What is on the lips of every human being in the world right now?

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

22 Cast your burden on the Lord [release it], and He will sustain and uphold you;

He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).

The Coronavirus is on every person's lips right now. Do you think this happened to bring fear into the hearts of people all over the world? Are we too busy living our lives and forgetting to turn to the Lord? I realize that it's because of our finances, and we struggle with our relationships that our focus has moved from God to ourselves. Now the door is open for fear and anxiety to creep its way into our lives. Some people are feeling uneasy and restless throughout the day.

Today I want to encourage you to take all the necessary precautions and make sure you are safe. We should draw near to the Lord; He is our only way forward. The Psalms remind us to give our burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of us. In this verse, I see it doesn't refer to being anxious and that we won't experience any problems. The scripture does, however, say, when we do have issues, we should give them to the Lord.

Something to think about, why don't you spend some time today in prayer and speak to God about your fears. Why don't you write it down so you can see what is bugging you, and is it affecting you negatively? Speak to fellow Christian friends asking them to pray with you, and deal with the fears you are facing right now.

Prayer Dear Abba Father, Lord, today I want to pile all my troubles on Your shoulders, please help me carry this heavy burden. The threat of the Coronavirus is real, and people are worried and concerned about health. Lord, as I think of my family and friend, I draw a hedge of Jesus Christ's blood around my family and friends. Protect each one of us today, let this illness not come to us. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen 

Yvette van Niekerk

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I am going through today without uttering one word of complaint!

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

1 Chronicles 23: 30 AMP They are to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening,

I have noticed in our house people go to work, come home and complain all the time. Nothing about their work is excellent, I get the feeling they are entitled and think everything should fall into their laps. It's one complaint after another, everybody is out to get them, and life is so unfair.
What I have come to realize is with all these complaints, it now is starting to affect my attitude. I am feeling miserable and unthankful.
On examining my own life, I have come to realize that I am ungrateful and very selfish right now. I feel no one appreciates me, and everybody in our home is taking advantage of me. I seem to be murmuring and complaining about everything, and I am not grateful.
Here's the challenge, I can get through today without uttering a word of complaint.
I have decided to be grateful for everything in my life, and I am happy and thankful that I can share my thoughts with you.
I want to become outrageously grateful.
Lord Jesus, I want to draw closer to You, I want my intimacy with You to increase, and I am trusting the Holy Spirit to come and fill my life today.
Prayer  Lord, Abba Father, I want to come into Your presence asking to forgive me for all my complaints and grumbling, I have been sinning against You this whole week. I repent of my ungrateful heart and pray to forgive me. I am so grateful for another day and that I can come in humble prayer to You. Thank You, Lord, for giving me a second chance of blessings, amen.

Yvette van Niekerk

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We become what we behold!

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Psalm 121: 1 – 2 MSG I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from GOD, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

I know it sounds so funny, we become what we behold. 

Thinking about this statement made me realize that when I look at something I like. After a while, it grows on me, and soon rather than later, I will go and buy that thing. Isn't it the same with serving the Lord our God. The more time we spend in the Word (Bible) of God, the closer we get to Him.

Psalm 24: 8 MSG Who is the King-Glory? GOD, armed and battled-ready.

Adjusting our sight and looking up is essential; I wonder why we stay focused on things all around us? Is it because it is tangible? Yes, and I think we lose sight of what is essential. Psalm 121 verses, one says, "I lift m eyes to the mountains where does my help come from?" 

I know Jesus is my King, and He is over all things in my life and beyond. He can do what no other man or being can even think of doing. He died and rose again to rescue me and bring my soul to life. I believe Jesus is a mighty King whose mission is to push back the darkness and breathe life into my own life.

I think we should fix our eyes on the Lord, Jesus. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will lift me to a sense of expectation because my God is King, and He knows my needs.

Prayer Abba Father, Lord my God, You are Holy, Holy, Holy. I will bring You all the glory and honor. I worship at Your feet, bring You praise, and I am here asking You to change my perspective on life. Lift me out of this whole and guide me, shape my thinking and my mind, cleanse my heart, and purify my soul. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Yvette van Niekerk

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#2 Protected by Angels

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Hebrews 1: 14, "Angels are sent to help those who will receive salvation."

