Scripture for today

1 Thessalonians 1: 8 - 9 ESV

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

Become a good listener.

Mark 4: 9 The Voice

All who have ears to hear, let them listen.

I don’t know about you, I have a bad habit of chipping in trying to complete the sentence of people when I feel they are taking to long. I don’t seem to be listening to what they are saying. My husband has to restrain me. He actually says “please give me a chance to tell you what I want to do.”

This has got me thinking when it comes to listening to my husband I lack the discipline and it is a very bad habit. I get half the story. I know I should start with understanding what he is telling me but my impatience gets the best of me.

I realise today I will not get any breakthroughs with this lack of hearing, I need to get focused and listen to people when they are speaking to me. The solution to this problem would be to number one look directly at the person speaking to me. Focusing all my attention on this person my husband. Secondly no more interruptions. I know it infuriates him. I must let him speak and tell me what he is doing then react. Yes we all know am a judging person. O deary me, I need to wait and listen to the whole story before I start judging. Give him a chance to speak his mind and then say something in response to the conversation.

Thank goodness it’s never too late to become a good listener, I will be doing this going forward from today. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord thank You for today, thank You for your Word, yes Lord, I am guilty when it comes to listening. I seem to interrupt people when they are speaking to me, too excited and then they don’t get to tell me what’s happening. Lord thank You for this word for today, I believe You are teaching me a new skill. I need to make it my business to listen to. In the name of Jesus, Christ Lord help me to listen. Amen

THE Word for Today:
Matthew 28: 19, “Go therefore and make disciples..”

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#decisive

#yvettevanniekerk

James 1: 8 “ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

In my own life, I am very decisive. I don’t like to be uncertain, even if I am wrong so be it. I will go for it full force and worry about the consequences later. I don’t like it when people cannot decide on something. I will start pushing to a point that they don’t have a choice and make the decision.

It irritates me when someone cannot make a decision and then I start to move in and make the decision for them. I don’t appreciate indecisiveness. I know I make many mistakes but if I don’t risk it how else will I learn. 

It’s like the baking cake you follow the instructions of your recipe and then you cannot decide should you put the eggs in or should you leave them out? Most of the time it’s about general things in our lives, we need to make solid decisions and then we slip up because we cannot decide. 

Leaving out the eggs won't let the cake be totally lost but it won't rise to the desired height you would like it to be. I know I have done this too.

Prayer

Lord God, today I want to dedicate my life into Your hands, please help me to pray about things I feel uncertain of. Give me the necessary wisdom to take life one day at a time and show me the way forward. Lord thank You for today, its Friday and the weekend is at hand. Lord bless each and every one of us and keep us safe. I see Lord the weather has changed all over the world, please protect us when times are difficult and please send your angels to protect us. I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over my life and the lives of family and friends. Amen

The Word for Today:
I Corinthians 13: 4 - 7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”

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#unconditionalLove

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1 John 4: 19 ESV

We love because He first loved us.

“He first loved us.” I must tell you that this is so wonderful to know that the Lord Jesus first loved me. I doubt I am worthy of being loved especially by someone as wonderful as our Lord. Thank the Lord for showing me mercy and grace each and every day. I believe that it is by God’s grace that I can write to you about Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, You have loved me first something that is so wonderful and I cannot always get my head around it. Lord, You thought of me and said I want Yvette to be saved. I know You think about so many other people and call them by name too. I am so fortunate in being blessed the way I am. I have supernatural favour Lord with You as well as with people.

I am super excited because I believe God is working in my life. I used to live in a very negative light, nothing would be fair and everybody was against me. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for changing my perspective. I have been able to focus on God’s Word and it has been inspiring in my own life. I don’t have to feel worried that I cannot expect good things to come my way. They always come the way I just never saw them.

Prayer

Father God, remember when I used to think “I don’t expect anything good to happen, I won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t.” Thank You, Lord Jesus, For Your unconditional love that You have shown towards me. I can call on You in my hour of need and see how You work a miracle in my life. I am expecting only good things to come my way, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. amen

The Word for Today:
I Corinthians 13: 4 - 7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

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Jack-in-the-box

Proverbs 18: 4

“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”

I actually don’t like a “Jack-in-the-box” the clown puts me off. I believe I have seen too many movies with evil clowns. The funny thing about a “Jack-in-the-box,” we can all relate to this fellow.  When you are pushed a little harder than usual “Jack-in-the-box” will jump out and startle everybody around you especially if this guy is an evil clown.

Get out of that box! When I’m stressed out and wound up I become a real “Jack-in-the-box” kind of person. My temper can be foul at times. I found this “other” person jumping out and scaring everybody around me. I believe these are the times I should actually practice constraint but before I know it, I have said what I was thinking out loud.

That’s why we should make a point of living a personal relationship with the Lord our God. This is why we need to spend time with God, learning to stay committed and interact with God through His Word.  The moment I feel I can short circuit the process that’s when I get into serious trouble.

