks tired and worn out. It must have felt heavy, like something precious had quietly slipped away. And if I am honest… I recognise that feeling. There are days when I don’t feel like myself. Days when joy doesn’t feel close or easy. It’s not always loud or dramatic; sometimes it’s just a quiet dullness, like going through the motions… doing what needs to be done, but without that spark. Almost like being in “robot mode.” Perhaps it’s tiredness. Perhaps it's life pressing a little too hard. Or perhaps it’s simply one of those ...

Before you dash off—because I know life does tend to keep us all rather busy—I wanted to share something close to my heart. My daughter has written a book, and I must admit, I am just a tiny bit proud (and by tiny, I mean quite a lot). If you’d like to take a peek, you can find it here: https://a.co/d/03cY0WRv

Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” THOUGHT This afternoon was… well, rather memorable in the most unexpected way. Mom was sitting outside, enjoying one of her quiet moments with a cigarette in hand and the sun gently warming her shoulders. I decided to join her, thinking it would be a simple, peaceful visit. I was mistaken. Because, as it turns out, Mom had been doing research. On “The Facebook,” no less. Now when my mom says “The Facebook,” one must prepare oneself, because it usually means she has discovered something both fascinating and slightly alarming. And today’s discovery? Wrinkles. More specifically… how to get rid of them. With great seriousness, she began explaining what she had learned over the past few days. There was talk of smoother skin, fewer lines, and something called a derma roller, which, according to her, appears to be nothing short of miraculous. “I think I m...

Jeremiah 31:23 (ESV) This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling, O sacred mountain.’” Thought There are moments in life when words simply stop. Not because there is nothing to say, but because somewhere between the waiting and the weariness, the language of hope quietly slips away. The blessings I once spoke over my life begin to feel like a foreign tongue. I remember saying them, but somehow I can no longer quite find them. Are you facing a dry season? Something stopped me in my tracks this morning. In a quiet moment I opened my Bible, and my eyes fell on Jeremiah 31:23. As I read the verse again, slowly, I noticed something I had never seen quite so clearly before: “This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘When I bring them back from captivity…’” Let me share a little background, and ...

Good morning dear reader, I am learning to pray to the LORD, I have done this for many years and thought I would structure my prayers and see if this is something you too would like to use. 1. Honour and Worship God (Adoration) We need to start by honouring who God is, not first asking for things. This turns my heart toward Him and reminds me of His greatness. I try praise His character, His creation, and His love. Example: “I will ponder all Your work, and meditate on Your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:12 Abba Father, I honour and worship You. You are holy, mighty, and full of love. When I look at Your creation: the sky, the earth, the living creatures; I see Your greatness. Thank You for being my God and for knowing my name. Purpose: This places me and my heart in awe and gratitude before God. 2. Confession and Humility Next, gently opening my heart honestly before God. Ask forgiveness and invite Him to cleanse my heart. Example Scripture: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me ...

To everyone who has stopped by, clicked a link, and taken a moment to read, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Seeing people find their way to this little corner of the internet has meant more than I can easily put into words. Whether you stumbled across a post by accident or came back intentionally, your presence here has not gone unnoticed, and it has not been taken for granted. I'll be honest with you: I'm still learning. This blog is as much a journey for me as it is (I hope) something valuable for you. I'm growing slowly, finding my rhythm, and working on building the consistency and diligence that good writing deserves. There were gaps, and there may be bumps ahead, but I'm committed to showing up more, sharing more, and improving with every post. So if you've been patient with me, thank you. If you're new here, welcome, you arrived at just the right time. More is coming. With gratitude, Yvette van Niekerk

Hello, my dear readers! What a journey it has been. As I sit down to write this, I am reflecting on the fact that this year is shaping up to be a major year of construction in my own life. I kicked off the month with the Daniel Fast (10 more days to go—I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!), and I’ve been thinking a lot about building a new foundation. Looking Back to Move Forward If I’m being completely honest, last year was one of the difficult ones—the kind of year I hope I never have to relive. Family life felt heavy, with constant fighting and backstabbing that left me drained. Work was the usual "get back on the horse and ride." However, in the midst of the storm, I found my anchors. Diving into Digital Marketing has been a fascinating learning curve and kept my mind busy. I also found peace with my hands—baking cakes and crocheting snuggle bunnies for little ones. And then, the news that changed everything: I’m going to be a granny! The year ...

It is Monday afternoon, and the rain falls with a steady, insistent grace, turning the world outside a shade darker, cooler, almost contemplative. As I begin to wrap up my day, a day full of busyness, meetings, and the relentless pursuit of information. I am reminded that even the most carefully laid plans may be interrupted. The water purifier, that humble servant of modern comfort, has chosen to fail me today. And still, no water. Yet, in these inconveniences, there is a certain poetry. This morning commenced with a delightful meeting with my daughter, a conversation full of plans and hope. Later, tasks awaited me, each one demanding attention, and yet the electricity, that most ordinary of blessings, refused to grace our home until well after 9:30. One cannot help but wonder what tomorrow shall bring, given the relentless rain. But it is when one turns from the petty frustrations of water and electricity that the mind may wander to loftier matters, the Word of God, ever the lamp to...

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” — Proverbs 21:23 It is a most intriguing experience, is it not, to stand in the presence of someone who has wounded you and feel a thousand unsaid words rise to the tip of your tongue? Ah, the human tongue. So small, so delicate, so deceptively dangerous. There are moments more than I dare admit, when the sharpness of my thoughts threatens to spill out. At times like these, I find myself pressing my lips together with the elegance of a lady refusing to entertain scandal at a grand ball. But oh, how my thoughts rebel inwardly! I wish I could confess that biting my tongue is a graceful art I have mastered. Truthfully, it is a daily battle. A tug-of-war between the woman I used to be, the woman I long to be, and the woman God is shaping me into, slowly, patiently, faithfully. People observe the stillness of my face and imagine serenity. But inside? A storm often gathers. There are days when the injustice of ...

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8 It was on an afternoon much like any other, the kind that drifts with deceptive calm; when I found my heart once again caught in that delicate tension between justice and mercy. There she stood the one whose choices had fashioned wounds in my life. A familiar heat rose in my chest, that subtle tightening that whispers of things unresolved. Justice, like a stern but noble general, lifted its head within me and declared, “This is not right. Someone must pay.” But then, as gently as a lace handkerchief falling from a lady’s hand, another voice spoke, softer, almost imperceptible. “Mercy,” it whispered, “belongs to those who trust the Lord.” For years, perhaps a lifetime, I have been a seeker of fairness. A defender of what should have been, what ought to be, and what must never happen again. I have argued cases in the chambers o...

A Reflection Inspired by Zechariah 7:8–10 It was upon this particular morning, as the sun cast its first golden ribbons across the sky, that I found myself once again confronted by the quiet whisper of the Lord; a whisper that tugged gently at the frayed edges of my heart. “Tell them to be honest and fair… to be merciful and kind… to stop plotting evil against each other.” So the prophet Zechariah declared, and so the Lord speaks still. How peculiar, that such a simple command should weigh so heavily upon a soul. And yet, here I stand; a woman who has lived long enough to know that forgiveness is far less a single act, and far more a continual yielding. I forgive… until I see the person. Then my throat tightens, my thoughts bristle, and resentment that unwelcome guest, returns to its familiar seat. Indeed, dear reader, I often find myself biting my tongue with the determination of a duchess maintaining her dignity at a most disagreeable ball. For within me there is a fierce desire for...