In my life, I always say, "No harm will come to me; no disaster will come near me. God has sent His angels to protect and guard my life."  I think I am fortunate in calling on the Lord, and then angels can help me in my time of need. Can angels receive salvation? No, only humans can. They have always been angels. Do you think angels can receive the Holy Spirit as we do? I don't think so, only humans can. The Lord Jesus Christ became a human and died on the cross for our sins. Angels stood in awe of this act of unselfish love. We know the angels are watching over our churches "Though Christians like yourselves gathered in, churches this extraordinary plan of God is, talked about even among the angels." Ephesians 3, verse 10.

Prayer Lord, thank you for the opportunity of becoming a born again child of God. We are so fortunate, and we praise You Lord, Amen

Yvette van Niekerk

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Protected by Angels

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Hebrews 1: 14 NCV

14 All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.

When you read the Bible, I know you would have seen references made to Angels, I am under corrections, but I believe over 300 referrals. The angels are many and mighty!

Daniel finds himself in the lion's den. He said the mouth of the lions stays closed. Do you remember when the Apostle Peter was locked up and would await his execution the next day? Well, the angel came and rescued him.

Think about Elisha standing up against a vast army? Was his servant anxious? The Lord opened

the servant's eyes, and he saw: "and the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about." 2 Kings Chapter 6, verse 17. 

I wonder what I would do if God opened my eyes? Who is protecting me while I am sleeping? Who is escorting my children to work and back? Shielding me from any drunkards on the roads. According to the late Billy Graham, "If you are a believer, expect powerful angels to accompany you in your life."

So remember, who is the protector? "Those who will receive salvation." Ultimately rejections of the Lord Jesus mean you have no cover. Or accepting the Lord Jesus means you are covered 24/7. Psalms 34, verses 7, says, "The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them." The angels encamped around you and me.  

Prayer

Heavenly Father, Lord, You are fantastic and thank you for sending Your angels to protect and encamp around me today. I know that through my accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, I am secure in You. Your angels protect my family and me. Thank you, Lord, amen. 

Yvette van Niekerk

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Marriage? How is yours?

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

Ecclesiastes 9: 9 (TLB)

9 "Live happily with the woman you love through the fleeting days of life, for the wife God gives you is your best reward down here for all your earthly toil."

I was 18 years old when I first got married, and I didn't think it was strange as many of my school friends also got married at that age. When I was 21, I already had two small kids. Then divorces were comment, but realistically today, its even worse. I wonder why our marriages don't last. I was married for 21 years before I decided enough. I wanted to change my environment and feel safer.

How can I ensure that my current marriage doesn't fail? I think the most important thing is to learn to show my love. I still struggle with showing respect, and it's almost foreign to me. I know I crave appreciation, and I believe we all seek that in our lives. I try and show gratitude towards my husband and all my children. 

Something I have become accustomed to is my husband paying attention. I do admire him for the tentative listening of what I say. I know my husband loves me, and he shows it. Buying me a flower and just listening to what my needs are. He always asks if there isn't something he can do for me.

We enjoy taking a bath together, and I feel that is the only real-time we spend alone. Just my husband and myself, then I feel free to speak to him about my problems and how I think. Sometimes it's not a good thing because we cannot get away from each other, and the conversations hot up. I believe Proverbs 18 verses 22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." I am grateful for my husband, and I respect him for who he is.

In my marriage, I have come to know who I am. I feel I can grow in my marriage as the person I am. I don't have to put on airs and graces. My character changes every day. I see how I have matured over the last ten years, and I also know that I am more compassionate. 

One thing that is very important to me, we are safe. I don't have to worry something terrible is going to happen to us.

Prayer

Lord, Almighty God, thank You for a marriage that You are here. I am grateful for the knowledge that I am safe and that my husband loves me. I am also thankful that he considers my feelings and cares for my wellbeing. You are lovely, Lord, I worship You today. Blessing is over my family; thank You, Lord. Amen

Yvette van Niekerk

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Just a closer walk with Thee

James 4: 8 "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."

How can I draw near to God? I believe God wants us to want Him. That would be my first step, and I want to draw near to God. The next step would be spending time with God. I need to take the time to grow my relationship with God. How can I build my relationship with God? I need to pray about my relationship, spend time alone with God, and nurture my time with God. Luke 12, verses 32, says, "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

I realized that I could not build my relationship with God if I do not get to know Him well. I want to develop the kind of intimate relationship with Him, and I can only do that when I am alone with God.
When I am alone with God, I find that during these special moments, I feel refreshed, strengthened, and rejuvenated. Drawing away from my busy schedule, taking a moment in seclusion with God, I find peace with Him.