I am sure God doesn’t condone my behaviour when I start scolding my family.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, a large part of my problem is not watching myself, not being in control over my emotions and definitely not feeling any compassion. O dear Lord, humbly I pray, help me to place a guard over my mouth and then to protect my heart because that is where the problems come from. I humbly admit and confess my attitude can be seriously bad. Please, Lord, I pray to forgive me. I realise my thoughts and thinking are focused on specific problems and that affects my mood and attitude. Please Lord, forgive me in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Word for Today:
Proverbs 4: 23, “Let the Holy Spirit fill my heart with God’s goodness.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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February Month of LOVE

Deuteronomy 7: 9
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” 

You know in this climate of uncertainty and economic distress I called on the LORD and He helped me.  The LORD has blessed me with a job for another couple of months. Something I am so grateful for. I believe God’s love reaches me each and every day. God knows my needs and He sees my heart.

I want to encourage you today:  God’s love is steadfast  God’s love is seen through His son Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3 verse 16.

Take heart and know that God’s love is a comfort in your hour of need. We can always turn to the LORD our God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord humbly I come into Your presence saying Lord thank You for Your loving kindness and thank You for Your steadfast love. Without Your love Lord, we will not make it. Thank You, Lord. Thank You for Your son, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Amen

The Word for Today:
Psalm 36: 7, “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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#PrayerRenewingHeart

Psalm 51: 10 (TLB)

“Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires.”

It feels like my life is being pulled back and I am struggling to find my feet. I know God is in control and He is watching over me. I think there are sins in my life that I need to confess and pray for God’s forgiveness. I need to soak up God’s Word, meditate on it day and night and change my bad attitude.

I love the LORD and then I get busy and carry on all on my own. Today, I want to pray to ask God to search my heart, clean my thoughts and create right desires in my heart. It’s Sunday and I dedicate my life into Your hands Lord.

I would never be so bold as to think I am the same as any of the people in the Bible but when I think of David I think God loved him dearly. Yes he sinned and each time he repented and ask God to search his heart and attitude and restore him with God. I would like to come in humility to the LORD the same way. I want to become more and more like Jesus.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please forgive me, I am not a perfect person and yes, I believe that I am a sinful person. I am repenting of the sins I know of and those I am unaware of. Lord forgive me in the Holy name of Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen

 The Word for Today:
2 Corinthians 4: 16, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the LORD is growing every day.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
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Scripture for Saturday

Numbers 13: 33

"Attitude of the doubt."

"And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, 

who come from the Nephilim),

and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers,

and so we seemed to them."

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#PrayerRenewedSpirit

Ephesians 4: 22 – 24 (TLB)

“then throw off your old evil nature – the old you that was a partner in your evil ways – rotten through and through, full of lust and sham.  Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better.  Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with the new nature.”

We need to constantly come into the presence of the LORD and ask the Holy Spirit to help us with the renewing of our minds. In Ephesians, we see we are reminded to let go of the old sinful past and start moving forward towards the renewing of our minds. We need to change our attitude and thoughts by constantly focusing on God’s Word.

When we gave our lives to the LORD Jesus we became a new creation and children of the Living God. In 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, we are reminded that we are a new creation in Christ.

I realize that my life isn’t perfect and I need to repent on a daily basis from my sinful life. Each day we need to meditate on God’s Word and we are also reminded in 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16 to renew our minds daily. Soaking up God’s Word and asking the Holy Spirit to help us. I believe in taking time and staying in God’s presence and reading the Word (Bible) writing down thoughts and praying about the LORD’s Word. Asking the Holy Spirit to reveal His word to us.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, humbly I draw closer to You and I repent of my sinful life. Lord, if there are sins I should be repenting off please show me. I want to pray for the renewing of my mind, my soul and my spirit. I clothe myself with You, LORD Jesus, I am humbly praying for the renewing of my spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

The Word for Today:
2 Corinthians 4: 16, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the LORD is growing every day.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
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Scripture for Friday

Numbers 14: 18 ESV

"The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love,

forgiving iniquity and transgression,

but he will by no means clear the guilty,

visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the childer,

to the third and the fourth generation."

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#PrayerFriday

2 Chronicles 7: 14 (TLB)

“Then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”

Solomon brought sacrifices to the LORD and after his prayer, something fantastic happened. Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.  We really have no idea how awesome that must have been to see the glory of God fill the temple.

We see the priests could not enter the temple because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. The Israelites all fell down on the pavement and worshipped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The temple is dedicated and then the LORD says “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” As I focus on this verse I am humbly asking the Holy Spirit to search my heart and soul, pointing out the issues of bitterness and sin that I am harbouring in my heart. I want to repent of my sinfulness and turn myself back to the LORD. In humility, I am asking that the Holy Spirit will show me the problems I need to deal with so that I can renew my own life, and rebuild my relationships with family and friends.

As I embark on this prayer journey I want to ask you to join me and let's ask for a revival in our own lives to honour God and bring good news to the nations.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ I humbly come before YOU, LORD. I want to pray and bring You praise. Lord, You are Holy and Worthy of Praise. Humbly, I confess that I have so many sins hidden in my heart. LORD, I am asking that the Holy Spirit will come and reveal it to me today and during the next couple of days. So that I may become healed in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The Word for Today:
Proverbs 13: 10, “Through pride and presumption comes nothing but strife, but [skilful and godly] wisdom is with those who welcome [well-advised] counsel.”

RELATED RESOURCES:
Join in today with a one-minute scripture, and a personal inspirational message, and prayer, with Yvette van Niekerk's book, Daily Devotional Ebenezer. Order your eBook copy here today.

CONNECT:
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