Yvette's Whispers of Faith

Lord, prepare me to be a true worshiper Psalm 147:1 "Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful." Reflection For a long time, genuine worship has been a real struggle for me. I have grown so accustomed to simply listening to music rather than actively engaging in praise that breaking the habit has proven difficult. Unless a song truly resonates deep within me, I find my attention drifting away almost without realising it. So, when it comes to praise and worship, I have to deliberately lean in and press through. I am not entirely sure what caused me to withdraw in this area, but I know that I have. Even now, I am making a conscious effort to worship and praise the LORD wholeheartedly because I know that is exactly what God desires from me. God calls me to sing my praises to Him: "Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing." Psalm 100:2 God calls me to lift my hands to Him: "Li...

A true story about stubbornness, grace, and the doors God keeps opening anyway There is a particular kind of foolishness that lives in all of us. The kind that wears the disguise of wisdom right up until the moment it doesn't. I know this because I have lived it, and I am not too proud to say so anymore. Although, once upon a time, I very much was. A few years ago, a manager went out of their way to arrange a good position for me. It was a gift, really someone seeing my worth and making room for me. But then another opportunity appeared on the horizon, closer to home, and with a salary that made the first offer seem modest by comparison. I told myself it was practical. Sensible. Smart. I took the new job. Within a month, I was let go. I had done my work exactly as I was asked. But favour, as anyone who has navigated an office knows, is not always about competence. The women there simply did not like me, and that was that. I walked out of those doors and straight into the silen...

Psalm 119:133 “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Reflection When I first felt the stirring to write my devotional, Crushed but Fragrant, I did not fully understand the weight of those words. I thought perhaps it was simply a title, something meaningful, yet distant. But now… I see it differently. Now I understand that each day carries its own testing. From the moment I open my eyes, life begins to press in demands, decisions, weariness, and the quiet battles no one else sees. And in those moments, I realise just how much I need the Lord to guide my every step. So today, I choose not to walk alone. I take His Word as my lamp and my direction. I hold onto Psalm 119:133, asking Him to order my steps, to keep me steady, and to guard my heart from anything that seeks to take hold where it does not belong. I find myself longing for wisdom real wisdom, the kind that steadies the soul. And He reminds me in Psalm 19:7 that His Word is perfect, resto...

Based on Jeremiah 31:14 “My dearest soul,” the Lord seems to whisper, “I will fill you yes, abundantly so with My goodness.” There are moments in life when one feels rather like an empty teacup; useful, perhaps, but quite in need of filling. Yet here is the delightful truth: we are not called to live half-filled, worn thin, or merely managing. No indeed. We are invited into a life brimming over with the rich, undeserved grace of God. The Lord, in His tender kindness, is not content to leave hearts weary and spirits dull. He delights in restoring joy, proper, deep-rooted joy and bringing a sense of fulfilment that no earthly striving could ever accomplish. What a comfort to know that He specialises in restoration, even when we feel a touch beyond repair. And this promise? It is not reserved for a select few with perfect composure or unwavering strength. It is for all His children including you, dear heart. His goodness is not measured out sparingly. It arrives with generosity: in bl...

“I will give you every place where you set your foot.” — Book of Joshua 1:3 (NIV) Now, if one were to sit down with a cup of tea and thoughtfully wander through the pages of the Book of Job, one might quickly discover that transformation is rarely a tidy affair. In fact, it tends to involve a fair bit of fire. Gold, you see, does not simply wake up one morning and decide to sparkle. It must endure heat, just the right amount, for just the right length of time. Carefully measured by the Refiner Himself. Attempt to rush such a process, and instead of something precious, you may very well end up with something far less remarkable… tin, perhaps, which no one ever writes poems about. And then comes the Lord’s promise to Joshua, spoken with quiet authority: “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” Which, when one thinks about it, is rather like saying, “My dear child, I have already prepared the promise, but you must still do the walking.” It is not always grand strides and tr...

Luke 18:1 “Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Reflection There are days when prayer feels like tossing words into the wind, hoping they’ll land somewhere near heaven. Yet today, I’m reminded that prayer isn’t wishful thinking. It’s faith in action. It’s believing that God not only hears but intervenes, even when circumstances seem stubbornly unmoved. So, I bring before Him the concerns weighing on my heart, my mom’s visa that remains pending, the uncertainty that lingers. And yet, I choose trust. I choose to believe His will is at work in both our lives. Hope, after all, is not a fragile thing. It’s a promise rooted in His Word. And with that promise, I stand firm, refusing to lose heart, pressing on in prayer, and clinging to the assurance that He is faithful. Prayer Lord Jesus, teach me the art of persistence in prayer. When discouragement whispers, remind me that You are near. I lay my concerns before You, trusting th...

"Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." Proverbs 10:2–10 Reflection The Turning Point: I used to think that by this stage of my life. The path was already set in stone. I looked at the mirror and saw the silver hair and the lines of age. I felt as though I was simply watching the clock run out on my dreams. I’ve spent years in the "midlife crisis." Wrestling with the ghosts of regrets, careers that didn't flourish, relationships that felt the strain of time. The nagging fear of being "less than" in a world that prises youth and worldly success. But then I saw Zacchaeus. He was a man who had spent his life traveling in the wrong direction. Chasing "ill-gotten treasures" that left his soul hungry. When he climbed that tree, he wasn't just trying t...

Zechariah 8:23 (NKJV) “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Reflection There is a magnetic beauty in a soul that has found its rest in God. Zechariah spoke of a time when nations would take hold of a believer’s sleeve. Pleading to follow them because they could see the unmistakable mark of the Divine. It wasn't because of a loud sermon or a grand platform; it was because of a life that hummed with the quiet melody of Heaven. Consider the humble cook, Nicholas Herman. He spent his days in the heat of a monastery kitchen. Surrounded by the clatter of pots and the endless demands of hungry men. He wrestled with deep anxieties. Wondering if he was truly saved, until he looked at a tree in winter and realised the secret. Growth doesn't come from striving, but from being rooted in the Source. He transformed his kitchen into a sanctuary. He stopped performing for God and simply started living with Him. Whether he was scrubbing a floor or repairing a worn-out...

“Memorize His laws and tell them to your children over and over.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (CEV) Reflection The world outside our doors often feels like a rising tide, heavy and relentless, pressing against the glass of our homes with a weight that threatens to shatter our peace. It is a wearying battle to raise children where virtue is treated as a relic and shadows are called light. Yet, we must remember: the darkness has never been a match for the Dawn. With the Father’s hand guiding yours, you can lead your little one’s home. Faith is not caught in a single moment of lightning; it is cultivated in the quiet, steady rhythm of a life lived for Him. Consider these five ways to plant the seeds of eternity: • Speak the Language of Heaven: Start while their hearts are soft and new. Let the last sound they hear before sleep be the cadence of your voice reading of His wonders, and the gentle murmur of your prayers, thanking the Savior for the grace that covered your own sins. • Unveil the...

By Yvette van Niekerk Gracious, but hasn't the weather been behaving in a most peculiar fashion lately? One moment I’m adjusting my bonnet against a gale that threatens to whisk me straight to the next county, and the next, the sun is peeking through the clouds as if it hadn’t a care in the world. However, I find I cannot complain one bit. For when the clouds’ part after a particularly spirited downpour. We are treated to the most magnificent spectacle in all of High Society, and by that, I mean the Heavens, of course! The Ultimate Fashion Statement If one were to look closely at Genesis 9:13, one would find that the Almighty has a flair for design that puts even the most sought-after Parisian dressmakers to shame. He says: ‘I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.’ Isn't that just like our Lord? He doesn't simply send a formal note or a dusty ledger to remind us of His intentions. No, He paints a masterpiece ac...

“He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” Mark 16:6 One must pause to wonder if we truly and I mean truly grasp the sheer magnitude of the phrase, "He is risen!" It is a statement quite unlike any other in the history of the world. While we might ponder it occasionally over a morning cup of tea, have we allowed ourselves to imagine the spectacular impact it ought to have on our own lives? Consider the facts: The Lord Jesus was placed in a tomb, quite thoroughly dead, and yet, on the third day, He rose! In that one breathtaking moment, the amazing grace of God was bestowed upon us all. He is alive, and through the profound act of accepting Him, we are granted the marvellous privilege of being called His children. This means, dear friends, that you are entitled to a fresh start a renewed mind and the divine capability to tackle any task with the expectation of success. When we labour for the Lord Jesus rather than for the fickle approval of men, He ens...

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...