Praying is something we have to commit to each day, taking time to speak to God. If you do not pray often, it is difficult to get started. I believe it's like this large ship docked in the harbor. It has many controls to get it moving, and we are almost the same. So repositioning my life with God is going to take some time. I will have to make time and speak to God directly. John 16 verses 24 "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive that your joy may be full."

Prayer

Please, Abba, Father, help me in my quest to draw near to You. I believe when I draw near to You, You automatically draw near to me. Humbly I pray for a more in-depth and intimate relationship with You. I long to dwell in Your presence. Humbly I ask, to teach me to get to know You better and show me how I can grow closer to You, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

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A repented life

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

 Reading Psalm 34, verses 5, "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed."  I feel that when I have done something wrong, especially towards someone, I cannot face them. I think I am too embarrassed and feel very uncomfortable in their presence. Guilt chases me, and I want to steer clear of them. When it comes to the LORD, it's even harder for me. I need to pray and confess my sins, or it eats away at me.

I believe that if I do not confess my sins to the LORD, there is a barrier, and I cannot come into the presence of God. When we read Ezekiel 20, verse 43, "You shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled, and you shall loathe yourselves in your sight because of all the evils that you have committed." Here the Israelites disobeyed the LORD, and they did not repent.

O Lord, please let the Holy Spirit reveal to me whatever I am doing wrong so that I can repent of my sin before You.

I know the more I sin the strong the possibility that I can end up falling away from the Lord, I believe it is imperative to repent of my sins. Repentance is my way to life through Jesus Christ.

Yvette van Niekerk

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Keep me in the center Your Will, Lord

Daily Devotional Ebenezer

I have been questioning my life and the decisions I have taken these past couple of weeks. I want to know that God is keeping me in the center of His Will. I believe facing difficult times does not mean I am out of God's will. Testing is part of growing my spiritual life, and I know that, but it sure isn't fun.

Let me put it to you this way, Jesus was doing God's will by going to the cross. Jesus states in John 6, verses 38, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me." Now I am at this point in my own life where I want to know which way to go. I want direction in my personal experience, and I want God to direct my footsteps. I know that God is enabling me to follow Him because I have someone to follow - Jesus Christ.

When I was younger, I used to say the LORD thinks I am an elastic, and He is continuously stretching me. We only grow in our spiritual life when we are being pulled or very uncomfortable.

I know that it's about my decision whether I want to follow the LORD or not. I find that the LORD is a real gentleman; He never forces His will on me. I also believe that this isn't an automatic thing to do. In Ephesian 5, verses 17, "Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Am I going to seek the LORD, today? Am I asking Him for wisdom and insight? Am I asking Him to guide me? These are fundamental questions only I can answer.

I believe God doesn't want me to live in the lust of my flesh, and He wants me to ask Him for direction. In Hebrews 13, verses 21, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

Where do I start? I think the very first thing is to pray early in the morning. Seeking God, then while I am still in prayer, remembering to give Him thanks. Being grateful is critical; otherwise, we lose sight of how great our God is.

Yvette van Niekerk

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The revolutionary intimacy of address God as "Our Father."

Matthew 7:11 (ESV)

11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Hallowing the Father's name is perhaps one of the most essential and celebrated dimensions of prayer. It is the revolutionary intimacy of addressing God as Our Father.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Jesus was teaching His disciples to address God in the manner. I believe they would never have addressed God as their Father; if the Lord Jesus didn't teach them this, it would have been wrong in their upbringing.

I want to pause and pray to my Father in heaven. What do you think God's expression looks is?

Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

9 Pray then like this:

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come,

you will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

What a beautiful symmetry in the opening of the Lord's prayer see it in Matthew 6 verse 9. Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Jesus invites us into intimacy and awe of his holiness.

Let's start thanking God's evidence of his goodness in our lives an awaking in our souls. 

We are praying the Word, looking to the Psalms and praying it into our situation. 

We are using music to stir our souls for more powerful prayer.

Father God, in heaven, I want to pray and come into Your presence today. Lord, thank You for today. All the fascinating insights and learning I receive. Guide me and set my feet on the right path. Build me and teach me in the way You want me to go.

Praise to Your Holy Name, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen